10 Skin Brightening Tips for Men
It’s no shame for a man to aspire for flawless, bright and glowing skin! While it’s more popular among women, skin care isn’t just the women’s arena – men have the same skin troubles too. They face the same, if not more challenges in maintaining their healthy, natural glow.
The lack of proper care can turn any kind of skin dull and devoid of its natural shine. There’s tons of tips and tricks out there for women. So let’s explore how men can fight dullness and brighten their skin too!
1. Protect your skin from the sun
Sunscreen is your skin-guard – it’s absolutely essential! In fact, exposure to the sun is the main reason skin becomes dull in the first place. The UV radiation from the sun penetrates deep into the layers of the skin to increase the production of melanin – the skin pigment. This causes skin tanning and darkening as well as sunspots. UV radiation also triggers inflammation which further damages the skin with scars and sunburns.
Wear a high-SPF whitening sunscreen or sunblock whenever you step out – even on cloudy days! Sunscreens work by dissipating the UV radiation through a chemical reaction so that it can’t penetrate deeper into the skin. Sunblocks contain certain natural minerals that reflect UV radiation to prevent it from entering the skin.
Wear sunscreen half an hour before you step out and reapply every hour to keep your skin constantly protected. Complement your sunscreen with sun-protective clothes and accessories. Opt for full pants and full-sleeved shirts whenever you can; wear sunglasses and hats or caps.
2. Cleanse your skin every day
Dirt and grime collect on the skin even if you have an indoor job and even in the cleanest of environments. Cleanse every day to keep your skin clean and free from dullness.
Cleansing isn’t the same as washing your face with that bar of soap! In fact, it’s best to get rid of those conventional soap bars as they’re extremely harsh on the skin. They strip the skin off its natural oils and moisture to make it dry and vulnerable to damage.
Instead, opt for a mild cleanser that gets rid of dirt and excess oil while being skin-friendly. Look for alcohol-free options and also exclude chemicals like artificial colors, parabens and artificial fragrances that can make the skin sensitive. Cleanse at least once every day, preferably twice.
3. Exfoliate regularly
Skin cells go through a natural cycle where some cells die and are replenished by new ones. The dead skin cells are shed by the skin and they tend to collect as a layer making the skin appear dull. Cleansing isn’t sufficient to slough off the dead skin layer.
Dead skin also accumulates in the pores of the skin, mixed with excess oil and dirt. Clogged pores not only make the skin look dull, but also develop into acne which can further add to the dullness. Acne can also become inflamed leading to pimples and scars that can mar the skin.
Exfoliate your skin at least twice every week. Use a scrub with a mild abrasion to clean out the pores and slough off the dead skin layer on the skin. This will also stimulate the skin to rejuvenate with new cells to not just remove that dullness but also to add a glow and brightness to your skin.
4. Moisturize like your skin depends on it!
Our skin has a natural moisture barrier that keeps the cells moist for optimal functioning as well as protected from external harmful elements. But all skin tends to get dry and dehydrated due to washing, dry climate, etc. Dry skin looks dull and tends to flake and itch and is highly prone to damage.
Moisturizing helps the skin retain its moisture to keep it supple and hydrated. Hydrated skin means the skin cells are functioning healthily which means bright and glowing skin! Moisturize your skin every time you cleanse it. Also moisturize at night before going to bed to help the skin cells restore.
If your skin tends to be dry or you live in a cold, dry climate, opt for moisturizing creams and balms. For oily or combination skin, stick to light lotions instead.
5. Eat loads of antioxidants
Your diet can make a huge difference too! Antioxidants help reverse sun damage and return your lost glow. Antioxidants include vitamin A, C, E, polyphenols, flavonoids, beta-carotene and several other minerals. They neutralize the free radicals released upon oxidation by UV rays to protect the skin from damage.
Include fresh fruits and vegetables, especially leafy vegetables, seafood, nuts, lean meat and whole foods to get that antioxidant boost from your diet.
6. Beauty sleep isn’t just for women!
Sleep is crucial for the skin as it’s when the skin cells restore, repair and rejuvenate. Your skin is constantly under attack by external and internal factors. Sleep is when the skin cells combat and reverse the damage. It also keeps stress in check so you can have healthy, glowing skin. Get at least 7 hours of sleep every day.
7. Scrub your skin with a turmeric-oatmeal mix
There’s nothing like making your own dullness-fighting scrubs to treat your skin with some all-natural therapy! Try this scrub for a mix of natural exfoliation and skin whitening. Turmeric has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that heal and restore damaged skin. Oatmeal sloughs off dead skin cells and pacifies the skin.
Take a cup of oatmeal and grind it to make a fine powder. Add 1tsp of turmeric. Apply this mix on the face with some water and massage gently in circles.
8. Try a lemon-honey face pack
This skin whitening face pack has the goodness of honey for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect as well as lemon for its bleaching action. Mix 1tbsp lemon with 1tbsp honey and apply this mix on the face. Leave it on for 20 minutes before rinsing.
9. Make a papaya-sugar scrub
Papaya contains the enzyme papain which helps lighten scars and any other kinds of pigmentation. Sugar crystals give the scrub the right abrasion to exfoliate the skin.
Take a slice of ripe papaya and mash it with a spoon to make a paste. Add 1tbsp of fine sugar and massage the mix gently on the face.
10. Scrub tomato slices dipped in sugar
Tomatoes are rich in vitamins and amino acids that lighten the skin. They contain Lycopene – an antioxidant that fights free radical damage to restore skin brightness. Simply cut up a tomato into 4-5 slices. Dip the slices in some fine-granulated sugar and massage them on the skin in circles.
