Why Men Should Care About Their Skin: A Simple Facial Care Routine for Healthy Skin
While women often prioritize skincare routines for glowing, healthy skin, many men overlook their own facial care. But why is that? Men’s skin deserves the same attention, as it’s just as sensitive and exposed to dirt, pollution, and harsh elements. Taking care of your skin is just as important as keeping your body fit and healthy. A good skincare routine isn’t complicated—it’s about consistency. By following these five easy steps daily, men can achieve clear, healthy skin that glows with confidence. No matter your skin type—whether dry, oily, or sensitive—these simple steps will work for you.
Cleaning, Toning and Moisturizing Your Skin
The first step in any skincare routine is cleansing. Start by splashing lukewarm water on your face and applying a men’s face wash. Avoid using regular soap, as it can contain harsh chemicals that may damage your skin.
Gently massage the face wash onto your skin in circular motions to cleanse away dirt and impurities. Afterward, rinse with cool water to help tighten pores and prevent dirt and oil from accumulating.
The next step is to use a toner that suits your skin type. Opt for a natural, organic toner and steer clear of anything with harsh chemicals. Toner helps restore balance to your skin after cleansing and preps it for the next step in your routine.
Toners are important because they help lower the skin’s pH level, giving it a hydration boost and removing dead skin cells for a fresh, healthy appearance.
Moisturizing is a crucial step that you can’t skip. Apply a dime-sized amount of men’s face moisturizer to your entire face. Proper hydration helps prevent wrinkles, fine lines, and excess oil production.
Again, prioritize moisturizers made with natural ingredients and essential oils. Avoid products with synthetic chemicals and instead focus on organic, skin-friendly options to nourish your skin effectively.
Sunscreen, always apply sunscreens!
The final step in your skincare routine is applying sunscreen before stepping outside. This is a crucial, non-negotiable part of your daily facial care.
Choose a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. This level of protection is ideal to shield your skin from harmful UV rays that can cause premature aging, sunburn, and long-term damage. Sunscreen helps prevent tanning and protects your skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation, keeping your skin healthy and glowing. Never skip this step, no matter the weather!
Avoid Eye Wrinkles and Dark Circles
Did you know the area around your eyes is the first part of your face to show signs of aging? The skin around the eyes is extremely delicate and lacks sweat and oil glands, which makes it prone to dehydration and wrinkles. To keep your eye area youthful and smooth, it’s essential to incorporate a men’s eye cream into your daily routine.
After moisturizing your face, apply a thin layer of eye cream to the under-eye area and around the eye socket. Gently tap it in to ensure it absorbs well. This will help reduce puffiness and dark circles, giving your eyes a refreshed look.
For nighttime care, applying eye cream after your anti-aging cream will further hydrate the skin around your eyes, helping to combat wrinkles and signs of aging. You definitely don’t want to look older than you are, right? So, make these simple steps part of your daily skincare routine to keep your skin looking its best for years to come!
Take Care of Your Lips- Use Lip Balms
Lip balms aren’t just for women—men need to take care of their lips too! After all, who doesn’t want soft, smooth lips? Everyone does, right? So don’t hesitate to use a lip balm or even a bit of lip gloss. Dry, cracked lips can be uncomfortable and look unappealing, so keep them hydrated and healthy by making lip care part of your routine.
When you’re taking care of your face, don’t forget to show your lips some love too. A little lip balm goes a long way in preventing dryness and keeping your lips soft and subtle. It’s an easy step that makes a big difference!
Clean, Trim or Shave Your Beard
Growing a beard might be easy, but maintaining it is a whole different story! Whether you’re rocking a stubble or a full Bandholz, your beard needs proper care. Use the right beard products, like beard shampoo and beard wax, to keep it clean, soft, and styled.
Be sure to wash, trim, and shave your beard regularly to keep it looking its best. Consistency is key—don’t neglect your beard just because it’s growing in. If you prefer a clean shave, make sure to maintain that as well with the right shaving products.
A man’s beard can be one of his most attractive features, so it’s important to pay attention to it. Don’t just grow it—maintain it well and give it the care it deserves to look sharp and on point!
