Before you hit that ‘Buy Now’ button, we wanted to put together a little guide that explains why Sunscreen specially formulated for a man’s skin actually makes sense for you:

How Men’s Skin Differs: 

Men actually have thicker skin than women, thanks to our increased androgen and testosterone levels, which give our skin a much tougher texture.

Men’s skin also has more collagen, and as the amount of collagen in our skin is directly related to aging, men’s skin can often appear younger than a woman’s of the same age.

However, we men tend to be lazy, and we don’t usually put as much effort into caring for our skin as women do. As a result, this difference in skin age is barely noticeable.

That’s why sunscreen is so important, especially if you wish to maintain a youthful appearance. UV light dramatically speeds up the aging process, and can add years the skin’s age.

Applying Sunscreen

Using sunscreen properly isn’t as obvious as you might think.

It’s easy to feel that, that since you’re only heading out for a little while, you don’t need any sunscreen.

But for the best protection, you should apply sunscreen every day – not just when you’re spending a day at the beach.

But the effects of the sun sneak up easily. It only takes about 15 minutes to start burning on a bright day, and UV rays don’t take a break from September to April.

If applying sunscreen every day seems like a lot of work, or you don’t think you’ll remember to add it to your morning routine, there are a lot of aftershave balms and facial moisturizers with sunscreen built in – usually between 15 and 30 SPF.

This should be adequate for daily activities, where sun exposure is not prolonged or intense. Find a lotion you like, and apply it after shaving to keep your face young and fresh all-year round.

If you are bald or balding, you need to be especially vigilant. Your head will be exposed to harmful UV rays in all seasons, and you need to either wear a hat or start applying sunscreen daily.

If you are quite fair-skinned, or come from a country in Western or Northern Europe, you will be even more susceptible.

Lastly, if you come from a family with a history of skin ailments, protecting your skin should be of utmost importance.

Be careful not to go out without a hat, wear long sleeves if you can, and be sure to apply sunscreen to any uncovered areas. You should always check yourself once a month and book an appointment with your dermatologist should anything look suspicious in order to ensure that your skin is in tip-top shape.

Sunscreen Ratings Demystified

You’re probably familiar with terms on your sunscreen like “SPF30” or “SPF15”, but what does that actually mean?

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, and is the rating used to determine how much protection from the sun a sunscreen offers.

SPF15 blocks about 93% of all harmful UVB rays. SPF30 blocks around 97%, while an SPF50 might block 98%.

Keep in mind, however, that even if it is rated with a high SPF, sunscreen should still be re-applied every few hours. Sweat, water, clothing and poor application will all cause sunscreen to wear off over time, and you should reapply every few hours if you’re staying outside for long periods of time.

With all that in mind, here’s a list of some of the best sunscreens and lotions to help you out:

Best Sunscreen For Men In 2017

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