Skincare for men--In today’s world, skincare for men is as important as it is for women. I bring to you a holistic guide to radiant and healthy skin

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. 

In your comfort zone--Indulging in the subtle joys of a spa at your own abode sounds not only relaxing and soothing but convenient too!

Amidst the hustle-bustle of our hectic lives, we often tend to ignore the well being of our skin and hair. Blame it on the sedentary lifestyles or just being lazy, we take ourselves for granted! And with all the dust, pollution and humidity that we have to deal with everyday, I suggest, you better wake up and smell the coffee-our skin and hair needs regular nourishment to remain healthy and radiant.

So what if you don’t get time to hit the spa or salon for beautification; today you can create your own spa at home. Indulge in some self pampering as I guide you on how to get spa treatments done at home with some simple steps.

To emulate a spa at your own home you should keep some basic ingredients, oils and tools ready. For instance, tweezers, sponges, face steamer, etc. Steam helps to open pores and oxygenate the skin; it also works wonders for blackhead extraction and dead skin removal. Also products like cleanser, scrub and moisturizer are a must-have. Indulging in a good body scrub comes handy too but don’t forget the pair of exfoliating gloves!

Also oils like apricot, almond, olive and sesame are good to have, for they bestow glow and smoothness to the skin in abundance. Curd, gram flour, rose water and lime coupled with walnut powder and fuller’s earth are of great help when it comes to exfoliating the skin. Make sure to have cotton pads cut to eye’s size to treat dark under eye problems or puffy eyes problem; these pads can be soaked in fresh cucumber juice and water before application. Furthermore, some good aromatic oil like jasmine, lavender and eucalyptus can be of good use too, with their own set of therapeutic properties. Also sea salts can work magically on sore feet and hands. Also, do keep some good incense sticks or diffuser to make the whole experience more vibrant and aromatic. Using some good fragrant candles can be a brilliant idea!

Now, when it comes to facials and massaging, one should take extra care. Consult an expert before you start your own thing; the pressure stimulation process should be precise because excessive pressure can lead to sore muscles and spasms. Undue pressure can also lead to triggering of pain.

Know the basics:

Secret Ingredient: One of the best skin-smoothing ingredient can be found in the dairy aisle, at your nearest supermarket. The lactic acid in milk softens skin better than most super-fancy potions, which is why spa-pros recommend pouring a few cups of milk in your bath. After a long soak, your body will feel buttery soft.

Quick spa recipe: Mix coarse sea salt or brown or white sugar with enough olive oil or grape seed oil to easily spread it on your skin. And always scrub after washing your body with soap; the oils will sink into clean skin and hydrate it.

Three steps facial: To begin with, microwave three damp washcloths for 30 seconds, and  use one to clean your face after each step. Firstly, run hot water in a sink and stand over it with a towel draped over your head for a few minutes (the steam softens your skin) and then wash your face. Next, scrub your face with a product containing both round beads and a chemical exfoliant like, salicylic acid or lactic acid. Lastly, slather on a hydrating face mask, or use a couple of teaspoons of raw honey, which locks in moisture and has antimicrobial properties. Wait for fifteen minutes and wipe it off.