Face Care for men with impure skin

Gezichtsverzorging voor mannen met een onzuivere huid

An impure skin is something most men are not happy with. And we understand that. You are familiar with acne and pimples. Often also with blackheads, an oily skin and large pores. And that's even though you've waved goodbye to puberty quite a few years ago.

You are not looking forward to having impure skin because your Face is really the first thing a person looks at. Your skin is not only your business card but also a reflection of your health. Your health can have quite an influence on your skin, after all. We will delve deeper into that today. We will also look at the causes and solutions, give tips, and examine a good Skincare routine for men with impure skin. We got you!

How do I know if I have impure skin?

It's always handy to know which Skin Type you have. Usually, you know which direction you're leaning towards. Each Skin Type has its own characteristics, and so does impure skin. If you recognize yourself in many, most, or maybe all of them, you can say that you have impure skin. Some characteristics:

  • Pimples
  • Blackheads
  • White bumps
  • Clogged pores
  • Large or dilated pores
  • Shiny or oily skin
  • Subcutaneous inflammations
  • The same characteristics in the neck, shoulders, chest, or back

Do you recognize these points? Then it is clear that you have impure skin. Don't worry, there are various things you can do to calm your skin.

Why do you have impure skin?

Impure skin can have multiple causes. Of course, there's puberty, which is most known as the culprit, but that's too simplistic. There are indeed many more causes that we will zoom in on.

Hormones

It is precisely the male hormones, also known as ‘androgens’, that are the biggest cause of impure skin and acne in men. The most well-known male hormone is testosterone. Women also have this hormone, but it is present in larger amounts in men. Androgens stimulate sebaceous glands. This causes your skin to produce more sebum, which can lead to pimples. A natural counterpart to this is female hormones (estrogen and progesterone). This is also why men suffer more from impure skin than women.

It's important to know that it's not the amount of hormones, but rather the balance between hormones that matters. In puberty, that balance is hard to find, which explains ‘puberty acne’. This balance is the same reason that women who go off hormonal contraception or are pregnant may experience more issues with impure skin. Hormones are key!

Stress

You are probably familiar with the situation. You go through a stressful period, and before you know it, the subcutaneous pimples start to appear. The reason for this is, yes, hormones. We weren't done with hormones yet. Because stress also produces a certain hormone, called ‘cortisol’. Cortisol increases your sebum production, causing your pores to clog.

Stress causes the skin barrier to become disrupted and then more susceptible to bacteria. This can significantly worsen impurities and cause bacterial infections. Stress (cortisol) can also cause adrenaline, which puts pigment cells into hyperactivity. This leads to pigment spots. So stress is an absolute no-go. Relax!

Smoking

It is known that smokers more often get pimples on their cheeks. Smoking increases sebum production in your Face and depletes vitamin E and vitamin C from your skin, while these are precisely the important vitamins that keep the right substances in the right place. Vitamin C ensures that your collagen (which keeps your skin supple) binds better. So smoking quickly gives you aging skin that also leads to more impurities. Our advice: leave that cigarette in the 70s.

Poor Nutrition

Research is still ongoing, but some things are already clear. Sugar is a kind of fertilizer for your pimples. It is direct food on which your impure skin can thrive. Your blood sugar level is also increased, releasing male hormones (here they are again) and increasing sebum production.

Eating too much salt is also not good. Salt contains iodine, and iodine causes your skin to provoke subcutaneous inflammations more quickly. So you shouldn't eat those salty ready-made meals and your favorite fast-food dishes daily.

Air Pollution

It has been proven that people who live in a busy city more often suffer from impure skin. Think of exhaust fumes, more bacteria, etc. Your skin works overtime to protect you from these external influences.

Medications

Many people forget this. You cleanse your skin well, have a healthy lifestyle, little stress, and your hormone levels have proven to be good. So where should you look? Well, maybe you are using medication. To name a few examples: medication for epilepsy, tranquilizers, and cortisone creams are known to provoke impure skin. So always check what you're taking!

Wrong Skincare Products

You need to know what Skin Type you have to use the right skincare products. Are you using the wrong one? Then there's a good chance you're clogging and irritating your skin. It could also be that you are not cleansing your skin properly. If you don't, your pores will clog, and impurities will increase. But hey, luckily we're in our element here, so we're going to help you with the right products soon.

Tips for Men with Impure Skin

Maybe you've just read some recognizable points and now understand why you might have impure skin. But we're not going to stop there. We're going to give you some tips to reduce, and maybe even solve, your impurities!

