Ice Age Generation Men’s Skincare Strategies for Men in Their 40s. Black Skin Debt Can Still Be Liquidated

The men of the Ice Age generation, at the threshold of the lost 30 years, were clad in a different kind of heat from that of social stagnation. We did not simply wilt as we passed through a period of joblessness due to the recession, competition that was hard to reward, and a time when it was easy to take a hit in any way. The dark skin we wore in the “gyaru-o” culture and the habit of scrubbing our faces with face scrubs were unquestionably the right thing to do for us back then. But now that they are in their 40s, the UV damage, over-washing, and neglect of moisturizing habits of those days are starting to show up on their skin as spots, dryness, dullness, and sagging. The problem is not aging itself. It is that we look tired, that our sense of cleanliness is diminished, and that even if we dress and do our hair well, our face no longer catches up to our appearance. What is needed now, therefore, is not to pursue rejuvenation, but skin care to re-tone the skin and regain the cleanliness and fearlessness of an adult man. This is where the turnaround begins.

Well-toned skin reminds us of self-control, intelligence, and even the luxury of life

The 40s is the time when the return on beauty investments is highest. This is because in this age group, both the cost of neglect and the results of care tend to show directly on the face. Dryness, dullness, disorganized pores, and tired skin. The combination of these changes alone makes a person look more tired than his or her actual age. On the other hand, simply reducing these changes can make a remarkable difference to the overall impression of the face. 30-somethings still have a lot of youth left in them, and it is difficult to see the difference when they take care of their skin and when it is left untreated. On the other hand, in one’s fifties, while it is of course possible to rewind, it takes more time and effort to make changes and to establish them. In this respect, the 40s are different. Whereas the well-defined skin of one’s 20s is perceived as youthfulness, the well-defined skin of one’s 40s evokes not only self-control and intelligence, but also the image of a person who can afford to live well. This is the privilege of adults. The goal is not to imitate youth. The goal is to restore a sense of cleanliness and fearlessness befitting an aged face, and to create an impression of skin that correctly conveys what one has accumulated. When the skin is in good shape, the hair and clothes come to life, and investing in skin in one’s 40s is not just an act of beauty. It is an extremely rational strategy to rebuild one’s overall impression.

Iron rule 1 for men's skin care in their 40sApply sunscreen, don't rub skin

The trouble with ice age skin is that it tends to continue to add to its debt even now more than it already has debt from its youth. We pile more unprotected UV rays onto skin that has been burned in the past. We continue to add friction from washing, shaving, and toweling to skin that has been scrubbed with face scrubs. The first step in skin care in one’s 40s is not to add something to the list of things that add points, but to eliminate the factors that subtract points. Apply sunscreen. Don’t scrub your skin when washing your face or shaving. It may not be glamorous, but this thorough defense is the foundation to stop the progression of spots, dullness, dryness, and rough skin, and to regain a clean and fearless appearance. Protect before attacking. This is the most important step in investing in your skin in your 40s.

Iron rule 2 of men's skin care in their 40sStop over-washing and moisturize daily

For men of the Ice Age generation, washing the face was an act of removing sebum. The right thing to do is to wash your face to the point that it becomes tight. If you are still under the impression that washing your face is the right thing to do, you need to rethink your attitude, because in your 40s, over-washing and over-fatting can easily lead to dryness, uneven texture, dullness, and enlarged pores. The trouble is that, contrary to the refreshed feeling one is looking for, the appearance of tiredness tends to take precedence over cleanliness. Therefore, what is necessary is not to wash too hard, but not to wash too much. After washing, it is necessary to moisturize the skin daily. Lotion and milky lotion are not ornaments for the conscious man. They are basic equipment to reduce dullness and texture caused by dryness, to improve the texture of the skin, and to prevent the damage caused by shaving from dragging on. Wash with foam. Do not rub. Even a thorough application of these basic principles can change the appearance of skin in one’s 40s. The second rule is to keep the skin dry.

Iron rule 3 of men's skin care in their 40sGood lipids for dryness, vitamin C and zinc for hard-to-heal

What is important in the supply line in your 40s is not to aim for a vaguely balanced diet. It is to determine the axis of supplementation according to one’s skin problems. If you are prone to dryness, tightness, or roughness, you want to be aware of good fats such as blue fish, nuts, seed nuts, and olive oil. On the other hand, if you experience prolonged redness and roughness after shaving or slow healing of rough skin, vitamin C and zinc are important. In addition, as a foundation, protein, which is a material for skin, should not be overlooked. It is important to redesign your diet and supplements according to your skin problems, such as fat for dryness and vitamin C and zinc for slow healing. Iron rule number three is a thorough obsession with nutrients.

