The good news: As a guy, you were born with 25 percent thicker skin, more sebaceous glands and denser collagen than the women in your life. That means built-in immunity against lines and wrinkles.
The bad news: As you get older, that natural aging armor starts to decline. According to fresh intelligence from Kiehl’s, by age 50, your skin is as thin as a gal’s. Say hello to saggy jowls, crow’s feet, dark circles and stretched-out pores.
Time to power up with turbo-charged skin care. “Generally speaking, men can tolerate higher percentages of active ingredients,” says New York dermatologist Dendy Engelman. “Tazarotene is a prescription retinoid that does really well with males. Guys can also tolerate more intense levels of chemical peeling agents like glycolic and lactic acids.”
If you’re not up for a trip to the skin doc, consider scooping up one of the new clock-stoppers hitting store shelves this season. Kiehl’s Age Defender trio for men (moisturizer, serum and eye cream) deploys natural ingredients like cypress, rye seed and linseed extracts to firm slack skin, soften fine lines and decrease pore size. On the techier front, Lab Series’ Max LS “Power V Lifting Serum” promises a smoother complexion in one week. Over time, expect “contours that appear tightened and toned.”
Chiseled jaw lines = the new six-pack abs.
But before you slather on any type of anti-ager, be sure to start with a clean canvas. Those sebaceous glands we mentioned earlier not only produce oil that makes skin shiny, they’re also magnets for gunk. “Pollution, dirt and other urban grime can stick to surface oil,” says Justina Mejia, executive director of global product development for Lab Series. “That’s why it’s so important to incorporate a cleanser or detox mask into a grooming routine.”
Two new guy-friendly de-greasers to try: Lab Series’ “Urban Blue” Detox Clay Mask, crafted from shine-zapping volcanic ash and three types of clay, and Anthony’s Exfoliating & Cleansing Bar, with skin-buffing jojoba spheres.
Of course, you can always uphold the time-honored tradition of stealing from your significant other’s skin-care stash. Grown Alchemist’s Age-Repair Serum and Pestle & Mortar’s Pure Hyaluronic Serum are good ones to sneak.
“Guys can definitely borrow anti-aging products from their wives or girlfriends,” says Engelman. “But they may want to consider stronger stuff to maximize results.”