As you can see, these facial skincare tips are simple yet essential! A little care and dedication can make a huge difference in the health and appearance of your skin. Skincare isn’t just for women—men’s skin deserves the same attention. By following a few simple steps, you can keep your skin healthy, clear, and free from damage.
Don’t shy away from investing in quality skincare products. Take the time to understand your skin type and use products that work best for you. By committing to these 5 simple and easy steps in your daily skincare routine, you’ll notice your skin improving in no time.
Remember, your skin is important—treat it well, and you’ll love the results!
conclusion
In conclusion, skincare is not just a routine, but a commitment to your overall well-being. Men, just like women, need to take care of their skin to keep it healthy, youthful, and damage-free. By following a simple yet effective skincare routine—cleansing, toning, moisturizing, protecting with sunscreen, and giving attention to areas like your eyes and lips—you can maintain clear, smooth skin with minimal effort. Remember, consistency is key. Don’t hesitate to invest in the right products for your skin type, and always make sure to maintain your beard if you have one. By dedicating a few minutes each day, you’ll ensure your skin stays looking great and feeling healthy for years to come. Take care of your skin; it’s worth it!
DIY LAVENDER SALVE: A SOOTHING BALM FOR SKIN AND MIND
Lavender salve is a versatile and effective topical remedy that can be easily made at home. It offers a range of benefits, including: Skin healing: Soothes irritation, moisturizes dry skin, and can help heal acne, scrapes, and eczema; Stress relief: The calming aroma of lavender is scientifically proven to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation.
Making lavender salve is surprisingly simple. If you’ve followed along with our previous tutorials on calendula or cannabis salve, you’ll find many familiar steps. However, lavender offers its own unique set of benefits. Let’s get started on creating your own soothing lavender salve!
What is Lavender Salve?
Not familiar with salve? Simply put, a salve is a healing solution applied to the skin, which can take the form of creams, ointments, or balms. Typically, salves are thick, shelf-stable, and contain nourishing oils such as coconut oil, olive oil, or sweet almond oil.
In addition to a base oil (or a blend of them), salves usually incorporate natural waxes or butters to help bind the ingredients and give them a semi-solid consistency at room temperature. Beeswax is a popular binding agent due to its availability, ease of use (especially in pastille form), and ability to create smooth, cohesive results.
If you prefer a vegan alternative to beeswax, check the ingredient list below for recommended substitutions. When you incorporate lavender-infused oil (or lavender essential oil) into a salve recipe, you create a delightful lavender salve, enriched with the medicinal benefits of lavender.
Lavender-infused oil vs. lavender essential oils
When you glance at the concise ingredient list below, you’ll notice our preference for a blend of homemade lavender-infused oil and a dash of lavender essential oil in our lavender salve recipe.
But what’s the difference? Lavender-infused oil is made by steeping dried lavender flowers in a carrier oil of your choice for a period of time. This process allows the natural essential oils from the lavender to be drawn out and infused into the carrier oil, which is then strained. In contrast, lavender essential oils, often found in small bottles, are produced through a distillation extraction process, which is typically done on a large industrial scale. While some hobbyists use small distillation stills at home, it’s not the most common method for making essential oils.
We love using lavender-infused oil because it utilizes our homegrown lavender and adds a personal touch along with an extra boost of natural lavender scent to the salve. However, if you prefer, you can also create lavender salve using plain oil and essential oils. If you’d like to make lavender-infused oil for this salve recipe, check out our instructions for preparing homemade lavender oil, and then return to the recipe once it’s ready!
The Health Benefits of Lavender
The soothing yet cheerful aroma of lavender is both calming and uplifting, making it a favorite for promoting relaxation. Scientific studies have shown that lavender can effectively reduce anxiety, stress, depression, and insomnia, helping individuals find peace in their daily lives.
Beyond its calming effects, lavender boasts powerful anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties, making it a versatile ingredient in natural remedies. It is well-known for deterring pest insects such as mosquitoes and flies, which is why many natural insect repellents include lavender in their formulations.
