Photo by Michael Gilman Start talking to most men about facial exfoliation/men's face scrubs and their interest level will fall some where in the realm of watching a screening of Sex In The City 2 -- while their understanding will tilt more toward and being asked to explain how "cold fusion" works.
But gents should be interested in exfoliating/scrubbing their faces and should understand the concept because it's super easy to grasp and ultra-beneficial to overall skin health and appearance. Here's the deal.
Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, usually accomplished with the assistance of a ‘gritty’ men's facial scrub. While a gentle facial cleanser is necessary for every day cleansing on the surface of the skin, a facial scrub is typically used 1-2 times per week and provides super-deep cleansing into the pores.
A scrub isn’t necessarily the #1 product in a gent’s cabinet like a face wash or moisturizer, but facial scrubs are incredibly important for those who want to take their skincare game to the next level. Why?
New skin is constantly produced on the face and eventually, it dies at the surface. Leaving this dead skin on the surface not only gives off a look of flakiness, but also makes a mug appear dirty and uneven. Scrubs ensure any loose, dead skin is whisked away and washed down the drain.
Because scrubs dig deeper than cleansers and remove dead skin cells, they are more likely to uproot pesky ingrown hairs. Once the dead skin is sloughed away and hair follicles are cleared, in ingrown hair can be guided to the light.
Over time, skin collects excess dirt, oil and dead cells that a daily cleanser cannot remove. Scrubs reinforce cleansers and remove excess grime and dirt off the skin while penetrating deep into the pores by way of some form of grit.
Sebum is the main cause of skin spots and uneven tones and builds up over time. Using a scrub 1-2 times per week will help rid the face of excess Sebum that can cause dark spots or uneven skin tone.
There are about 50 other reasons but instead of boring you with them all, we’ll highlight the last few. Properly using a scrub can get you closer shaves by removing the dead skin and grime that clogs razor blades up. It can also slow signs of aging by reducing fine lines and refining skin tone as well as preventing breakouts. Lastly, they help other products (like your moisturizer) work more effectively.
Easy. As stated above, a facial scrub should be used typically 1-2 times per week. Any more often will leave the skin tight, dry and/or thin. The key to using a scrub is to apply it slowly and softly by massaging (not smothering) it into the skin. If applied too vigorously, it can cause tiny, superficial scratches. A good practice is to use a facial scrub after a cleanser and before shaving to eliminate ingrown hair problems and ensure a mega smooth mug pre and post shave.
Grooming Lounge Mug Scrubber $24
Urth Face Scrub $38
Menscience Microfine Face Scrub $31
Have any men's scrubs or exfoliators you deem worthy of being at the top of our list? Please let us know in the comments section.
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