Dominating the beauty industry, Korean skincare brands are without a doubt the most inclusive of the male market segment. Oblivious to aggressive marketing, faux-sculine fragrance, and lumberjack packaging, K-Beauty ‘for men’ is actually driven and inspired by K-Pop boybands. On a recent visit to The Face Shop (if you’re in NYC, opt for the cleaner and better lit Chinatown location over K-town), a few ‘guys only’ formulas made it to my basket accidentally on purpose. And no, none of them turned me into a dewy complected, elf-like, androgynous Korean heartthrob. Nor improved my Gangnam Style saddle dance moves. Skin looks and feels amazing though!
First of all, there is a crazy misconception about male vs. female skin. Yes, our skin is thicker and we do exfoliate through shaving but thicker skin requires more than a razor to improve its tone and texture. Our pores are as prone to congestion and dryness and can be as frustrating. All skincare basics apply universally: moisturize and wear sunscreen. Males, too have normal, dry, combination, oily, or sensitive skin. A massive perk of K-Beauty is that their gender specific formulas are easily distinguishable from the generic mass-culine scents that saturate the American market. Think green, herbal, aquatic, and airy aromas that go on your face without being in your face. Below are a couple of my recent favorites.
Because every grooming ritual begins with a clean face, the Herb Day 365 Cleansing Foam in spearmint is a great pick, especially for guys with combination or oily skin. If you’ve tried foaming face washes from Asia, you may be familiar with their rich, thick lather. Less is more for your daily cleanse. Basic yet appealing and user friendly, this ‘for men’ labeled version highlights some great antibacterial cleansing agents in addition to the brand’s blend of Ivy, Evening Primrose, Rosemary, Sage, and Thyme Leaf Extracts. The ‘spearmint’ aroma is refreshing and uplifting and neither resembles chewing gum nor toothpaste. Practical also…the 170ml tube will last for months.
In a world with countless choices to help achieve a close shave, I remain a minimalist. Gels are okay, creams are fine, but a shaving foam is that to which I most often gravitate. The Fresh For Men Shaving Foam is probably among my best Face Shop discoveries. Rich and thick, it has the creamiest whipped consistency and stays in place, which helps any razor achieve a close shave. Infused with Laurel Leaf Tea Extract, it is also soothing and comforting for those with a heavy hand like me. Other perks: non-drying, slim can perfect for travel, fresh and clean aroma.
Lastly, crucial to achieving and maintaining a youthful complexion, sunscreen is the most neglected yet insanely important step in a grooming regimen. For any skin type. Sadly as much as I love Korean sunscreen formulas (never a white cast or oil slick, ever), I finally figured out what the PA+ ratings mean (the more + signs, the stronger UV protection) they are just not as perfect as I imagined. Yes, they absorb beautifully, and if you’re a guy who needs a traceless application, these are great. However, without offering broad spectrum protection, the skin is still exposed to harmful UVB rays. UVA causes deep, long term sun damage. UVB is burning the superficial layers of the skin, which can lead to cancer. With that said, I am absolutely loving the just launched The Fresh For Men Oil Absorbing Sun Cream SPF50+ PA+++ but I will not rely on it on the hottest summer day between 10am and 4pm. For those with oily skin and who sport an urban lifestyle, this is a great everyday option. Weekends on the boat or long boozy brunches alfresco? Look for something else with ‘broad spectrum’ on the label.
Besides super creepy employees who follow you everywhere, The Face Shop is a great place to explore Korean skincare imports. Never leave without a sheet mask or ten and surprisingly enough, I found the store brand face mists make amazing aftershave skin soothers. Look up the Chia one. As always, if The Face Shop isn’t anywhere near you, you can’t go wrong with exploring Amazon.com! Other popular brands worth exploring: Tony Moly, Nature Republic, Benton and Innisfree.
I love this post! 🌿 Makes me want to try the spearmint cleanser even though I’m a WOman.
The +++ means UVA protection, in fact every asian sunscreen has UVA protection.