We all hear about moisturizing and staying hydrated, but what does that actually mean? Well, for starters, moisturizing and hydrating are two separate beasts that shouldn't be used interchangeably. Whether you're new to men's skin care, or a seasoned vet, you've gotta maintain a good balance of moisture and hydration. 

Moisturizing

As almost everyone knows, the skin is the largest organ in your body. Our skin has a natural lipid barrier that helps lock in water and keep it from evaporating. If you experience dry, flaky skin, that is a clear sign that your lipid barrier is depleted and needs to be replenished. If this sounds like you, get that tube of moisturizer out and start applying. 

That irritating, flaky dryness is the stuff of nightmares. Most people deal with this during the winter, but if you've got dry skin, you may even be sporting some dry patches during the summer. It's important to note that different parts of your face can behave differently. Your forehead may be drier than your t-zone, for example, or vice versa. Figure out how your skin behaves and you can treat it most effectively. 

Beau Brummell's Matte Finish Facial Moisturizer is a men's grooming wonder. Where moisturizing is concerned, this men's moisturizer utilizes premium argan oil and caprylic/capric triglyceride to replenish the depleted lipid barrier on your skin. Sometimes, certain actions like washing our face with a harsh cleanser, or spending too much time in a piping hot shower can cause these lipids to break down - which is why it is important for all men to moisturize daily. Keeping that lipid barrier intact seals the moisture in your skin, otherwise known as....

Hydration

Now that you know moisturizing refers to maintaining a healthy lipid barrier on the surface of your skin, lets move to hydration. Hydration refers to the amount of water in your skin. There are two ways to get water in your skin:

1. Drink water. Frequently. 

2. Absorb the water from the environment around you. 

You should always be drinking an adequate amount of water. Our bodies depend on water. In fact, 60% of your body weight is attributed to water. If you don't replenish the water in your body constantly, it will begin to break down. According to the Mayo Clinic, men need to take in about 15.5 cups of water per day. Fret not, lots of the water we need comes from the foods we eat. That "drink 8 cups of water a day" saying is a reasonable goal that can and should be achieved by all men. 

The environment around us dictates how much water is retained in our skin, however. Drinking 8 cups a day is a great thing, but if you're sweating bullets, you're losing that water. So, you want to make sure that the products you are using contain humectants. Humectants are products that absorb water from the surrounding air. The Matte Finish Facial Moisturizer uses urea - a potent humectant, to provide this service to you. 

Moisturizing, Hydrating and Men's Skin Care

At Beau Brummell, we pride ourselves on our formulations. We make sure that the products we craft are designed to work better on a man's skin. Men have physically denser and thicker skin, as compared to women. Men's skin also contains more pores, and the size of our pores is larger. Lastly, men tend to have more active sweat glands. What does it all mean? 

1. Men's skin needs more water to stay properly hydrated. 

2. Men's skin needs a more powerful lipid barrier to stay moisturized longer. 

3. Men lose more water through sweating, accentuating the need for humectants.

The Matte Finish Moisturizer checks all these boxes (provided you are drinking enough water). This formula has the added benefit that it absorbs quickly and dries on matte. You won't feel this stuff on your skin. Unlike other moisturizers from men's grooming companies we won't name, there will be no greasy/shiny/messy residue left behind on your skin. Just the thing for your vanity.