Lethal Weapon for Men's Skin Care in Their 40sUse cosmetic medicine for problems that cannot be solved by self-care

Even with the three iron rules mentioned above, there are still some problems that remain. In particular, the skin of the Ice Age generation, who lived in an era when dark skin was justified and had no hesitation in exposing their skin to ultraviolet rays, has a debt that is difficult to move beyond self-care alone. For example, dark spots remain, pores are difficult to regain, and the skin has lost its elasticity with age. These changes take too much time to resolve with home care alone, and there are limits to what can be achieved. This is why cosmetic medicine is the lethal weapon in men’s skin care for men in their 40s. What is important is not what is in vogue, but what you apply to your problems. For example, IPL light therapy for spots that remain as color, and Potenza for pores and texture disorder, etc., should be considered separately for each problem. Cosmetic medicine is not for glorification. It is a means to rationally deal with the longstanding debt that the Ice Age generation has incurred.

Organizing Priorities and Criteria for Rolling BackIce Age Men's Skin Care Q&A for Men in Their 40s

So far, we have organized strategies for Ice Age Men in their 40s to roll back skin debt. However, there are still some issues that are easy to get lost in, such as priorities, limitations of self-care, and when to proceed to cosmetic medicine when actually trying to move forward. Finally, we will organize the questions that are likely to be encountered in the practical stage in a Q&A format.

If the effects of an old sunburn are strong, which should be addressed first: spots, pores, or lack of firmness?Regulating pores and lack of firmness before spots

Blemishes are easily visible, but it is often the loss of texture due to visible pores and lack of firmness that first ages the overall impression of the face. This is because it is easy to look tired from a distance, and even the sense of cleanliness is easily shaved off. First, prepare the skin’s foundation with sunscreen, anti-abrasion measures, and moisturizers to minimize the “tired look” caused by pores and lack of firmness. Then, it is more reasonable for men in their 40s to treat the spots that remain as color, including cosmetic treatments.

Is it enough to apply sunscreen only in summer?Sunscreen should be applied daily in all seasons

The skin of the Ice Age generation already has past UV damage and needs to stop adding to it. We cannot ignore the accumulation of everyday activities such as commuting, sales, shopping, and waiting outdoors, as well as mid-summer leisure activities. Sunscreen should be considered a daily line of defense, not an event response.

If moisturizing makes it sticky, what should I do?If it's sticky, don't stop moisturizing, rethink how and how much you wash

If moisturizer makes you feel sticky, it is often not that you don’t need moisturizer per se, but that it is an operational problem, such as over-washing, over-applying, or being too heavy on the oil in the morning. The first thing to review is whether you are de-greasing too much or applying more layers than necessary. It is also effective to adjust the time of day, such as using a lighter layer in the morning and a slightly firmer layer in the evening. It is necessary to think of modifying the application method to suit one’s skin, rather than eliminating moisturizing.

Where should I start with supplements?Don't choose supplements based on fads, but focus on your weaknesses

Supplements should not be chosen based on fads, but rather in response to one’s own skin concerns. If you are prone to dry, tight, or rough skin, the first candidate is omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 is a component of cell membranes, and a deficiency of essential fatty acids can lead to dry, rough skin and dermatitis. If you rarely eat blue fish, it makes sense to consider a fish oil supplement. If you have prolonged redness and roughness after shaving or slow healing of rough skin, vitamin C, which is involved in collagen synthesis and wound healing, and zinc, which is involved in cell division and wound healing, are priority candidates. If the amount of food itself is unstable and the breakfast and lunch proteins are thin, then first stabilize the foundation with protein. In other words, omega-3s for dryness, vitamin C and zinc for difficulty in healing, and protein if the diet is out of order. Think in this order and you will reduce the waste of supplementation.

When should I consider cosmetic treatment?If no change after 3 months of hard work, consider cosmetic treatment

If after three months of sunscreen, anti-friction measures, daily moisturizing, and dietary changes, you still don’t see any results and your problems persist, it’s time to consider cosmetic medicine. Especially for dark spots, pores, and wrinkles, it is more reasonable to determine the indications for medical treatment earlier than to pull too much out of home care alone. Cosmetic treatment should be viewed as a decision to increase the speed of resolution, not a cut-and-dried approach.