Why moisturize your face and beard?
Imagine a pair of leather boots worn day in and day out, exposed to the blistering sun and the dry, whipping wind. What happens if you don’t properly care for and condition those boots? The tanned cowhide becomes dry and cracks. Deep crevasses form and the leather begins to look tired and worn. The same thing happens to your skin. If you have a beard, that too dries and deteriorates. Split ends form and a once luscious man mane can deteriorate into a living Brillo pad.
Not to worry —introducing a daily facial moisturizer into your grooming routine can quickly turn the tide back in your favor. For added softness, layer a premium beard oil on top. The moisturizer is the foundation and the beard oil adds additional beard benefits.
But to reap the full benefits of your moisturizer, you must start fresh.
Start with a clean canvas. Wash your beard.
In order for your facial + beard moisturizer and beard oil to fully work their magic, it needs to be able to penetrate your skin, so it’s important that you wash your face once or twice per day. Throughout the day your body’s natural oils, dead skin cells, pollutants, debris, and other environmental toxins build up on your skin. Applying a moisturizer or beard oil on top of these layers will diminish the effectiveness and can lead to clogged pores and outbreaks. Visit the first post in our series to learn more about how to properly wash your face and beard.
Know your skin type
Every man is different. Using the proper moisturizer for your skin type will improve your results. How can you determine your skin type? At the end of the day, look at your T-zone. You can visualize your T-zone by imagining a straight line running horizontally across your forehead and another straight line running vertically down the center of your face to your chin. This is your T-zone.
If your T-zone looks matte at the end of the day, your skin is on the drier side.
Men naturally have thicker, oilier skin than women so most men will notice a light shine in their T-zone at day’s end. This means you have normal/combination skin.
If your skin looks greasy, then you likely have oily skin.
Dry skin - Characterized by little natural oil production. Use a hydrating cleanser followed by a rich moisturizer. You can also layer a beard oil on top.
Sensitive skin - Characterized by skin that reddens easily and stinging or burning sensation when most products are applied. Avoid irritating ingredients like fragrances, alcohol, dyes, and harsh preservatives like parabens. Look for soothing ingredients like aloe, chamomile, and green tea.
Normal/combination - Characterized by normal oil production. Look for a medium-weight moisturizer that provides hydration but won’t add excessive oil to already shiny areas.
Oily - Characterized by skin that looks greasy at day’s end. Avoid heavy moisturizers. Opt for a non-greasy formula that absorbs quickly.
The facial hair X Factor
When it comes to daily moisturizers, men with facial hair are in an interesting position. Whiskers are some of the thickest hair the body produces. There are a number of beard creams/butters and beard oils on the market loaded with overly-heavy ingredients. These greasy products prioritize softening thick whiskers at your skin’s detriment. Cheap products use low-grade ingredients and most rely heavily on synthetic ingredients derived from petroleum, so they have a tendency to clog your pores and cause breakouts.
Hydrate: This Daily Facial + Beard Moisturizer was designed from the beginning for men with facial hair (from stubble to full wizard). Suitable for all skin types and ethnicities, the fast-absorbing formula provides the hydration your skin and beard needs without clogging your pores.
Is skin aging a concern?
If aging and wrinkles are a concern, look for products containing ingredients that are shown to firm the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Hyaluronic Acid – or its more effective form Sodium Hyaluronate – is naturally occurring in young skin and can hold 1,000 times its weight in water. These molecules penetrate deep into the skin, delivering much-needed moisture that improves the skin’s condition and appearance. While most skin savvy women know about the great benefits of Hyaluronic Acid/Sodium Hyaluronate, men are now beginning to appreciate and leverage this skincare powerhouse. The same applies for retinol (Vitamin A) and its derivatives like Retinyl Palmitate. Incorporate products containing these superheroes and watch your tired skin transform.
Take it a step further an integrate a daily sunscreen into your morning routine. Dermatologists recommend using moisturizers with SPF30 or higher. That is why we created PROTECT. It is the world's first beard friendly, broad-spectrum SPF 30 Daily Facial Moisturizer for men with facial hair.
Work smarter, not harder. Apply skin and beard care products before bed.
The renewing power of sleep is amazing. You wake up refreshed both in mind and body. Take advantage of your body’s natural rejuvenating process and apply a moisturizer before bed for better-looking skin the next day. You’ll wake with softer, more hydrated skin and beard...especially if your product incorporates the age-fighting ingredients listed above.
It’s not all fun in the sun
We all know too much sun is a bad thing. The leading cause of skin damage is not wearing sunscreen. Dermatologists universally agree that if you are truly concerned about premature aging and reducing skin damage, you must limit your sun exposure. Incorporating a sunscreen with SPF 30 or above into your grooming routine will help limit this solar damage. Interested in a beard friendly sunscreen? We've got you covered. Check out our SPF 30 Daily Facial + Beard Moisturizer.
Questions? Shoot us an email!
While the internet is a great resource if you have serious concerns regarding your skin’s health talk to your doctor. For those with allergies, always review the ingredient label before using any new skincare product.
stubble + ‘stache is a Certified B-Corp™ and service disabled veteran owned small business. All of our packaging is made from recycled plastic and with each order, we remove five plastic bottles from the ocean. While our products are formulated with facial hair in mind, all of our products can be used by all, regardless of gender or beard status. Proudly made in the USA with ingredients responsibly sourced from some of the most exotic places on earth.
