You can walk into a party wearing an Armani suit and a $400 pair of shoes, but if you have a lame haircut, and your hands and skin look like you just woke up from a weekend bender…you might as well have shopped at the local thrift store and pocketed the money you saved and bought a lottery ticket
Guys, lets have a serious discussion on how to take care of yourselves. Not only do you have to take care of what is on the inside with proper diet and exercise, you have to think about taking care of the outside. Your skin is the largest organ on your body. Your face is the first thing that people see and interact with. How does one go about even doing such a task? Well, truthfully, it is extremely overwhelming trying to narrow down the right products to use. Skincare is not just for women. But it certainly looks like it.
Have you every noticed the contrast between your shave line and the rest of your face? Take a look in the mirror. Pay close attention to the skin on the forehead and around the eyes and compare it to the areas that you use a razor on. What do you see? If you are like me, and your hair on your face goes from the base of your neck to the top of your cheek bones…congradulations, fellow Sasquatch. Welcome to the club. Regardless of the quantity of hair you possess, if you shave, you are exfoliating the areas that the razor touches. So lets treat the rest of your face with care.
Historically, the facial at a spa, today, actually derived from a great traditional shaving treatment at the barber. Think about it. The preparation, the tonics, the hot towels, etc. So, lets bring that concept to a reality in this day and age. Where to begin?
As a husband of a Licensed Esthetician and Skincare Expert, here are a few questions you need to ask yourself:
1. What issue do I most want to change on my face?
a. I don’t want to look old (Anti-Aging)
b. No matter what I do, I look tired and dirty (Revitalization)
c. I want to stop breaking out like I am a hormonal teen (Acne/Blemishes)
d. I don’t have any issues. (Normal)
2. What type of skin do you have?
a. There is an layer of slick on my face and I look shiny all the time (Oily)
b. My face feels tight and dry especially after I shower (Dry)
c. My nose has an oil slick on it but the rest of my face is ok (Combination)
d. My face has bumps from breaking out and razor burn (Problematic)
3. Describe the skin on the rest of you:
a. Smooth and normal
b. dry/flakey/ashy
c. red/splotchy
d. I don’t have a clue (Thats ok)
4. Things to consider…
a. Alcohol and Caffeine Consumption
b. Medications
c. Tanning (This is harmful so STOP)
d. Outdoor Sun Exposure (for more than hour a day)
Now…Lets talk about skincare for MEN. Guys, it is simple. There are three steps that need to happen: a thorough cleansing, a toner, and a moisturizer. Think about it this way…in order to clean the outside of your car, you wash the exterior thoroughly, you properly dry it, and then use a protective coating. This is the same concept.
Cleansing is one of the most important things you can do for your skin every day. This helps to remove impurities, and unclogs pores to prevent breakouts and buildup. After cleansing, it is important to follow with a toner, and moisturizer. Use a cleanser that gives you a thorough cleansing and let the product properly penetrate. That means it has to be active on your face for a full minute in order to do its job.
Next, use a toner. Facial toner is a liquid that promotes normal pH level, and helps the skin stay clean and healthy. It also serves as a second cleanser to ensure optimal residue and debris removal. As we age, our pores enlarge due to environmental exposure. So, just like a tonic or aftershave, this can be applied directly to the face.
A moisturizer helps helps protect the skin from premature aging and soothes the skin by keeping it hydrated and firm. There are two variations that you need to be aware of: day time moisturizers with an SPF and night time moisturizers.
Before you take the step of injecting something into your face…lets take the time to give it what it needs. The following are the top picks from a Licensed Professional.
Timeless Prescription® and Skintelligence® Value Kit
Ideal for adults with combination and oily skin types. Use Timeless Prescription Facial Exfoliating cleanser to gently cleanse away excess oil and dirt without tightness; Timeless Prescription MDI Firming Activator to increase cellular water retention for toned skin; Skintelligence Alpha 24 Triple Revitalizing Complex to moisturize and soften skin. This kit provides a complete regimen for basic skincare.
Cellular Laboratories® Skincare Value Kit
The Cellular Laboratories Value Kit is ideal for those ages 31 and older with normal to dry skin types and offers over 20 percent in retail savings compared to purchasing the products separately. The Cellular Laboratories Value Kit includes a cleanser, toner and moisturizer with anti-aging ingredients that cleanse, tone and moisturize, while protecting the skin from the environment and free radicals. This kit provides a complete regimen for basic skincare.Cellular Laboratories De-Aging Facial Cleanser:Cellular LaboratoriesDe-Aging Facial Cleanser is a botanical-rich, foaming cleanser for the face that gently dissolves dead skin cells and exfoliates without stripping the skin. Using a cleanser morning and night helps to promote normal regeneration of healthy cells, while soothing and keeping the skin nourished. This versatile, anti-aging formula leaves the skin hydrated to promote a healthy, vibrant and youthful-looking complexion.
Timeless Prescription® 3 Step Acne Care System
The simple, 3-Step System contains powerful acne-fighting ingredients to clear acne blemishes and allow skin to heal. This unprecedented Acne Control system uses a breakthrough stabilized and time-released benzoyl peroxide, which maintains its potency over time. Benzoyl peroxide is easily absorbed into pores where it works by interfering with acne impurity metabolism through oxidation. For all ages and skin types, especially oily.