The One-Two Punch Your Face Actually Needs
Ironically, all it takes to keep a healthy mug is a good one-two… everyday… or maybe even twice a day.
All the big grooming brands don’t want you to read this.
In fact, they pay good money to keep you from knowing this.
What are we talking about?
You don’t need to do much to keep a healthy, hydrated face. There.
You don’t need to slather it with one round after another of this serum and that one. And no, you don’t need a toner. And if you don’t know why, you will in a few minutes.
The truth is, pop culture took what’s meant to be a simple routine, then tarted it up to fill coffers. All the balms and sticks that promise to purge eye puff. All the fluff and frills. And for what, when there are simpler, quicker ways to do the same job?
Look, it’s not like we don’t want your money, but net profits don’t drive our purpose here. We want to keep your skin in top shape, and like any other business, we depend on fuel units (read: moolah) to make it happen.
You don’t need to ape a psycho’s skin regimen to look as good. Like we’ve said before, no one has time for that shit. But as basic as mug maintenance is, there’s a way (or two) to mess it up.
The good news? The right regimen needn’t go past a one-two punch.
We’ll explain that in a couple minutes, too.
If a man wants to age well from the neck up, he has to one-two himself… every morning. No excuses.
Here’s how.
(With special thanks to Dermatologist, Author and Founder of the Toronto Dermatology Centre, Dr. Benjamin Barankin)
The Jab (read: Face Wash)
Time: 30 to 40 seconds
The obvious part here is you must wash your face. A lot of you know that, but some of you don’t, and that’s okay. No one’s judging. And by the way, guys who wash—bars of soap don’t count.
If you think and, thus, exist like René Descartes, then chances are your face needs regular cleaning. All that sebum made by your face tends to pile up, gunking your mug up in the process. And never mind all the airborne toxins and pollution there is in the environment. It all adds up, literally.
If it were up to us, “regular cleaning” would mean once in the a.m. and once before bed. But, baby steps first.
Rinse your mug with cold water, and resist the urge to go hot.
It doesn’t have to be ice cold, but cold enough to feel it once it hits you.
Why cold over hot? Hot water strips skin of its moisture, that is if it’s exposed to the stuff for a few seconds, and you don’t want that since winter does the same thing.
How’s that for a paradox—cold water fights cold air.
One more thing about cold water: If you wash your mug in the shower, know that cold water exposure’s good for you in more ways than one, and we published something on that right here. Check it out when you get a chance. No pressure.
Now grab our Daily Charcoal Face Wash and, with two or three pump’s worth of the stuff, clean that mug by applying the product in a circular motion. Tip: Give that bottle a quick shake beforehand to wake up any activated charcoal that might’ve settled.
Make sure to get in there, too, even if it means slipping into sideburn or hairline territory.
And if you’re out of face wash, whatever you do—don’t scrub with a bar of soap.
“For the Canadian climate in particular, you generally want to wash with a cleanser rather than a soap,” confirms Dr. Barankin. “Generic soaps are typically too drying, not to mention they can irritate skin.”
A Word On Using Our Hair & Body Wash For Your Face
At this juncture, some might think, But I have your Deluxe Hair & Body Wash. Faces are a part of bodies, right? So what’s to stop me from having at it?"
Answer: While both of our Hair & Body Washes are safe for faces, neither pack the antimicrobial benefits of activated charcoal—which is perfect for faces since it’s tough enough to kill dirt, but not so tough it’ll irritate skin.
“For most skin, meaning skin that’s not acne-prone, the shorter the ingredient list, the better,” says Dr. Barankin. “Glycerin, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and vitamin B5 help make a cleansers less drying. Basically, you’ll want hypoallergenic and fragrance-free, the latter of which is [another known] skin irritant. If you’re acne prone, think about a face wash with salicylic or glycolic acid, or benzoyl peroxide.”
The Cross (read: The Moisturizer)
Time: 30 to 40 seconds
Once you’re washed up, pat your face dry with a clean towel.
Next comes the moisturizer: You don’t need much at all, since our formula’s rich everything a face needs to stay supple—like grappled oil, hops (yes, like the ones in beer), and our personal favourite, Meadowfoam Seed Oil.
That last one doesn’t just help hydrate man hide, it’ll lock that moisture in for a while, or at least ‘till it’s time to go again.
“As we age, we go from having oily, acne prone skin in our youth to dry, dull, and even flaky skin in adulthood [and on],” says Dr. Barankin. “Use a good humidifier at home and the office, but moisturizing before bed’s a great idea, too. Your skin will look more youthful and feel better, with good moisturizing, plus it’ll be less prone to itching and eczema.”
And as for toners, they’re just not needed. Toner’s are typically marketed to people with wonky Ph balances, but a good moisturizer will bode them just as well as a toner.
In sum, if you reside north of the equator, or are generally alive, and want no part of winter’s sebum-sucking wrath, don’t skip this part.