The Ultimate Summer Skin Care Guide For Men By Allu Sirish
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Allu Sirish {first name: Sirish}, and I am a Telugu film actor living in Hyderabad. I have acted as the male lead in three films so far and my fourth is on its way. So, it’s been four years since I’ve become an actor, and a lot of my life outside my craft is about taking care of my skin and looking good. Although, let me tell you that it’s impossible to look perfect. There will be unexpected acne breakouts, bad hair days, and bad tans, but what we can do is take care to ensure minimum damage.
Also, note that what works for me might not necessarily work for you; as our skin, lifestyles and climates are quite different. But I believe, in general, most of us Indian boys have similar skin. Usually, it’s some shade of brown, oily during summers, a tad drier during winters, prone to tanning and occasional acne. I thought I’d share some of the hacks I have discovered over the years through trial and error. Some tricks I learned from my dermatologists, my female co-stars, my makeup artists, magazines, and through my own experience. I hope that what I share here is simple to follow and useful to you.
As a guy, I really want a basic, no-nonsense routine that works. I want to be out of the shower in 10 minutes flat. Any elaborate rituals, however effective will only make me bunk it eventually. Also, you really don’t need fancy, expensive products. If you commit to your routine, even simple over-the-counter products will provide good results.
Summer is almost upon us and it is one of my favourite seasons ~ IPL, movies, and holidays. And being in India, I feel this is the season we need to take care of our skin the most {power cuts, sweaty bodies… you get the idea}. If you’re reading this, I am already presuming you know about the basics of skincare and I would hence like to jump straight to the details, skipping the fluff. I am sure you’re already hydrating yourself, keeping sun exposure to a minimum, and washing your face often. So, what else?
Sun Protection Factor: Sunscreen with a higher SPF would mean protection from the sun for a longer duration. But the higher the SPF, the thicker the creams are. The thicker the cream, the greasier it will feel ~ and will generate more oil and sweat when you’re out. Hence, in my opinion, don’t wear sunscreen over SPF 30. SPF 30 blocks 93.3% of the UVB rays, so stick to a lower SPF but do apply it more frequently.
DIY Sunscreen Milk: The more sunscreen you dab, the less you’re going to let your skin “breathe”, causing clogged pores on your face. This will eventually result in excessive sweating and potential acne breakouts. So here’s a simple hack ~ take small amounts of sunscreen {pea sized} and add a few drops of pure water. Mix both to acquire a milky consistency and then smooth over the skin. The water will allow your skin to absorb the sunscreen better while also covering a wider area.
Daytime Vitamin C: As you know, Vitamin C helps us fight sun damage especially when applied topically. From personal experience, I can vouch that you will see the best results when sunscreen is applied along with a Vitamin C serum ~ minimising both tanning and sun damage {sun spots, wrinkling, and collagen damage}. Most cosmetic brands don’t specify the percentage of Vitamin C concentrate their products contain. For a cream or serum to be effective, it will need at least 10% Vitamin C concentrate. Hence, I usually skip the popular cosmetic brands and stick to mediceutical brands like Kaya, Cipla V15/VC 20, or Dr Reddy’s Strea C10. If you would prefer to stay with known brands you trust, please go ahead, but do try to include a Vitamin C serum in your summer skincare routine.
Night Time Care and Weekly maintenance: Your skin focuses on repairing the damage done throughout the day, at night. So, choose a good night-repair cream before you head to bed. I prefer a cream that contains Vitamin E, as this helps soothe sunburn and lightens brown spots. Some people who are into anti-ageing regimens may prefer creams that contain retinol. While retinol is effective, it does make your skin more sensitive to the sun’s rays. So, watch out and keep the use of creams containing retinol to a minimum during summers. Or use sparingly on alternative days and rely more on Vitamin E for your nightly needs. Also, follow up weekly with a home remedy of your choice. Yogurt and lemon, gram flour/besan powder, or whatever your mother/grandmother recommends or you believe works for you.
Additional Information: Avoid swimming during the day time, as chlorine plus sun rays is a sure-fire way to get tanned. Use an indoor pool if you have access to one, or swim after sunset. If you are left with no other option, apply sunblock or sunscreen liberally before hitting the pool. Also, everything I have mentioned above works for people who stay mostly indoors and have average sun exposure. If you’re really out in the sun every day, I recommend you stick to a higher SPF of about 50 and reapply it every 4-5 hours after washing your face. Sorry, it’s a tough life! Washing your face and applying sunscreen repeatedly is a chore, but you’ve got to do what’s good for your skin.
