Living in a dry desert climate like Arizona can take a toll on your skin, especially your face. The harsh conditions and bright sun can lead to dryness, irritation, and premature aging. While we recently published a guide on protecting your hair from the heat, what about protecting your face?
At Headquaters Barbershop, we have our Sensiglow facial that can help with this, but between barber visits there is also a lot that you can do with your grooming routine to keep your face moisturized and healthy. Implementing a proper daily skincare routine is essential to keep your skin healthy and hydrated, so we put together a brief guide tailored for men to protect their face in the dry desert.
Use a gentle, hydrating face wash to cleanse your face twice a day, in the morning and before bedtime. Look for a product that doesn't strip your skin of its natural oils. Be sure to thoroughly wash your face and towel it off each time.
Roughly 2 or 3 times a week, you should exfoliate your skin to remove dead skin cells and promote cell turnover. Opt for a mild exfoliator suitable for your skin type. Over-exfoliation can cause irritation, so avoid doing it daily. This is just something to do every few days to keep dry skin from building up.
A face serum is a potent formula that targets specific skincare concerns. Look for a serum enriched with antioxidants and hydrating ingredients. Serums are usually applied after cleansing and before moisturizing. They will help your moisturizing lotion absorb correctly. Now, a face serum is not absolutely necessary, but here in the desert every little bit of benefit counts. But if you don’t want a serum, don’t sweat it, just pick up the lotions.
Pick up a lightweight, non-greasy daytime moisturizer with a broad-spectrum SPF of at least 30. Despite what you may have heard, you should be wearing some SPF on your face every day, even if you are mostly going to be inside. The SPF will protect your skin from harmful UV rays, which are intensified in desert regions.
Night time lotions provide a richer, more nourishing product that replenishes your skin while you sleep. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides to lock in moisture. It may seem like a lot of effort, managing three different products, but trust us, your face will thank you later.
For those of us with beards, they can often be overlooked in the moisturizing routine. However, the skin under your beard yearns for moisture too! So if you have a beard, invest in a high-quality beard oil. Beard oil helps nourish both your facial hair and the skin underneath. It prevents dryness, itchiness, and beard dandruff while promoting a healthy, lustrous beard.
Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep your skin hydrated from within.
Avoid Hot Water: Use lukewarm water instead of hot water for cleansing to prevent further drying of your skin.
Humidify Your Environment: Consider using a humidifier at home to add moisture to the air and combat the dry desert climate's effects.
Wear Protective Clothing: When outdoors, wear wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses to shield your face from the sun's harsh rays.
Avoid Harsh Ingredients: Stay away from skincare products containing alcohol or fragrances, as they can be drying and irritating to the skin.
Remember that consistency is key for a successful skincare routine. With this simple guide, you can protect your face from the desert's dryness and maintain healthy, nourished skin year-round. And if you are looking for aid in your combat against the Phoenix heat, check out Headquarters Barbershop is Scottsdale where you can get a sensiglow facial treatment and pick up more pro-tips about taking care of your hair and skin in the Arizona desert.
