Tiege Hanley Founder Kelley Thornton Shares Skin-Care Tips for Men & the Biggest Mistake Men Make Caring for Their Faces by Belinda Lichty Clarke

A few short years ago, self-proclaimed “regular guy” Kelley Thornton was perusing the cosmetics aisle in a Chicago department store when he realized something was glaringly absent – an affordable, uncomplicated regimen for men.

With the help of two additional founders, a men’s skin-care line was born: Tiege Hanley. The company's mission is to provide regular guys with a skin-care system that’s easy to use and helps them look and feel great. To celebrate Father’s Day, I talked to Thornton about what guys should know about taking care of their skin. Hint: It’s all about the SPF.

Q. What is the No. 1 mistake men make with their facial skin-care routine?

We believe that the biggest mistake men have made is not having a routine at all. In the past, a guy’s skin care involved, at best, using a bar of body soap or splashing some water on his face. A savvier guy might steal his girlfriend’s facial cleanser, not knowing that it was designed for a woman’s unique skin-care needs rather than a guy’s. Another big mistake we commonly see is that men aren’t washing their faces properly. We regularly see guys wash their face in ways that can actually damage their skin and cause breakouts. To keep your skin vibrant and healthy, you need to:

• Use cleanser formulated for facial skin. Not a bar of soap for your body.

• Don’t scrub so hard. Rubbing too hard can cause inflammation and worsen acne by drying out your skin.

• Don’t wash too much. Over-washing the face can strip the skin of its natural oils, causing your oil production to ramp up its efforts. The excess oil can result in breakouts from clogged pores.

• Always follow up with a moisturizer that includes an SPF of at least 20. After washing away the dirt and grime, you need to seal the deal by locking in moisture and protecting your skin.

Q. What are the two most important skin-care products for a guy’s skin (or any skin!)?

Hands down the No. 1 most important skin-care product for men and women is sunscreen. UV rays can wreak havoc on your skin, leading to skin cancer, premature aging, fine lines and wrinkles and sun spots. It’s imperative to wear both SPF and moisturizer every day. That’s why we created the men’s moisturizer with SPF, a product that reduces skin damage and premature aging.

The second most important product is moisturizer. No matter what age, background or skin complaints, men need moisturizer because the skin needs moisture. It’s really as simple as that. Moisturizer can help to lock in moisture, keep pores clear of debris, filter out chemicals and toxins and protect you from UV rays – all at the same time.

Q. How have you incorporated skin cancer awareness into the company philosophy and products?

With more than five million cases of skin cancer diagnosed each year, it’s no surprise that this issue hits close to home for several team members. One of our co-founder’s father passed away from melanoma at age 54. So, making products that protect guys from the sun’s harmful rays and donating to The Skin Cancer Foundation has been core to Tiege Hanley since day one. Our first donation to The Skin Cancer Foundation came within a few months in business and every year after. As we grew so has our donating.

Q. What sets Tiege Hanley apart from other men’s grooming lines?

Our systems include all of the necessary products needed for your skin-care regimen neatly packed in an easy-to-understand system. Choose from a core Level 1 system of just four key products for just $25 a month, or step up to Levels 2 or 3 for additional products.

Photo: From left to right: Rob Hoxie (Co-Founder), Aaron Marino (men's lifestyle/grooming expert, Tiege Hanley partner), Kelley Thornton (Founder/CEO)

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