4 men tell us how they take care of themselves before the holiday season

Noé, 32 years old, physiotherapist

“The arrival of the end-of-year festivities was the catalyst for me to put an end to carelessness that had set in a few months prior. The realization came at a good time of year: I noticed that since the beginning of the fall season I had neglected all of my good selfcare habits. The lockdown didn’t help either. Since I wear a mask all day at work, I wasn’t making any effort at all. I had to shave three times in six months. I thought to myself “well, nobody can see my beard anyway” …

I have atopic skin, it’s extremely dry and prone to looking patchy. I knew that coming up on colder weather meant that I needed to stick to a very regular moisturising routine. Christmas and New Year’s are right around the corner, so it’s the perfect time for me to get my act together and get back into all those good habits that I’ve been neglecting.

Twice a day, in the mornings and evenings, I apply a moisturising serum and a very thick night cream to protect my skin. Before bed, I put on a generous layer of lip balm, to feel my best the next morning. I also pamper my hands by moisturising them – this is an essential step for my job. Finally, I always end my weeks with a clay mask to get rid of any blackheads. Following this regime, I should be at my best by the end of the month. Now, I’m also keeping in mind the possible aftermath of the holidays. I’ll try not to overdo it this year. However, I’m already planning on getting some supplements to rebalance my digestive system starting January, just in case.”

Ludovic, 43 years old, advertising executive

“I used to not really take care of my skin at all, I didn’t pay much attention to it. Then, the health crisis and lockdown flipped this year upside down. Working freelance, I had to look on the bright side, I got a little more time to myself. I noticed that wrinkles have become apparent on my face, and I have also realized that my overall complexion is quite dull. It isn’t always easy to find the right information, when looking for the right steps to follow to take care of your face. Fortunately, I was able to find some valuable tips on YouTube.

For the new year, I plan on sticking to a simple and effective routine. I wash my face at night to get rid of the dirt that accumulates during the day with a cleanser. I read that you should moisturise in the morning and evening, to protect your skin, after cleansing it. These have become daily habits that make me feel good. I have also recently started meditating, which has also been a beneficial addition to my daily life. After this very hectic year, I’m really trying to finish it with serenity – you never know how things could go…”

Toni, 26 years old, retailer in interior design

“I took the opportunity at the end of this year, to finally take the plunge and start taking care of my skin. Until then, I was using a face soap and a cream that I had bought in the supermarket, simply so I could say that I was doing something. With the cold weather approaching, I felt that the time was right to step up my game. And now I could afford it – it was the perfect time to start!

The world of skincare can be very intimidating at first glance. It’s not always easy to keep up, especially since there is so much to choose from. The good thing is that at this time of year, brands often make holiday sets which come in clutch when you don’t know where to start. I asked a friend who’s knowledgeable and into skincare for advice. He helped me choose my products. I managed to find a product to cleanse my face, as well was a serum and a cream to deeply moisturise my skin. I even found a special night serum to help the skin cells’ regeneration.

Now my goal is to stick to this routine! I can’t even imagine leaving the house in the mornings without applying my moisturiser, but evenings are a different beast. The temptation to skip skincare when I’m so tired is huge. For the moment, I am very motivated by the whole process because I’m already starting to see results. My complexion is brighter and looks more refreshed! I’m telling myself that the effort I’m putting in won’t be in vain. It really makes you want to continue throughout all of 2021!”

Yanis, 21 years old, marketing student

“To me, end-of-year festivities are above all an opportunity to have a fresh, healthy glow foe 2021! For this, I completely changed the skincare products I use. I already had basic cleansers, serums and creams, but I wasn’t seeing any results – so I started from scratch again! I thought to myself that with ineffective products I wasn’t doing anything but waste time, and my skin is aging by the minute. It felt like the perfect time for a fresh start.

Thanks to TikTok, I discovered accounts run by dermatologists sharing their tricks and tips. I went for a cleanser by the brand Heimish, and a cream from Etude House, popular Korean brands. As for serums, I stocked up on a snail slime moisturiser, another one that targets hyperpigmentation, an anti-aging retinol (this is an active ingredient derived from Vitamin A), and an eyelash product. Experience is important to me. I wanted to enjoy using these products. That’s actually one of my resolutions for 2021: I want to pamper myself! The idea is to treat myself and take care of myself. It’s important for your overall balance in life.

That’s what the end of year is good for, too: making resolutions that will normally develop into good habits. For instance, I promised myself to never go to bed without cleansing my face. But above all, my biggest beauty goal for this year is to finally start using sunscreen on a daily basis: it seems to be the best way to fight skin aging. I took the plunge and ordered three tubes of an SPF by Purito that looks great and is light! Just the thing to start the year off right.”