  1. Always choose mild, fragrance-free, alcohol-free, and natural products for impure skin. If you use too harsh products, too much sebum is removed. The natural reaction of your skin is, you guessed it... a hyperactivity of sebum production. You definitely don't want that.
  2. Do. Not. Squeeze. Pimples! Oh man, we know how tempting it is, but don't do it. Bacteria on your Hands can worsen and spread inflammations. Additionally, squeezing often causes unwanted scars.
  3. Be careful with the sun. Most people actually think that the sun dries out pimples. And this is true, but the effect is temporary. The sun's radiation actually causes extra sebum production. And by now you know what this does to your impure skin. So enjoy the sun but do it in moderation. If you use Sunscreen, make sure it's a natural, mild Sunscreen with the right ingredients.
  4. Nourish your skin from within. We have already talked about sugars and salts in your diet. But, of course, there is also food that will actually be good for your skin! Ensure sufficient vitamin A. This can be found in spinach, carrots, and salmon, among others. Zinc (turkey, wheat germ, and almonds) is also good for your skin. Vitamin C is always a nice one, which you can find in tomatoes, citrus fruits, and papaya, for example. And in addition: water, water, water! Water purifies your Body and thus also your skin. Drink about 1.5 / 2 liters per day. Most people really see a difference.
  5. Ensure clean Towels and pillowcases. No joke. If you keep using a used (and by now maybe dirty) towel after cleaning your Face, your skin won't stay clean for long. The same goes for your pillowcase. You often lie there for 8 hours with your Face on it. Dirt or residues from your hair products can stick to your pillowcase. So it's mega important to keep this clean.
  6. Rest and regularity is key. In your sleep, your Body recovers, including your skin. Sleep also reduces stress and thus the hormone cortisol. So make sure your sleep rhythm is good so your Body can clear up all the impurities itself again.
  7. Integrate a daily cleansing ritual. An impure skin won't just calm down again. You have to put in some effort for this. Give your skin that peace and calm it down! We are going to explain to you what the best cleansing ritual is for impure skin.

How to care for impure skin?

1. Cleanse with a mild facial cleanser

Cleansing the skin is always the first step in a good Face Care for men. Cleansing is important for all skin types, but especially for impure skin. Don't be tempted to use a powerhouse of a facial cleanser, but rather a mild Cleanser. If the cleanser is too harsh, the skin's natural oils will be removed. The result? A hyperactive sebum production. You still don't get what you want. So go for a cleanser without sulfates, silicones, parabens, and Fragrance.

  • Cleanse your Face with lukewarm water
  • Gently massage your Face with the mild cleanser
  • Rinse your Face with lukewarm water
  • Pat your Face dry with a clean towel

2. Use a Tonic

Use a Tonic (also known as Toner called) so that the pH value of your skin is restored. Tonic ensures that the last traces of dirt are removed from your Face. If you don't remove them, you give dirt, cleansing product or residue the chance to clog your pores. And that's exactly what we want to prevent. Just pay attention when you use Tonic for the first time. You'll see that quite a bit of dirt ends up on your cotton pad.

  • Put a little Tonic on a cotton pad
  • Dab the cotton swab over your Face
  • You don't need to rinse the Tonic off your Face

3. Use a Serum

Time to hydrate your Face. Here, a Serum is very suitable. For impure skin, a Serum is recommended that contains, for example, salicylic acid (also known as BHA or beta-hydroxy acid). This ingredient penetrates your pores and will help unclog them. LHA, glycolic acid, and niacinamide also help impure skin.

  • Warm a little Serum in your (clean) Hands
  • Spread over your Face
  • You don't need to wash off a Serum

4. Use a Day Cream or Night Cream for men

Now it's time for your Day Cream (or Night Cream, depending on when you apply this routine). Make sure not to use a cream that is too greasy with too much oil. This can clog your pores. Always make sure to use a special Face Cream made for impure skin.

  • Take your cream out of the pot with clean Hands or a spatula
  • Massage the cream into your Face with circular motions
  • Start in the middle and work outwards
  • Avoid the skin around your Eyes
  • Let the cream absorb into your skin during the day/night

5. Deep cleansing

A special step for impure skin is deep cleansing. Do this about 1 to 2 times a week for the optimal result. A deep cleansing consists of a face scrub (exfoliation). This removes dead skin cells and stimulates cell renewal. The result? A skin that can breathe again and therefore better absorbs all the good substances from your Grooming. Win-win!

  • Cleanse your skin well
  • Apply exfoliant to your skin in the same way as a cream

The best products for impure skin

And now the most important part! It's always difficult to choose the right product among all the products available. That's why we are happy to help you. On our site, you always have the option "impure skin" with all the different Categories. This way, you can quickly filter to find the right products for your skin. Additionally, we have our favorites.

We hope this has helped you a lot. Of course, it may happen that you still have questions. Feel free to contact us, we are happy to help! You know where to find us.

Good luck!

Your friends, The Alpha Men