A Men's Self Care Revolution

1. Breaking the Stigma

Generation Z was born, quite literally, into cameras, has social-media savvy and is more gender fluid as a whole. Beyond the necessity of looking good in selfies, knowledge about skin care is readily available. And when you look at market trends, you’ll see Gen Zers have clearly been applying what they know: Some 40 percent of 18- to 22-year-olds say they are interested in gender-neutral beauty products — a number that jumped 7 percentage points in a year. Now, with big names like Pharrell Williams and Jonathan Majors sharing their routines, you might get a raised eyebrow for not owning a facial cleanser or moisturizer.

2. Grooming

As the men’s grooming trend takes off, there has been a burst of innovations to help tame your pandemic beard. King C. Gillette offers the full array: a beard and face wash that hydrates and softens, a conditioning balm with cocoa butter and other items your face will love. You can find them all at Walmart.com.

3. Skin Care

The American Academy of Dermatology states that although there are some principal differences between men’s and women’s skin — for example, men’s skin is thicker — the fundamentals of any skin care routine are the same. Men, your skin dries out and can get oily and be sensitive too. Which is why washing your face every day, especially post-workout, using moisturizer and simply paying attention to your skin shouldn’t be considered high maintenance but rather smart self-care. Where to start? With the King C. Gillette Beard and Face Wash, guaranteed to keep your skin clean and fresh. You can find it and much more on Walmart.com.

4. Menicure

Now that your face is covered, don’t forget your hands. From Post Malone and Harry Styles to A$AP Rocky and Bad Bunny, cultural leaders are unapologetically sporting manicures. Nails are low risk and low maintenance — you can take care of them from the comfort of your home — and brands are paying attention. Chanel’s men’s cosmetic line expanded to include two shades of nail varnish: black and natural. Like tattoos and piercings, nail art is a new (and less painful) way for men to express themselves.

Men are 24 percent less likely than women to have seen their primary care doctor in the past year — and that’s a problem. With more than a quarter of male cancer deaths this year expected to result from prostate cancer, health checks should be a critical part of our self-care routines. And tech is here to make it easier: Health startups are targeting guys who avoid regular checkups by combining telemedicine with in-person doctor’s visits.

2. Diet

Social programming tells men their diet should include helpings of steak, barbecue and other high-sodium “manly” food. But science tells us that overconsumption of red meat has negative effects on both our health and the environment. Studies show that salmon, blueberries and spinach are among the foods men should load up on to live healthier, longer. With 25 percent of Americans now eating less meat, it seems men are finally on board.

3. Vitamin Conundrum

If you think figuring out your skin type is complicated, try getting a handle on what vitamins you’re supposed to take. You often hear how important it is to give your body essential vitamins that are missing from your diet, especially for older men. But, in fact, most studies suggest that multivitamins won’t lower your chances of disease, help you live longer or slow cognitive decline, and it’s illegal for companies to make such claims. Some experts even say if you’re healthy and not following a restricted diet, you don’t need a multivitamin at all.

While some have enjoyed the limits on gym capacity since the pandemic began, others miss the camaraderie of a busy weight room. If you’re in the latter camp, there’s help: connected workouts. Peloton and Fitbit are among the most recognized names, but there are even Bluetooth-connected dumbbells to keep you from feeling alone as you pump iron. You can send challenges through apps like Nike Run Club, compete on leaderboards or connect with fitness games on consoles. There’s also GetMotivatedBuddies, a behavioral change platform that puts you in touch with people who share your self-improvement goals, so you can hold one another accountable as you work toward them.

2. Gym-Free Workouts

You’ll be surprised at how effective your workout can be using the simplest of equipment. A kettlebell, for example, is nothing but a cast-iron ball with a handle, but it can give you a full-body workout. And an Indian club covers all your workouts at once: Each swing of the bowling-pin-like club targets your shoulders, biceps and triceps, and will leave you surprisingly winded. Check out more simple, old-school workouts here.

3. Ab Challenge

The best way to kick off a new lifestyle routine is with motivation — and this 30-day ab challenge is a great place to start. It requires no equipment and offers a different core workout each day, from the traditional plank to the farmer’s carry, to avoid monotony and ensure you don’t hit the dreaded plateau. Try the “bird dog,” which is a type of plank pose that lets you work both sides of your body simultaneously, or the “hollow rock with hold,” where you recline with calves parallel to the floor, slowly lower your body to the ground, rock back up and hold. Easy? Not after a few reps.

1. Nick Carrier

A fitness coach who found that his clients’ best results — whether developing healthy lifestyle habits, losing weight or building muscle — came when they set a goal beforehand, Carrier, 25, created a 10-week program to establish “worthy and “winnable” goals. Sound like too much of a commitment? This Nashville-based lifestyle guru put out a suite of 20-minute, no-equipment, at-home workouts. Just don’t forget to grab a notebook to write down your objectives.

2. Adam Gallagher

The 29-year-old Gallagher first gained a following with his highly successful I Am Galla men’s style blog. Now he’s turning heads on Instagram among his 1.8 million followers. After making a vow when he was younger to switch up his style every year, Gallagher started on his quest to become a style guru.

3. Sean Garrette

He’s the global ambassador for Fenty Skin — part of Rihanna’s business empire — and the founder of Sean Garrette Skin, whose product reviews and recommendations are gaining social media steam. This aesthetician and skin care specialist is best known for his “doll skin.” No, literally: He has the face of a honey bun. His personal skin care journey started at 21 after a dramatic weight loss that brought on adult acne triggered by hormone fluctuation. He’s been obsessed with skin ever since.

There’s a fine line between effective supplements and snake oil. Enter lifestyle guru Marcus, founder of Onnit. With a boost from super-podcaster Joe Rogan, he’s pitching himself as a life coach (for those who can afford his services), while others question his peddling of dubious nootropics-based supplements Marcus claims are “smart drugs.” The 39-year-old guru stepped down as CEO of the company last year but still has an influential presence via his podcast and 450,000 Instagram followers for spreading his self-improvement gospel.