Additionally, lavender has remarkable healing capabilities. It can relieve pain and itching while promoting new cell growth, aiding in the repair of damaged skin tissue and healing wounds. In her book Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide, Rosemary Gladstar highlights lavender’s effectiveness in treating a variety of infections, including staph, strep, colds, flus, ringworm, and yeast infections. She also notes its ability to ease headaches and migraines, further showcasing its extensive benefits.
With its multitude of uses, lavender is not just a delightful fragrance; it’s a powerful ally in both physical and emotional well-being.
What can lavender salve be used for?
While lavender is often utilized in culinary and medicinal applications, its true gift lies in its ability to soothe our skin and nerves. You may have noticed that lavender features prominently in many natural skincare products, and it’s not just for its delightful fragrance! When applied topically, lavender can alleviate, heal, or treat a wide range of skin issues. Enter homemade lavender salve!
This versatile salve can be applied to irritated skin to reduce swelling, redness, and discomfort. It effectively addresses conditions such as rashes, bug bites, burns (including sunburn), acne, scrapes, eczema, stings, scars, and psoriasis. I find it particularly soothing after shaving, helping to prevent or treat razor burn, and it also calms the small rashes I sometimes get from brushing against certain plants in the garden.
Beyond treating ailments, homemade lavender salve is an excellent remedy for everyday issues like chapped lips, rough elbows and feet, or dry hands, providing essential moisture. After a long day of gardening, I love applying it to my dry, cracked cuticles!
If you’re looking for a natural way to unwind, simply dab some lavender salve on your temples, neck, wrists, and under your nose, then take a few deep breaths. The calming aromatherapy properties of lavender can help you relax, enhance your meditation or yoga practice, or prepare for a restful night’s sleep. I keep a tin on my bedside nightstand and often reach for it in the middle of the night when my mind is racing.
Lavender oil is generally safe for children and babies, making homemade lavender salve ideal for addressing issues like diaper rash or cradle cap. In fact, one study even found that lavender oil may help alleviate colic! Just remember never to use undiluted essential oils directly on the skin, and always double-check the safety of your other salve ingredients for use with infants.
Finally, lavender salve can also assist in shrinking skin ulcers, softening the appearance of scars, and reducing the swelling and discomfort associated with varicose veins.
If you’re skeptical, take a look at these testimonials from our satisfied customers who have experienced remarkable results with our Homestead and Chill organic lavender salve. People have found relief from various skin issues, including cystic acne and persistent large rashes that resisted other treatments. I am genuinely delighted and humbled by this positive feedback. It reinforces my commitment to helping individuals lead their most naturally healthy lives—this is the very reason I started this journey!
Now, without further ado, let’s dive into the process of making your very own lavender salve! Here’s a simple guide to creating a soothing, effective salve at home.
HOMEMADE LAVENDER SALVE RECIPE
INGREDIENTS FOR LAVENDER SALVE
Lavender-Infused Oil: 1 cup (8 ounces)
OR 1 cup of your preferred carrier oil (like jojoba, olive, sweet almond, sunflower, or coconut oil) with additional lavender essential oils. To help you choose, check out our article on lavender oils, which details the unique benefits of various carrier oils.
Beeswax Pastilles: 3 to 4 tablespoons (approximately 1 ounce if using shaved, block, or other forms of beeswax)
Note: If you decide to add shea butter, you can use only 3 level tablespoons of beeswax. If you skip the shea butter, use 4 tablespoons of beeswax.
Vegan Alternatives: Consider soy wax or candelilla wax.
Lavender Essential Oils (EOs):
When using lavender-infused oil as your base, add about 20-25 drops of organic lavender essential oil per cup of oil for a delightful scent that isn’t overpowering.
If you’re using only essential oils, you can add up to 12 drops of lavender EOs per fluid ounce of carrier oil (up to 96 drops per cup). This is the maximum recommended amount based on a safe dilution ratio of 2%. It’s best to start with half that amount and adjust according to your scent preference.
Optional Ingredients:
Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter: 2 tablespoons
This adds rich moisture and essential nutrients to your salve.
Other Essential Oils: Add a few drops of complementary essential oils, such as chamomile, rose, pink grapefruit, lemon, rosemary, sweet orange, ylang ylang, bergamot, geranium, or sandalwood. Experiment with different blends to create a custom scent, each with its unique benefits.
