Contrary to popular movie depictions, skin care isn’t all avocado masks and makeup parties. And it’s not just for women. We’ve all got skin, right? The years and our environment take a toll on everybody’s skin, women and men alike. A lot of marketing dollars are spent on helping women maintain healthier, younger looking skin. But the truth is… guys don’t want to look old either! They just might not admit it.

Skin is a High-Performance Tool

Guys, you take care to maintain your vehicles, tools, and gear in prime working order for optimal performance. Why wouldn’t you do the same for your skin? Think of your skin as a high-performance tool with 3 primary functions:

• Protection — Skin is a barrier against microorganisms, chemicals, and other things you don’t want to get in. Like your kids’ Lego blocks you step on in the dark. You can thank your skin for being your body’s first line of defense.
• Regulation — Skin helps regulate your body temperature, circulation, and fluid balance. Especially important when you’re exercising or moving from the outdoor winter weather to an overheated building.
• Sensation — It’s your early warning system for heat, cold, touch, and pain.

And don’t forget that healthy skin is both attractive and touchable.

So let’s start taking care of your skin like the high-performance tool that it is. You don’t have to admit that you want to look younger and more attractive.

What’s in Your Toolbox?

Skin care doesn’t have to be complicated or flowery. You only need a few basic tools.

Cleanser

Water and a simple cleanser can quickly wash away the skin cells, oils, and pollution that accumulate on your skin throughout the day. Choose your cleanser for your skin type (dry, oily, or a combination of both), and steer away from perfumes and chemicals that can irritate.

If your skin is oily or looks dull, an exfoliating scrub once or twice a week might be beneficial. (Think of it like the deluxe option at the car wash — once in a while it’s just what your car needs to shine). Exfoliating cleans deeper, unclogs pores, and helps prompt your skin to regenerate new cells. Exfoliating too much or too vigorously can really irritate your skin, though. And if you shave every day, you may already be removing your top layer of skin (and irritating the rest).

Moisturizer

Collagen and elastin in your skin give it the elasticity to stretch and bounce back under pressure. Dry skin has less elasticity, which can lead to tiny, painful skin cracks that can let bacteria in. It also feels tight and uncomfortable and shows lines and wrinkles more than moisturized skin. So, moisturizer not only protects your skin but also makes your skin look younger. Don’t worry, moisturizer doesn’t have to smell like flowers or coconut. There are plenty of unscented or for men options available.

Skin Care from the Inside Out

Our #1 tip for healthy skin is diet, hydration, exercise, and overall well-being. Your skin needs water, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to stay healthy. Fatty fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds… sound familiar? An overall healthy lifestyle is the best medicine for your skin.

But for an extra boost, daily use of a collagen supplement has been shown to improve elasticity and diminish wrinkles. This is because skin with sufficient amounts of collagen is much better at holding in moisture.  The great thing about collagen is that as it’s replenishing the supple look to your skin it’s also working to repair your joints and reduce inflammation in your body.  There are many types on the market, but marine collagen is more readily absorbed than bovine sources. Read the labels carefully when shopping for collagen. Most supplements on the market are sourced from Asia, and simply unregulated. You can find high quality materials and production standards by choosing 100% made in Canada collagen.