A man’s skin is just as vulnerable as a woman’s, if not
more, since they often tend to spend more time outdoors. Exposure to the sun,
air-conditioning, air pollutants, chlorinated water, harsh soaps and
after-shave preparations, all influence their skin, making it dry and
sensitive. Looking good is not just a
female prerogative anymore. “Today’s man knows the importance of
appearance—that looking one’s best imparts self confidence. Today, there are
many jobs in which, appearance counts, like public relations, media
relations, front office jobs, marketing and sales, jobs in hotels, tourism,
television (anchoring, news reading), the fashion industry and so on. This has
also contributed towards the desire to look good,” says Shahnaz Husain,
renowned beauty expert and entrepreneur. Men’s grooming products and salon care have grown at a phenomenal
pace over the last decade. Men are going in for beauty treatments, facials, and
etc.
Daily care
Men require skincare routines that are simple and not too time
consuming. A light cleansing gel or face wash can be used for cleansing in the
morning. Rinse well and apply skin tonic, using cotton wool. This can be a
pre-shave routine. If the skin is oily and prone to blackheads, a cleansing
scrub should be used at least twice a week, rubbing it gently on the skin and
washing it off with plain water. Cleansing at night is important to remove pollutants and impurities that have been deposited on the skin during the day.
Men spend more time outdoors or in the sun. Hence, application of sunscreen lotion
before stepping out in the sun plays an important role in preventing UV ray
damage. For shaving, choose a gentle, creamy, emollient product. This softens the hair, making shaving much
easier. It also leaves the skin smooth and supple. Most after-shave lotions are
alcohol-based—this has a drying effect on the skin and has also been known to
cause rashes later. A non-greasy after-shave cream would be ideal.
Post-shaving woes
Itchy skin or rashes are common skin problems faced by men after
shaving. Rashes are a consequence of dull razors, dry skin or skin sensitive.
One should follow some basic steps to avoid rashes. Always use a shaving cream
to soften the hair before shaving. If
rashes occur, rinse the irritated area with cool water. Never rub as scrubbing
inflames the skin and makes irritation worse. Avoid alcohol based products;
instead apply a cool tea bag to soothe your skin. You can also soften the skin with aloe
vera, tea tree oil, or a mild astringent, such as witch hazel. Avoid cologne,
aftershave or other scented products that are harsh to the skin. Apply an
over-the-counter hydrocortisone ointment or cream once a week if the irritation
is severe. Use the product according to label recommendations and avoid
overuse, which may cause stretch marks and thinning of the skin.
Homemade remedies
For oily skin, mix three teaspoons of oats with rose water and
egg white. Apply on face and wash it off after 20 minutes. For dry skin, mix
powdered milk with aloe vera gel and orange juice. Apply on face and wash it
off after 20 to 30 minutes. For acne prone skin, mix multani mitti (fuller’s earth) with sandalwood paste and rose
water. Make it into a smooth paste, apply on face and wash it off when it
dries.
Homemade fuller’s earth face masks are very good in soaking dirt
and oil from oily skin surface. It’s an effective cleanser that can prevent
breakouts. You can get rid of extra shine, greasiness and oil with clay masks
as they have oil reducing properties.
P.S--Take two tablespoons of
fuller’s earth powder and soak it in water for half an hour. Add a tablespoon
of rose water and few drops of lemon juice. If the mixture is still thick, add some water to it. A tablespoon of milk can be added to avoid over dryness.
This face mask will clean up your face, improve blood circulation, and remove
excess oil and dead cells from the skin. You can apply this mask twice or
thrice a week.
Try some homemade packs to suit your skin tone. Use fresh tomato
juice as a base for your face wash and if you have an oily skin, add lemon
juice to it. If the texture of your skin is normal, add equal amount of honey
to the tomato juice but if your skin is dry then add equal amount of honey and
coconut milk to tomato juice.
Toning is very crucial for both men and women, as it keeps your
pores clean, and leaves the skin healthy and breathing. For extra oily skin,
use astringent lotion instead of a toner. Moisten a cotton ball with toning
lotion and put it on the chin, cheeks and neck. Tomato juice is again a good
skin toner. Use mineral water with rose water on dry skin. Rub cucumber slices
over the face and neck and wash off after 15 minutes. Also, a mixture of honey and milk or a papaya and banana paste makes for
excellent homemade moisturizers.
Dark evils
Dark
circles around eyes are caused due to hereditary factors, nutritional
deficiencies, stress, inadequate sleep, sun-sensitivity, etc. So, along with
external care, men should check these aspects too. As a home remedy, one can
daily apply pure almond oil sparingly under the eyes and massage it lightly on
the skin, using only the ring finger, for one minute under each eye. Massage in
one direction only. Leave on for 15 minutes and wipe it off gently with moist
cotton wool. Mix cucumber juice and potato juice in equal quantities and apply
under the eyes daily for 20 minutes. Wash it off with water.
Dark circles can also be treated by using proper under-eye creams, avoiding
extra salt in the diet, and keeping oneself hydrated. One can also put cucumber
slices, cold green or chamomile tea bags. Also,
make it a habit of wearing dark shades in the daytime; it shields the eyes from
being victim to dark circles. Rest well because inadequate sleep often triggers
this unnecessary devil. Opt for mild chemical peels or creams that contain
lightening agents that can help to reduce dark circles.
Men
vs women
Men’s and women’s beauty regime is nearly
similar in today’s world except that a man’s skin is thicker and tougher. Sebum oil production in men is higher than women but men have more collagen
production than women, hence their skin looks more youthful than a
woman’s. Also, men’s cleansing products
should contain exfoliating ingredients such as alpha-hydroxy acids, which are
very important for them, since their skin tends to have larger pores, which
means they can accumulate more dirt and oil. The moisturizers should contain
alpha-hydroxy acids too.
So, gentlemen manage your skin well before it
gets too late. Eat a healthy diet, quit smoking, learn to de-stress and stick
to your daily beauty regime for an ever-elusive healthy and glowing skin.
