Facing the facts
published:
Saturday | June 28, 2008
Keisha Brown, Health Writer
Facial care is not something that should be left to women only. In fact, it's a basic law of good grooming. So, stop calling your friend who has his monthly facials metrosexual, and follow him to the spa.
Face care for men has been routinely practised for thousands of years. In fact, it had been an important part of a man's daily custom from the Egyptian pharaohs to Alexander the Great.
Today's well-groomed man has an enormous range of facial products available. Face care should start off with a good deep-cleansing facial scrub. This will remove dead skin and clean out pores. It has been proven that men have about 15 per cent oilier skin and considerably wider pores than women do. This means that men get dirtier quicker.
It's crucial, regardless of the type of skin you have, to cleanse your face every day. Profound cleansing is imperative. It keeps skin healthy, pores clear and you looking fresh.
Go natural
Cleansing products ought to be as chemical free as possible. It's not a good idea to use deodorant soaps on your face because they cleanse with rugged ingredients and also leave a detergent layer behind. This may irritate the skin and clog pores. Go natural.
Keep your skin toned.
Considering the fact that men spend more time outside than women do, environmental pollutants have more action on their skin, affecting its health. Toning will help to keep the skin firm and clear.
Skin needs to work harder to preserve its elasticity as it ages. Toners and astringents with alpha hydroxyl or glycolic acids do the best for toning a face. In fact, these acids may shrink the size of pores, and prevent ingrown hairs.
Treat your skin
All skin types have to be exfoliated. This is the process of the removal of dead skin cells that appear every day. This is an essential part of face care.
If you wet-shave, use a shaving cream that has both vitamins and aloe vera if possible, so that the cream hydrates your skin for a smooth, soothing shave. Follow your smooth shave with a moisturiser. This will protect your facial skin and keep it soft and smooth.
In addition to keeping your face soft and smooth, moisturising will help to hold back the signs of ageing. Although men tend to exhibit ageing in their faces later than women, when the wrinkles do appear it is a dramatic and sudden change. It's, therefore, a good idea to do your best to hold back Father Time.
Protect your skin
Here are the key guidelines: keep fit, avoid overexposure to the sun, eat the right foods and stay away from excessive stress, fatigue, smoking and alcohol.
Following these simple men face-caring basics will encourage healthier and young-looking skin.
