The Top 5 Most Searched For Men’s Grooming Concerns – And How To Fix Them
Image by: Kiehl's
From how to address fine lines to tackling blemishes head on, with the help of Kiehl's, Gently has the answers to your biggest skincare questions.
In 2024, we are living in a golden age of men’s skincare. We’ve come a long way from the days of gender-specific products and men whose only notion of a facial routine included a quick splash of water. Nowadays, skincare brands are predominantly unisex; recognising that the most common skin concerns - clogged, enlarged pores, anti-ageing, dark and tired under eyes, and tackling oily skin and blemishes - are shared by all.
Whilst the desire for smooth, glowing skin is universal, skin types are not. No brand understands this more than Kiehl's; skincare experts who have been championing men’s skincare for years now (an astounding third of Kiehl’s customers are male!). It’s not surprising - Kiehl’s minimalist, apothecary-inspired packaging is brilliantly unisex (it looks good in anyone’s bathroom cabinet), their products are scientifically formulated and can actually be trusted. A rare feat in an increasingly overpopulated skincare market.
With the help of the experts at Kiehl’s, we at Gently are eager to dive deeper into the world of male skincare. Where best to start than with the most searched for grooming concerns? From those pesky enlarged pores to trouble with tired under eyes, these are the most popular terms you’ve been punching into your keyboard - and how exactly to fix them.
Kiehl's
Rare Earth Clay Mask
£33.50
Treatment:
Enlarged pores tend to be a symptom of having oilier skin - it’s to do with an increased amount of sebum production which causes decreased elasticity around the pore. As a result, it’s easier for them to get clogged with dirt and grime. Luckily, there’s plenty of options out there to reduce the appearance and decongest.
To clean deep into the pores, Kiehl’s recommends their Rare Earth Clay Mask as a treatment. Formulated with mineral-rich Amazonian White Clay, this once a week mask gently draws out oil, dirt and toxins whilst Oatmeal and Aloe Vera help to soothe the skin.
For an everyday treatment, we recommend Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser, which uses the same White Clay formula in a gentle, daily exfoliating face wash that won't strip skin of moisture.
Once you’ve got down to the root of the problem, then it’s all about reducing the appearance - and that’s where MicroBlur Perfector comes in. This nifty, lightweight skin smoother visibly transforms skin in seconds and instantly diminishes the appearance of pores. Overtime, you’ll also see a difference in skin texture too - something that can be boosted further with regular exfoliation using Epidermal Re-Texturizing Micro-Dermabrasion. With regular, tri-weekly use, Kiehl's Micro-Dermabrasion not only helps to visibly minimise pore size and smooth face texture, but also discolorations and small marks on the face. This means skin is better prepped to receive other treatments and they are more effective.
Kiehl's
Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing & Dark Circle-Diminishing Vitamin C Eye Serum
£47.00
Treatment:
Dark circles aren’t defined by skin type or tone. Sometimes they’re the result of lifestyle - think one too many late nights, early mornings, stress, dehydration or poor diet. Other times it’s down to pigmentation (caused by genetics or even the sun) or poor circulation.
It is important to note that you cannot remove dark circles, but Kiehl's has plenty of ways to reduce their appearance with targeted eye-care products. Applying a Vitamin C enriched eye cream such as the Kiehl’s Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing & Dark Circle-Diminishing Vitamin C Eye Serum - also packed with a potent mix of Tri-Peptide and Hyaluronic Acid - targets and improves the look of fine lines and crow’s feet. Added glycerine also targets under eye dehydration and plumps up the fragile under eye area.
For extra anti-ageing properties, you’ll appreciate the Pro-Retinol enriched Youth Dose Eye Treatment which will instantly smooth and brighten under eyes.
Sometimes the easiest way to treat the delicate skin around the eye is at night. Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye is a powerful restorative eye cream specially formulated with Butcher’s Broom, Squalane, Evening Primrose and Lavender - all potent anti-ageing and soothing ingredients that work together to give you fresher, younger looking eyes by the morning.
