⚠️ First, ditch the soap bar, it ain't working and while you're at it, the 4-in-one product for your face, skin, balls and hair too - it's too good to be true. 

Skincare is daunting - we get it. But as intimidating as it is, it’s super important for good grooming. When it comes to self-care routines, just a little extra time and effort gets you big rewards later down the line. Taking care of your skin ensures it looks its best both now and in decades to come, so you can look and feel like your best 💪🏾

When you’re young and invincible, it’s hard to picture that not moisturising or washing your face twice a day has any real impact on the way you look and feel,  but doing these small things at the same time you’re young, and staying consistent throughout your life, make for a better-looking, better-feeling, future you. Kinda like investing. Or hitting the gym.

We’re covering everything from the basics of skincare to the deeper details of how it all works 💆🏻

How To Develop Your Skincare Routine

If you’re new to the world of skincare, it’s unnerving, and chock-full of confusing names, medical jargon or cheap products that just don't work. 

Here’s how to develop a skincare routine that’ll truly keep your skin healthy and happy, and protected as you age. 

Step 1 – Identify your Skin Type 🕵🏼‍♂️

Your skin is one of these skin types: dry, oily, sensitive, combination, or normal, let's see where you fit:

• Dry skin is often itchy or flaky.
• Oily skin is greasy, shiny and prone to acne.
• Sensitive skin may react to a lot of skincare products, and can often burn or sting when you use them.
• Combination skin is dry in some areas but oily in others.
• Normal skin is just right. It’s not overly oily, but not dry either. It’s much less sensitive, and most products work well with this skin type.

Your skin type can change with age and can even vary between seasons. It might get dryer as you get older, or in winter if you live in an area with dry winter seasons.

Step 2 – Choose a Cleanser 🧼

Cleaning your face is essential. Even if you don’t put a ton of products on your face, your skin is exposed to pollution, dirt, germs, and even its excess oils day in and day out, so cleansing twice a day is a must for any skincare routine.

Pick a facial cleanser that caters to your skin type. If your skin is dry or sensitive, opt for a non-abrasive cleanser. If it's oily, go with something oil-free. 

If you’re prone to breakouts, choose an exfoliating cleanser with acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.

When shopping for a cleanser, the packaging should indicate which skin types it’s best used on. If it's like our cleanser (coming soon!), it will be a heavy lifter working on all skin types. 

Step 3 – Moisturise! 🧴

No matter your skin type, after cleansing, you need to lock in moisture to protect your skin throughout the day or night. A good moisturiser will keep your skin hydrated so it doesn’t lose too much water. This will help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as soothe the skin and keep bacteria and viruses out.

You can find different types of moisturisers based on your personal preferences and skin type. For example, you can find dual-purpose moisturisers with SPF included, anti-aging moisturisers, water-based moisturisers for oily skin, cream moisturisers for dry skin, and fragrance-free moisturisers for sensitive skin.

If you have dry skin, consider carrying some moisturiser with you so you can reapply as needed.

Step 4 – Protect your Skin from the Sun 🌞
(AM only) 

Aging is inevitable, but what if we told you the sun speeds the process up? Even the normal sun exposure you experience day-to-day (yup, even if you spend all day indoors) affects your skin’s ability to stay firm, hydrated, and undamaged.

Sun exposure causes photo-aging, which means the sun reduces your skin’s collagen and elastin production so it gets more wrinkly and saggy. It also increases melanin production leading to hyperpigmentation (patchy discolouration).

 We recommend finding a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 50, particularly in our South African sun.

Step 5 – Night Serum 😴 (PM only)

Applying a serum at night after cleansing is a sure way to target skin concerns and help your skin get optimal R&R while you sleep.

The &BAM Serum is the all-rounder that will help any man look his best, with active ingredients that target a bunch of skin concerns.

• Niacinamide packs a vitamin B punch, strengthening your skin’s protective barrier, soothing inflammation and breakouts, and boosting cell turnover to recover from aging and sun damage. 
• Spherulite R-10 is a stabilised retinol in the &BAM Serum. It increases regeneration, smoothing out texture, scarring, fine lines, and wrinkles.
• Unitamuron H-22 provides insane hydration, soothes redness, aids faster recovery from acne and other wounds, and boosts your skin’s natural elasticity.
• Ferulic Acid targets free radicals that could cause faster aging, and helps your skin recover from sun damage and hyperpigmentation. 
• ATP is the energy kick your skin needs for bolstered cell turnover, natural elasticity, smoother texture, and added hydration.

Together these ingredients target acne, scarring, sun damage, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation, and give your skin the extra shot of kickass it needs to look and feel incredible.

Concern-specific Treatments 

After cleansing, you apply products that target specific concerns of yours like acne or wrinkles, for example. This is an optional step when you apply serums, eye creams, night creams, spot treatments, and anti-aging creams.

If you don’t have any specific skin concerns, you can skip this step, but keep in mind you may need to re-evaluate your routine as you age or as your lifestyle changes. For example, you might want to include a wrinkle treatment when you hit your 30s, or hydrating night cream if you’ve been spending more time in the sun, but keep reading for more on that.

A simple 3-step routine is perfect to get you going. Cleanse + moisturise + serum = the perfect start for skin that slaps 👏

The Takeaway

Your skin is your largest organ, and it’s your ultimate protective armour against pollution, germs, and the elements. Having a solid routine keeps it hydrated so it can do its job well, and boosts recovery, keeping you looking young and fresh in the process. It’s safe to say your skin does a lot for you, the least you could do is moisturise. 😉

Early Access: Sign up here to be notified when &BAM Skin launches, you don't want to miss this! 👀

-

The articles published by &BAM are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. If you have any medical questions or concerns, you should contact your doctor.