These ingredients come together to create a soothing and healing lavender salve perfect for various skin needs!
Other Supplies Needed
Double Boiler:
You can use a traditional double boiler or create a makeshift version. For example, place a smaller pot or a glass Pyrex or stainless steel bowl on top of a saucepan filled with water.
Using a double boiler is crucial to prevent overheating the volatile lavender essential oils, which can diminish their healing properties.
Storage Containers:
Small glass jars or salve tins are needed for storing your finished product.
Common choices include 2-ounce amber glass jars for personal use or gifts, and larger 4-ounce jars. For easy shipping, consider using 2-ounce salve tins.
Recipe Yield
The quantities provided will yield just over 1 cup of finished salve (approximately 10 ounces, or five 2-ounce tins).
Feel free to scale the recipe up or down as needed. A general guideline for salve is to use about 1 part beeswax/butter to approximately 4-7 parts oil. A higher beeswax-to-oil ratio results in a firmer salve, while using less beeswax creates a softer consistency.
Note on Quality Ingredients
When making salve, herbal oils, or other homemade body care products, it’s essential to use high-quality ingredients. Opting for certified organic options is even better.
Aim to create a healing medicinal product. For instance, use virgin, unrefined, cold-pressed oils whenever possible. Avoid lesser-quality oils that are extracted with solvents, which can introduce contaminants like hexane—known to be a neurological toxin.
Be cautious with non-organic essential oils; as the natural oils in the plant become concentrated in essential oils, so do any pesticides or contaminants present on the plant.
Using high-quality, organic ingredients ensures that your lavender salve is not only effective but also safe for your skin. Enjoy the process of creating a natural remedy that promotes healing and well-being!
INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING LAVENDER SALVE
Prepare Storage Containers:
Have your salve tins, glass jars, or any storage containers ready for the lavender salve.
Set Up Double Boiler:
In the top portion of a double boiler (or a makeshift double boiler), combine 1 cup of lavender-infused oil (or your chosen carrier oil) and 3 to 4 level tablespoons of beeswax (refer to the sliding scale notes above).
If you’re using it, also add 2 tablespoons of shea butter at this point.
Add Water:
Fill the bottom portion of the double boiler with enough water so that the top bowl or pot is resting in the water. This helps create a gentle heat for melting.
Heat the Mixture:
Place the double boiler on the stovetop and heat it over medium-low heat. It’s important to avoid overheating the lavender oil more than necessary to melt the beeswax.
Melt and Combine:
Monitor the mixture closely and stir it routinely until the beeswax (and shea butter, if added) is completely melted. Once fully melted, stir to combine thoroughly.
Remove from Heat:
Immediately take the mixture off the heat once everything is melted and well combined.
Add Essential Oils:
After removing the salve from heat, add the lavender essential oils. Essential oils are volatile and dissipate quickly when exposed to high temperatures, so it’s important to add them at this stage. Whisk the mixture to ensure even distribution.
Pour into Containers:
While the mixture is still hot, carefully pour the liquid lavender salve into your prepared containers. If it starts to solidify while you’re filling the containers, place it back on medium-low heat until it liquifies again.
Cool and Harden:
Set the filled lavender salve containers aside with the lids off, allowing them to fully cool and harden.
Enjoy Your Salve:
Once cooled and set, enjoy your homemade lavender salve for healthy, moisturized skin! Use clean fingers or a salve spoon to collect a small amount and apply as needed. Remember, a little goes a long way!
Feel free to customize your salve with different essential oils or carrier oils to suit your personal preferences. Happy crafting!
CONCLUSION
I hope you’re feeling inspired and ready to create your own healing homemade lavender salve! It’s a personal favorite of ours and makes for a thoughtful gift for loved ones, whether for a special occasion or just because. For storage, keep your salve containers in a cool, dark place. I like to keep one accessible for daily use while storing the others in a cabinet. Homemade lavender salve can last for several years, although its medicinal potency may gradually diminish over time. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask in the comments below! And once you’ve made your own, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to share this post with others. Thank you for reading!