Here’s hoping whatever I have shared is useful to you and that you do benefit from it. Happy summer, bro! Cheer for Hyderabad Sunrisers in the IPL. And, see you at the movies!
Beautiful looking man… He definitely evoked a long lost passion in the art of skin care while keeping in mind what the post is supposed to stand for. Nicely done, Tanya.
I absolutely agree, Sherbanu.
I am just in awe of how you put together so many amazing posts! Take it from me – skin care is essential! Start when you are young. Can’t get over the intensity of Allu Sirish’s eyes, by the way!
Thank you very much for your affectionate appreciation, Mandeep.
Such beautiful healthy glowing skin! One can certainly achieve the perfect look with useful skin-care tips as mentioned in this post! ✨ Thank you for sharing.
My pleasure entirely, Balwinder.
I love your creative projects, Tanya! Probably one of my favourite beauty products is The Ordinary’s 7% Glycolic Acid Toner; due to its ability of giving me an instant glow and smoothing out the texture of my skin! ✨ I alternate between this and the BHA liquid by #paulaschoice day to day, and my skin seems to love it… An oldie but a goodie.
Thank you for sharing, Paramdeep. So nice of you!
I loved reading his advice as it’s truly spot on for someone who is new to skin care. I’d also like to share that Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid Serum is one if not my most fave. Vitamin C serum at the moment. 🙂 Always a pleasure to visit your blog, Tanya.
Thank you for your lovely comment, Siluvairaj. And I must say, that vitamin C serum is peaking my interest!
These seem like the perfect remedies for everyday… and that little something extra! 🙂 Gonna get my skincare routine in place for the new season… fresh faced without breakouts! Thanks for sharing.
Absolutely, Abhishek. Thank you for the heartfelt appreciation!
Non-toxic ingredients. Non-toxic vibes! Taking care of yourself with natural, environmentally friendly skincare essentials is key… Staying tuned for more! ❤️
Yes, it is. Thank you for stopping by, Subarna.
Take a pause from worries about life, Self-Care is the best way to unplug and spoil yourself for a few minutes. ✨ Of course, I always wash “the day” off my face before going to bed… that’s key!
Thank you, Ambika. Very well said!
I like that Allu Sirish wants to make sure we are educated on skincare options! By the way, have you tried Complexion Renewal Pads, Tanya? They are moistened pads that help minimise surface oil and exfoliate pore-clogging dead skins cells and dirt! Great for both men and women!
I’m thankful you spare your time to read my posts, Vamshi.
Will def. check them out.
It is beneficial to collaborate with an actor who has knowledge on how to treat and care for the skin, and can provide professional advise (based on experience)! Keep educating our community, Tanya!
I’m touched by your kind thoughts, Sumit.
When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life. ✨ Now to share my views on the actor’s advise… His effective system has obviously been developed to give men balanced, healthy-looking, and noticeably improved skin.
Thank you for sharing such kind thoughts about Allu Sirish’s tips, Prarthana.
Men’s skin is biologically different than women’s… Higher testosterone levels and the stress of daily shaving, leave skin more open to problems that require a solution targeted especially for men. So, it’s important to incorporate a routine that targets both oil control and moisture. 🙂
Thank you so much for being present, and for you heartfelt share, Manish.
Yeah! Taking care of your skin is more important than covering it up! Happy to see more men taking care of their skin, and so happy to see actors such as the young and dynamic Allu Sirish guide them through this journey!
How nicely you’ve expressed this… Thank you, Deepak.
Men’s skin certainly need as much care as women’s! I use this #facecare collection from Scotch Porter that’s made with non-toxic natural ingredients like pomegranate enzymes, and turmeric root to promote clearer smoother skin ✨! Thought I’d share…
So sweet of you, Mohsin. Thank you!
Who says #skincare is not for men too?! It’s time to detoxify and reset our biggest organ boys: the skin.
I personally love using rosehip oil; I love the feeling it gives my skin, and how it keeps my skin moisturised all day whether I’m in the sun or not. I’ve also seen it heal black spots within a week, and it brings a nice chocolate colour out of my skin. 🙂
Thank you very much for that tip, Hemanth.