Should Men Use Facial Serum? Here's How It Can Help Your Skin

Make room in your medicine cabinet — men's facial serums are on the rise. While skincare products traditionally have been marketed to women, the increase of men prioritizing self-care and grooming routines as well as the increase in skincare products marketed directly to men has led to a growing interest in men's facial serums.¹

Curious about what facial serums can do for you? Wondering what a serum even is? Read on to learn the benefits of men's facial serums, how to pick the right serum for your skin and common myths about men's facial serums.

What Is a Facial Serum?

A facial serum is a skincare treatment designed to provide concentrated active ingredients directly to the skin's surface, addressing issues such as wrinkles, pigmentation and textural concerns. Unlike a moisturizer, serums tend to be thinner — yet still potent — making a little go a long way.²

Do Men Need a Facial Serum?

Men may choose to use a facial serum for the same reasons women choose to use them. For example, serums can provide targeted support for specific skin conditions and help support overall skin health. Plus, using a facial serum can be an enjoyable part of a self-care and grooming routine.²

If you are dealing with fine lines or wrinkles, hyperpigmentation or uneven texture, there are facial serums that can help.

Are Men's Facial Serums Different From Women's?

While there are some facial serums marketed specifically to men, in reality a quality facial serum will not be gender-specific, addressing the concerns of men and women alike.³

However, the skin of men and women have a few noticeable differences. In general, men's skin has been found to have:⁴

• Higher sebum content
• Increased skin thickness
• Deeper facial wrinkles
• Increased sagging of the lower eyelid

Men may want to select a facial serum that addresses concerns that are more common for men's skin.

Benefits of Using Men's Facial Serums

While using a facial serum can be part of an enjoyable self-care routine, they can also offer key skincare benefits, such as:²

• Addressing fine lines and wrinkles. If slowing the signs of aging is your primary concern, look for men's facial serums that contain ingredients such as retinol, peptides and vitamin C, which are all designed to address fine lines and wrinkles.
• Improving clogged large pores and skin texture. To encourage the turnover of skin cells, revealing clearer, smoother skin, look for skin serums that include one of these topical acids: salicylic acid, glycolic acid or lactic acid.
• Hydrating dry skin. If you want to give dry skin a boost of moisture and radiance, look for serums that include ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin or panthenol that can both help the skin retain and lock in moisture.
• Improving dull skin and hyperpigmentation. If your skin is looking a little lackluster or showing signs of sun damage, men's facial serums with ingredients such as vitamin C, glycolic acid, kojic acid or niacinamide can help lighten and brighten your complexion.
• Protecting against environmental damage. If you're looking to protect your skin from the free radical damage that can come from pollution, tobacco smoke, alcohol and sun damage, look for serums with vitamins A, C, E, ferulic acid and niacinamide to help counteract environmental damage.⁵

How to Choose the Right Facial Serum for Men

Ready to integrate a facial serum into your routine? Here are the factors you may want to consider as you select the right men's facial serum for you:⁶

• Skin concern. Determining what skin concern you'd like to address should play the biggest role in determining which men's facial serum to use.
• Skin type. Have skin that is acne-prone or overly dry? Be sure you are considering your skin type as you select a facial serum.
• Allergens. If you know you are allergic or sensitive to certain skincare ingredients, be sure to avoid those in a facial serum to prevent excess skin irritation.
• Ethical considerations. For some, researching if a brand tests on animals or manufactures their product in an environmentally conscious manner may play a role in deciding on a facial serum.
• Price. Skin serums are available at a wide variety of price points. Remember that a serum's effectiveness should be based on the amount of active ingredient in the product, which does not always correlate to its price.⁷

Adding Facial Serums to Your Skincare Routine

Applying a facial serum is not complicated, but the order of application does matter. In general, skincare products should be applied from thinnest to thickest to allow adequate penetration of the thinner, more concentrated products.⁸

Here are steps to follow when applying a facial serum:²

1. Clean the skin with a gentle cleanser.
2. Apply a toner or essence, if using.
3. Pat the serum into damp skin to aid absorption.
4. Finish with moisturizer or facial oil to lock in moisture.
5. Apply sunscreen.

How often you use the serum and whether it's appropriate for day use, night use or either will depend greatly on the individual serum. Serums with ingredients such as vitamin C and niacinamide are full of antioxidants and can offer excellent daytime protection against free radicals and environmental damage. Once the sun is down, men may want to use serums with ingredients like vitamin A and glycolic acid, which can make the skin more sensitive to the sun.⁸

Common Misconceptions About Men's Facial Serums

If you're not currently using a serum, you may be confused about some of these common misconceptions about men's facial serums.

Ready to give men's facial serums a try? Why wait? Healthier, smoother, younger-looking skin may just be a serum away.

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Author Bio

Kate Bayless is a health and wellness freelance writer with 15 years of experience. Her work has appeared in Parents, Women's Health, Beachbody and OpenFit.