How to formulate male skincare

Male skincare formula tip #1: Men have much more sebum in their skin.

Men have much more sebum in their skin than women over their entire lifetime. They also have larger pores, which mean their skin is more prone to excess oiliness, blackheads and pimples. While this extra sebum helps protect their skin from early signs of ageing, it means moisturizing formulas for men need to have a low (or no) oil content – use light esters or silicone based formulas instead. And no, contrary to misinformation out there, silicones will not clog pores but instead provide a light, breathable emolliency that has a non-greasy finish. If you want to create a more natural formula, look for naturally derived esters in place of plant oils. If you want to use a plant oil for marketing or nutrient benefits, keep the input very low, as plant oils can feel very heavy and greasy on male skin.

Because of the extra sebum, men will also need cleansing formulas that foam and cleanse pores deeply. Make sure your facial cleansers for men give a good clean and foam to leave him satisfied with the result. Exfoliant formulas should also be created for regular, even daily, use – so ensure they provide a gentle yet thorough exfoliation.

Male skincare formula tip #2: Humectants and herbal extracts are great formulation additions.

Humectants are an unsung moisturizing hero in skincare formulas – they boost suppleness and hydration in the skin without any sort of residual greasiness. Make sure you are using non-tacky humectants such as propanediol or butylene glycol, and limit the input of glycerin because this can feel a little sticky if used in excess.

You will also want to include some herbal extracts that focus on tightening pores or energizing the skin – these may also be in a humectant base carrier so can be great additions to your male skincare formulas. Think: hemp, green tea and ginkgo to get started…

Male skincare formula tip #3: Incorporate actives to suit male skincare and scalp formula needs.

When it comes to incorporating actives for their skin, make sure you include energizing actives and ingredients to tighten the pores. When it comes to scalp formulas, consider actives that will support healthy hair growth and combat any signs of dandruff or early signs of grey hair.

Skin and scalp formulas must be light and non-tacky, so serums can be a great way to introduce actives into their skin and scalp care regimen.

Male skincare formula tip #4: Remember the essential hygiene products – and keep fragrance subtle.

Even though today’s male consumer is much more savvy with his skincare and personal care product needs, he still has essential hygiene needs such as deodorants and shaving products.

Shaving products are now much more sophisticated than they were in the past – think aloe for calming and soothing as well as different product forms to take care of their daily hygiene needs.

The male consumer of today is also very conscious of his aroma, and he doesn’t want much from his skin care products. He would rather choose his fragrance by using an Eau De Toilette than have it linger from his skincare – so keep the fragrance input of your skin, scalp and beard care formulas low so it doesn’t clash.

Male skincare formula tip #5: Add facial hair formulas to your product range.

Finally, a male skincare and grooming range would not be complete without some facial hair care products too. These facial hair care products need to address specific styling needs, whilst still caring for the skin beneath. Get inspired by our video on how to make beard butter.

So, there you go – how to create male skincare and personal care formulas in a nutshell – now its over to you to get creative and follow these tips for male skincare and grooming products.

Happy formulating!