10. Cowlicks
9. Bikini Wax
8. Moisturizers
I remember before leaving out the house for church my grandmother
stopping me abruptly at the door to lick her thumb so that she could get that
spot I had missed at the corner of my eye.
That was probably the closest I came to using moisturizer in my
life. Interesting enough, as I was reminiscing
this part of my childhood I came across an article on moisturizing for men (or
the lack of) and thought I would share. “The
interesting thing about skin care for men is that it often takes very little to
make a big improvement,” says Kathleen M. Welsh, M.D., a San Francisco-based
dermatologist. “So just using something
other than bar soap on your face, or moisturizing twice a day makes such a huge
difference.” If you ever needed an
example of how critical it is to keeping your skin moisturized just wear a pair
of leather shoes for a while without conditioning them and admire what
happens. You’ll start to notice cracks, deep
cuts, and just an overall aged look that’s not appealing. That’s your face. Your skin needs regular protection and care
to keep it hydrated and looking fresh. Here
are few tips and products to making and keeping your skin soft and smooth
again.
Removing surface dirt and oil is the first step in allowing
any moisturizer to penetrate your skin’s surface. “Cleansing twice a day,
morning and night, is a good idea,” says Dr. Jarrod Paul Frank, a Manhattan-based
dermatologist. But don’t get carried away by using heavy-duty scrubs more than
once or twice a week. These will only irritate the skin and stimulate oil
production.
For daily use, a milder soap means your skin will need less
moisturizer, since it won’t be scrubbed of essential oils. “Bar soaps strip the
skin of oil, instead of gently removing dirt, like foaming cleansers,” suggests
Dr. Welsh. Try a mild face wash, like
Neutrogena’s Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser
in colder, drier months and a deeper cleaning scrub, like
Nivea Men OriginalMoisturizing Face Wash in sweatier, humid climates.
“In general, men should keep their regimen as simple as
possible,” suggests Dr. Frank. But there is no one size fits all approach here. Knowing what kind of
skin you have is the first step in determining that regimen and your
moisturizing needs.
How can you tell your skin type?
Sensitive skin reddens easily and stings or burns when you
apply most products. For the other types, the condition of your T Zone (across
your forehead and a straight line down your chin) will help you identify which
category you fit in. At the end of the day, examine the area. A matte surface
means dry skin, a greasy or shiny zone translates to oily, and if your face is
just slightly slick, you have normal or combination skin.
• Dry—Use a moisturizing cleanser and follow up with a rich
moisturizer. As long as acne is not an issue, oil-based lotions are a good
choice, especially at night.
• Oily—Avoid any heavy or oil-based formulas. Instead, use
an oil-free or mattifying moisturizer in the morning and just a lightweight
serum at night.
• Normal/ Combination—The trick to treating this variable
skin is creating balance. Aim for a medium-weight product that maintains
moisture but doesn’t add oil to already shiny areas.
• Sensitive—Avoid irritating ingredients, such as alcohol,
fragrances, dyes, and preservatives (parabens). Moisturize twice daily with
mild products specifically designed for sensitive skin.
Revive it at night.
Night is an essential time to renew your mind—and your skin.
Adding a lotion before bed creates softer, more hydrated, and better-looking
skin the next day. It also helps seal in moisture and repairs the skin barrier
that’s compromised by dry air and harsh cleansers. Think ahead and use products
with targeted ingredients that can help slow down the signs of aging. “At bedtime most men can benefit from using a
skin treatment lotion that has retinol (Vitamin A), or other anti-aging creams or
serums, such alpha hydroxyl, glycolic acid, or peptides for anti-aging,” says
Dr. Welsh.
