Grooms Health - Skin Care
We all know there is a vast difference between your typical woman and typical man when it comes to personal grooming.
Mention to a male that he should start looking after his skin could well be met with raised eyebrows and a reply along the lines of ‘phaww, that’s for you women thank you very much. A wash and shave is all I need’!
Skin is the largest body organ weighing an average of 7lbs and covers an area of 21 square feet with 300 million skin cells.
It’s not just there to hold everything together, the main function of our skin is to act as a barrier and protect us against an inhospitable environment.
Some Men Already Take Good Care of Their Skin
For some men reading this I have no doubt that some of you will already be up to scratch and already taking care of your skin on a daily basis but for those of you who have not even given it a thought then maybe you should start to think a little about how it really can help the appearance of your skin on the day you marry the woman of your dreams, and for the rest of your life.
Many men do their best in maintaining a healthy diet, have regular workouts, buy nice clothes and hair products yet they forget something so basic as a skin routine or even how to look after it.
Handsome is as handsome does but your good looks won’t be given the full attention if your skin is greying, spotty or just tired looking.
Not only is male skin 15 per cent oilier than the female skin but their pores are significantly larger and therefore they get dirtier and although using soap to wash is fine it does dry the skin and deep cleansing is really needed to keep those pores clear and healthy.
Before you begin on your daily routine the important thing is to ascertain which type of skin you have. It’s no good just picking up any moisturiser if it is not going to match and help your skin type.
Determining Which Skin Type You Are
Normal: If you don’t notice any particular skin problems apart from the odd spot the chances are you have normal skin.
Oily: Acne, blackheads and/or whiteheads are the signs of oily skin and looking in a mirror will give your face that shiny appearance as will standing under lights. This type of skin can be treated and returned to normal if the correct skin care products are used.
Dry: Dry skin feels tight and uncomfortable, especially after a shower or after the face is cleansed. Dry skin also ages faster, so premature ageing and wrinkles may be more noticeable. This type of skin requires a good moisturiser to correct the dryness of the skin quickly.
Combination: Unfortunately, combination skin gets the problems of both dry and oily skin and a little more work is required if this is your skin type. Finding the right product may be a bit of trial and error but once found and daily skin routine is taken up your skin will be as normal as the next mans.
Treating Your Skin
Once you have determined which product is the correct one for you, it is important to train yourself and make time for those daily and weekly care routines.
Cleaning
Cleansing with products that are as chemical free as possible is the first step to healthy skin. Soaps with deodorant are best avoided as they contain harsh ingredients as well as leaving a detergent film behind which will clog your pores and end up irritating your skin.
To obtain and keep your skin healthy and clean it’s important to remove the dead skin cells that form daily by exfoliating. A scrub should be strong without damaging and refrain from those containing rough elements such as nut or seed extracts as they could tear and damage your skin. Exfoliate enough to invigorate you, not hurt you. This part of the skin care is considered an essential part of skin treatment.
Skin cleansers can be bars, creams or lotions.
Toner
No matter what skin type you are astringents and toners will help towards reducing pore sizes and keep the skin clear and firm.
Toning removes any residue left from the cleansing step and prepares the skin for moisture.
We can’t sadly stop our skin from ageing but we can help towards maintaining the elasticity. Toning plays a big part and because men are outside more than women this helps in environmental debris and pollutant factors that all clog and damage the skins areas.
For men this part of the skin treatment is an added bonus as toners containing glycolic or alpha hydroxyl acids reduce pore sizes and also helps in avoiding ingrown hairs
Clay Face Masks
Lock the doors, close the curtains and give yourself a once a week face mask treatment! This will improve skin texture and tone, reduce excess of oil built up, improve circulation and clean pores.
Before you apply the clay face mask place your face over a bowl of steaming water to open up the pores. Spread a thin layer of the clay to the entire surface of your face and let dry to a flaky consistency. Once fully dried remove the clay by rinsing with tepid water and then pat dry with a soft towel.
Use after cleansing and before toning.
Moisturise
Keeping the skin moisturised is very important and don’t forget those extra sensitive areas of the face such as under the eyes and neck as these are the first places to show ageing. Don’t use the same moisturiser cream under the eye as you use on your face as it will drag and age this area faster.
After shaving moisturise with a product that has no alcohol in it and avoid those heavy fragrant after-shave lotions/creams as they can irritate the skin.
Pure vitamin E or Aloe Vera oil will give you an intensive moisturise treatment and always look for products that contain sunscreen to protect your skin from damaging UVA rays.
Moisturise products are available in creams or lotions.
Other Skin Care Treatments
Eye cream treatments will help towards reducing the appearance of fine lines around the eyes and puffiness caused by fatigue or allergies as well as dark circles.
Use creams for fine lines and gel for puffiness and dark circles.
When applying do not just scrape your finger along the skin as this will stretch and damage the sensitive tissue. Use the tip of one finger to apply small dabs on the skin and gently massage in.
Make this part of your routine after cleansing and toning.
Facial Scrubs
This treatment can be done every day but always follow manufacturer’s guidelines for your particular skin type. May be best suited to you once or twice a week.
Using a facial scrub will remove excess dead skins, unclog pores and reduce the appearance and development of acne blemishes.
To use mix with tepid water and gently massage with your fingertips into the face and neck. Rinse with tepid water and pat dry with a soft towel.
Do not use this treatment if you suffer from moderate to severe acne.
Lips
The lips are just as important as any other part of your face so don’t forget to include them in your skin care routine.
Lips balms with a SPF count of 15 are the best and peppermint oil has a nice feel as well as keeping the lips looking luscious and kissable looking!
If you really don’t want anything (apart from your loved one) on your lips make this part of your nightly routine and moisturise those lips while sleeping.
Skin Tit Bits Advice
Avoid over exposure to the sun as this can cause serious skin disease, exaggerate and thicken fine lines and ageing.- Keeping in shape will increase oxygen levels to the tissues which helps keep skin looking younger.
- Eat healthy with a good diet containing the correct levels of vitamins and minerals needed.
- Drink in moderation.
- Smoking, fatigue and stress are factors that can lead to premature ageing and decrease facial circulation giving that tired older look.
- Drink plenty of water as this moisturises your skin from the inside.
- When applying anything to the face try not to be heavy handed – touch your own face with the same gentleness you touch your loved one and you can’t go far wrong.
- Use the correct treatments that match your skin type.
Skin care regiment for men has over recent years become more popular as more men are finally realising and embracing the benefits of looking after their skin.
Hundred of products for men can now be found in today’s markets and those who feel that their skin is too far gone to worry about are finding out that this is not true and it’s never too late to begin a skin routine to keep skin looking young and healthy.
Why should it just be your bride that has that glowing look on one of the most important days of your lives!
