What
He Should be Doing but Probably Isn’t
Since
the invention of the word “metrosexual,” men
have been a more willing to consider an actual
skincare regime, but many still aren’t
performing the basics of skincare. It should
be stated for the record that not
taking care of your skin has equally adverse
affects on women and men - this means
wrinkles. Lucky for the men that
society deems you “rugged” instead of just
plain old, but tell the truth - if you had the
choice to have wrinkles or not, wouldn’t you
choose not?
So, here’s what you should be doing . . .
Shaving
Really the only difference between taking care
of women’s skin and men’s skin is that men
shave. You will want to find a shave gel,
cream or foam that is gentle, containing no
irritants of any kind. Ideally, you want to
stay away from menthol, peppermint, alcohol,
lime, lemon, orange, grapefruit, eucalyptus,
camphor or mint. And choose something
fragrance free. You’re aftershave should also
be free of the above ingredients, but if you
can’t find one absent of them, use a
traditional irritant-free toner.
Three Basic Steps
Throw away that plain old bar soap - this will
only make your skin dry and cause it to break
out! There are three steps that are found in
any skincare regime: cleansing (with a
properly formulated cleanser), toning
and moisturizing (with moisturizer
containing sunscreen) - in that order, twice a
day. Any skincare brand worth it’s salt will
have each available and it’s really just up to
you to find one that is right for your skin-type
- tack down a sales person to make sure you
are choosing correctly. If you don’t know
where to start, check with a cosmetics counter;
many now carry skincare specifically for men,
and if they don’t, they should be able to
direct you to somewhere that does. Or you
could call a spa - most do facials and they
could give you suggestions about where to go
for the goods.
An additional step that should be part of your
regime is exfoliation. This should be done
at least once a week, or as
otherwise directed.
Facials
Not just for women. I mentioned checking with
a spa for skincare tips, but actually going in
for a facial is ideal. Your skin will benefit
greatly from a professional treatment, and
the esthetician can tell you exactly how you
should be caring for your skin.
Treating Blackheads
Again, a facial can solve this problem, or you
can use a take home cleansing mask - the most
effective ones are usually made of clay. Don’t
worry, using a mask doesn’t mean you need to
lay there with cucumbers over your eyes, a
towel wrapped around your head with your face
covered in green mud. You can actually just
use a little bit and target the specific area.
Let’s face it, we all want to look good, right?
But taking care of your skin isn’t just about
vanity; it’s about maintaining health and,
okay, looking good too.