For on-the-go treatment, we also love Kiehl's Eye Fuel, which offers instant cooling relief and - with Caffeine and Vitamin B3 - visibly reduces the appearance of dark circles.
Kiehl’s
Powerful Strength Line reducing Concentrate
£75.00
Treatment:
Before you even get to skincare, there are some golden rules to follow if you want to keep on youth’s good side. Firstly, quit smoking. Secondly, monitor your diet and ensure it’s full of antioxidants and water (and less so on the drink and junk). Thirdly, always use an SPF and keep out of the sun. Lastly, call in the cavalry with high quality anti-ageing products such as Kiehl’s Powerful Strength Line reducing Concentrate.
This vitamin C serum is clinically-demonstrated to boost the skin’s radiance whilst visibly reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles. It features 10.5% L-Ascorbic Acid - a great strength - and 2% Ascorbyl Glucoside, alongside Hyaluronic Acid to help skin retain moisture.
Another great everyday option is a daily cream or moisturiser like the Rosa Arctica Lightweight Cream - formulated with the rare “Resurrection Flower” - or Super Multi-Corrective Cream SPF 30 for protection against UV rays. By pairing a SPF with an antioxidant you'll be providing your skin with added protection.
Prefer oils? Midnight Recovery is a brand best-seller for a reason - it's packed with 99.8% naturally-derived ingredients like Lavender Essential Oil, Primrose Oil, and Kiehl’s-signature ingredient squalane to inject skin with a powerful dose of hydration, replenish skin as you sleep and support its natural overnight recovery process. It's no wonder why it's the UK’s number one luxury anti-ageing facial oil!
Kiehl's
Ultra Facial Cleanser for Oily Skin Types
£22.00
Treatment:
You oily skin types have been busy on the search front, haven’t you? Looking for ways to ditch the shine and beat blemishes. But don’t stress too much, because oily skin tends to show fewer signs of ageing - and there’s plenty of quality skincare options to help you keep it under control in the meantime. It’s all about getting into a routine with targeting solutions formulated specifically for oily skin.
Kick off your shine-free skincare routine by prepping your skin with a great oil-free cleanser such as the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser for Oily Skin Types. This formula contains Imperata Cylindrica Root, which contains high concentrations of potassium to provide an immediate and lasting hydrating effect without oiliness.
Follow with Ultra Facial Toner for Oily Skin Types to reduce the appearance of excess residue, followed by the brand’s non-greasy Oil Eliminating Moisturiser for lightweight moisture. Finish with Ultra Light UV Defense SPF50 - a lightweight, non-greasy SPF - and you’re good to go!
£0.00
Treatment:
The odd blemish happen to the best of us, and there are a few ways to keep them in check. Firstly, review what’s going into your body before concentrating on the outside. Are you getting enough vitamins from fruit and veg? Have you been a bit too eager on sugary treats and drinking? Hormonal acne sufferers may even see dairy affect their skin so it’s great to monitor and explore diet changes to see their impact. For acne and widespread, recurring blemishes you should speak to your GP, but for occasional blemishes, skincare can help.
To tackle blemishes from the outside, begin by cleansing skin of dirt and impurities with the Kiehl’s Blue Herbal Gel Cleanser. It’s formulated with Salicylic Acid to help prevent new blemishes and soothe existing ones without drying the skin.
Next, follow with Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion, a cult-solution first created in 1964 - applied directly to oily and blemish-prone areas. For any real tricky areas, tackle them directly using Dermatologist Solutions Breakout Control Targeted Blemish Spot Treatment, which is formulated with 10% sulphur as well as Vitamin B3 to dry out any big offenders. To complete the routine, finish with a moisturiser suitable for blemish-prone skin. We’re fans of Dermatologist Solutions Breakout Control Blemish Treatment Facial Lotion, followed by a lightweight SPF.