Be Mused Korea’s tips for men’s skincare
Lately, I’ve been receiving more and more questions from male friends on how to start a skincare routine. I also gave a Korean Skincare 101 workshop at a university last week in which half of the audience who voluntarily attended were male. I was amazed at the number of questions and level of interest I received from the male attendees as I always had the preconceived notion that most men were not interested in skincare. But in 2019, men’s skincare is a rising trend! So, let’s take a look at some recommendations on building a skincare routine for men.
Sheetmasks!
I swear, sheetmasks are the gateway product for men to enter the world of skincare. A few months ago, my brother texted me, “You should send me some Korean face masks, are they cheaper there?
My skin felt nice after doing some sheetmasks with my friend lol.”
Not Pictured: My brother.
Sheetmasks are easy to use and give quick results. They essentially give benefits of essence, serum, and moisturizer all in one. This makes it a great starter product. One of my friends also commented that sheetmasking has become his new form of self care as it “feels really relaxing to do at the end of a long day.”
A Pump Cleanser
Men usually answer “I will do whatever is simplest,” when I ask them how committed they would be to a skincare routine.
HADA LABO Goku-jyun Foaming Face Wash
So, to save time and “effort,” I recommend using a cleanser that comes with a pump. Or better yet, a pump cleanser that dispenses ready-made foam, eliminating the steps of opening a cap, squeezing the bottle, closing the cap, and foaming the product in your hands. Yes, for some of us these steps seem like nothing but for others, they may seem too extra!
A by BOM Ultra Watery Eoseongcho Cleansing Foam is a favorite among our male audience.
The A by BOM Ultra Watery Eoseongcho Cleansing Foam does a good job of cleansing deep down in the pores. Straight out of the pump is a frothy foam cleanser that can even be used as a bubble mask—perfect for the guy who wants both a cleanser and bubble mask that can clean out pores without much effort.
Put Toner in a Spray Bottle
I have to give credit to our Be Mused K-Beauty Facebook group member who suggested this brilliant idea. Quick and simple is the key here so why not pour your toner into a spray bottle to simply spray your face with after cleansing? Alternatively, you could get a pH balancing face mist like Atoclassic Real Tonic Soothing Moist Mist to use as a toner.
Intense Hydration
I asked Jen Auh, the CEO and founder of SUIT MAKE—a men’s image consulting company—what she recommends most for men when starting a skincare routine. Her answer? Intense hydration. She explained,
“It’s all about the hydration. Their skin is usually damaged from shaving and not being consistent with skincare.”
The best way to repair damaged skin is to build your moisture barrier by hydrating with a good moisturizer.
My pick? The A by BOM Blue Cica Azulene Dew Soothing Hydration Cream. The hybrid texture of oil capsules in hydrating gel cream is heavenly. It’s light yet moisturizing, and the cooling effect feels amazing after a shave! (So I’m told.)
Jen’s pick: A by BOM Blue Cica Soothing Mask. It’s the perfect all-in-one sheetmask to soothe and replenish skincare thirsty skin. Marine algae and Spirulina in this mask helps strengthen the skin’s barrier and prevent moisture loss.
For more on why sheetmasking is essential for men, head over to SUIT MAKE’s editorial on grooming.
SPF with Moisturizing & Anti-aging Benefits
Since we are keeping the starter routine as simple as possible, leave the essence/serum/ampoule steps to the sheetmasks. However, I recommend an SPF with some added moisturizing and anti-aging benefits since sheetmasking may not happen on a daily basis. Multi-functional products are definitely the way to go.
The Pure Lotus Jeju Botanical Sun Cream is a great multi-functional sunscreen that provides moisturizing and anti-aging benefits without any white cast or stickiness. It’s also vegan!
Have you tried getting the man in your life on a skincare routine? Men, what is your current skincare routine like?
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