Gone are the days when skin care was the exclusive domain of women. Nowadays all the major beauty houses have a men’s skin care range as well. Men are taking care of their skin and looking their best (some of them), but for those who are still thinking about it, just remember that it doesn’t have to be a life changing routine. Just a new way of doing things.
Exfoliation
Exfoliation is the process of scrubbing off dead skin cells to reveal and expose fresher skin. This process will help unclog pores, keep skin clean and will help reduce pimple formation. It will also expose the facial hair follicles, allowing for a better shave, a definite bonus.
Male facial skin is very different from that of women. It contains larger pores, whiskers, more collagen and elastin, a denser supply of blood vessels and it produces more perspiration. If all these factors are taken into consideration, it makes sense that a guy’s face can attract more dirt, hence a good cleansing routine starts making more sense.
Exfoliation can be done a few times a week, once a week being the minimum.
Soap vs Cleanser
Soap strips the skin of natural oils, leading to a person’s glands reacting by producing even more oil. Try a gentle foaming cleanser or milk cleanser if this problem is mild. If something stronger is needed for oily skin, a cleanser or spot treatment with salicylic acid and beta hydroxyl can be used.
That bar of soap in the shower should be used for which it was formulated, namely washing the body. It is not good for cleansing the facial skin, according to skin type a special facial cleanser should be used. Thus if a person has an oily skin, a cleanser for oily skin should be used and if skin is dry, then a cleanser for dry skin should be used.
Shaving
Many men find that shaving is easier when a glycerine or aloe-based shaving cream or gel is used. It soothes the skin and allows the razor to glide across the face. Always use a clean, sharp razor such as the Gillette Mach3 and shave with the grain or growth of the hair to avoid ingrown hairs, rinse with cold water to close the pores and finish with a soothing aftershave balm or moisturiser.
Shaving irritation is usually the result of a combination of factors. The first to consider is what is being used during shaving.
Most shaving gels and creams that are available are alkaline balanced and yes, it softens stubborn hair and makes the shave more comfortable, but the alkalinity strips the skin of its natural oils and moisturising factors, which is why the skin becomes sensitive in particular areas.
If there is a problem with ingrown hairs it could be that the skin is not supple enough and needs moisturising, or that the person is shaving against the growth of the hair. This does give a smooth, close shave, but increases the possibility of ingrown hair especially if a person is prone to the problem.
Aftershave vs Balm
An alcohol based aftershave are likely to create a burning sensation on the skin when applied because shaving gives the skin a slight exfoliation (removes a layer of dead skin) and a small nick or cut acquired during shaving will just add to the agony. Check the labels and find a shaving balm without alcohol that will soothe and heal the skin, not burn it. Even better, a moisturiser should be used for good healthy skin. Without moisturiser even men’s complexions are more prone to fine lines and wrinkles due to dehydration. No, gentlemen, not some flowery ladies moisturiser, but one of the new men’s skin care ranges that are available will have a product suitable for the skin type of your choice. Or a fragrance free moisturiser with SPF protection can be chosen.
Apply your favourite aftershave to the chest area which will still allow the fragrance to come through, but it will prevent direct contact with UV light which could cause pigmentation on the beard and neck area.
Lips
No woman wants to kiss and snuggle with strips of sandpaper! Fortunately a lot of men do tend to use a lip balm during the day and it is quite acceptable to do so. If lips are chapped and scaly because of activities and weather, even more good reasons to use a lip balm as it can be kept in one’s pocket for re-application during the day. Be careful not to leave it in the car because especially in summer it will melt in the heat. Labello® and Lip-Ice® are the most popular products available and both have a wide product range to choose from.
Hands
Whether a person’s job is physical or office based, there cannot be a good reason for rough and scaly hands. Wear protective gloves when doing manual work and use a hand moisturiser or hand cream to keep hands looking well kept. It is difficult to specify a product name as there is such a wide range to choose from.
Imagine shaking hands with a pretty woman you like and watch her cringe when she experiences the roughness of your hands! Or worse, touching your partner and getting a tongue lashing instead of a cuddle.
Female vs male products
Although men using female skin care products won’t suddenly give them the urge to go shopping, there is no reason for men not to buy their own products that have been formulated for them. Male products are more likely to have a more masculine smell and after all, have been formulated more to the skin types men are likely to have. Some of the beauty houses that have a good range of male skin products are Nivea for Men®, Clinique Skin Range for Men®, Dr Babor® and many others to choose from. Even Dis-Chem have their own range for men that have a wide variety of products.
Alcohol
It should be no surprise that drinking (alcoholic beverages that is) takes the moisture right out of the skin, which is why skin tends to look sallow the next morning. One way of avoiding this is to keep up on the daily skin care regime as it will help keep skin soft and replenished.
Dark circles under the eyes are actually broken blood vessels under the skin and can be caused by several things as well as being hereditary. Alcohol, cigarettes and caffeinated drinks (too much coffee) can cause them as well. By using a Vitamin K cream, it can help with dark circles under the eyes. Even cream that contains caffeine can be effective. However, if nothing seems to help, consult your doctor as it could be an iron deficiency.
So, gentlemen, it is not that difficult to start a new regimen of cleansing and moisturizing every day and by using the correct products for each skin type, an improvement should be seen within a few weeks. Men have a clear advantage over women because their skins are about 20% thicker and have more collagen and elastin, all factors that will keep men’s skin looking younger for longer. The disadvantage is that men’s skin tend to attract dirt more easily, which is why a daily cleaning regimen would be a good habit to acquire.
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