It’s not unmanly to take care of your skin. To all the inquisitive readers, ever have thoughts of whether skincare is manly enough to be a part of masculinity? I did recently, and I have to say, "it is manly ,and it needs to stay a part of masculine culture." Society holds a lot of weight over what is considered acceptable and what is not, when it comes to “being manly”. Men’s social norms are often placed under the magnifying glass. Things like your confidence level and how you take care of yourself are a couple examples. Skincare plays a part in both. So, for those of you men who aren’t a part of the skin care scene yet, here are some points to help sway your thoughts.
Skincare helps you keep that youthful look. Nothing worse than starting your morning regiment wondering how you traveled forward in time twenty years while looking in the mirror. Speaking from experience, not a great way to start the day. An article in the New York Times’ T Magazine said it best, “Great skin is not simply a matter of DNA — your daily habits, in fact, have a big impact on what you see in the mirror.” (Molvar, n.d.)
Skin regiments vary, but there are three main steps that must be kept in mind. The first is the no brainer, cleaning. Washing your skin is the most important part of having healthy skin. Now, the second thing is toning. The reason toner exists initially was to dry up oily skin and get rid of anything left after the cleaning process is complete. Through time, toners have been updated. They now can deliver extra nutrients to the skin, helping your other products absorb faster while balancing your complexion. That means, you won’t look like you have one foot in the grave. Lastly, moisturizing. If your skin is hydrated and soft, you’ll be able to keep that youthful look. Take it from me, its better looking in the mirror wondering how you went back in time verses trying to think of responses to support the age you claim. Moreover, it can boost your confidence.
When you look good, you feel good, and people notice. Skin related issues are not just an issue for pre-teens, as we all know. All ages can fall victim to skin problems. That being the case, compliments are always thrown to the guy with great skin. Of course, with compliments comes confidence. For example, it’s easier to walk in for that new job interview with the confidence that great skin can give. It can also let your interviewer know that not only do you care about looking professional in your business attire, but you also are concerned about your health. It’s not always the big things, like the type of job you have, that speak volumes about your character.
As you already may know, skincare encompasses the whole body. There are many types of skin issues that can be taken care of by implementing good skincare habits as well. Skin cancer would be a big example of one of the more well-known issues people face.
There are also plenty of other perks related to having great skin. One of the most popular perks of great skin is attractiveness. That’s right gentleman, skin care can help you go from dud to stud! A survey made by LiveScience reported, “Women find men with a healthy skin color more appealing than those with a masculine face, new research shows.” (Staff, 2020) In terms of incentive, I would have to say that’s not bad. From a masculine perspective, great skin practices help you stay away from unnecessary stress. I also think it’s definitely a manly action to take.
--E
Stay Breezy
Sources:
1. Your Bibliography: Molvar, K., n.d. How To Build A Skin Care Routine. [online] Nytimes.com. Available at: <https://www.nytimes.com/guides/tmagazine/skincare-routine> [Accessed 25 October 2020].
2. Your Bibliography: Staff, L., 2020. Man's Healthy Skin Sexually Attractive To Women. [online] livescience.com. Available at: <https://www.livescience.com/18414-healthy-skin-attraction.html> [Accessed 26 October 2020].
