Men's Skin Care Guide

SEVEN STEPS TO THE BEST MEN'S SKIN CARE PRODUCTS ROUTINE

Unless you have a full beard, shaving your face properly is fundamental and crucial for maintaining a healthy complexion. Often men's shaving routine involves shortcuts and bad habits due to the repetition associated with daily shaving. However, a smooth shave and healthy-looking skin involves more than just shaving your face.

A lot of men are guilty of common shaving mistakes and wonder why they end up with razor bumps and inflamed or irritated skin. Follow the steps below in your shaving routine for a healthier complexion.

Step 1 - Only Use High Quality Blades

Avoid using cheap, low-quality blades or blunt blades as this is the fastest way to skin irritation and razor burn. You would think that this step goes without saying but getting the last shave out of each blade is a common problem among men and one that doesn't pay in the long run. Let's face it, buying high-quality blades and throwing them out when they're blunt is not expensive and is the most fundamental step is delivering a smooth shave and healthy skin.

Step 2 - Shower In Hot Water And Avoid Towel-Drying Your Face And Neck

A hot shower gives off steam which relaxes the pores in your face and softens your skin. A cold shower tends to do the opposite. When you towel off, avoid the face and neck areas as the added moisture will assist you in shaving.

Step 3 - Choose A Good Shaving Soap Or Cleansing Shave Foam

Some men tend to use a shaving soap while others prefer a shaving foam. This is a personal choice but either way, always use a high quality, natural soap or a cleanser and shave foam. Lather up well or use plenty of the cleanser and shave foam.

Step 4 - Keep Hands Clean And Do Not Shave Against The Grain

Make sure your hands are clean (they should be if you just got out of the shower) and always shave from the top down rather than upwards against the grain of your facial hair. This will minimize friction between your skin and the blade of your razor. When you shave, you are not just shaving away the stubble but also exfoliating away the very top layer of skin. This is normal but facial skin is delicate so avoid aggravating it by shaving upwards instead of downwards.

Step 5 - Apply A Post-Shave Moisturizer

This is an essential step to healthy skin. A good men's face moisturizer should soothe and moisturize your skin. You want to keep your complexion hydrated and supple. If you work in an air-conditioned office or outdoors in the cold or wind, this will tend to dry out your skin. Moisturizing renders your skin more resilient to skin damage caused by wind and cold weather. If you work outdoors in the sun, we recommend using a moisturizer with SPF. In fact, a study conducted in Nambour, Qld, Australia in 2013 found that the daily use of an SPF slowed the aging process by 24 percent when compared to the intermittent use of an SPF! Aging is a process that occurs over time and the signs of aging can appear more obvious at different stages as you get older. The secret to looking younger than your age is to use a high quality moisturizer daily and this is especially so after shaving.

Step 6 - Use A Face Scrub One To Three Times A Week

While shaving does involve exfoliation to some extent, it does not deliver the same results as a good face scrub and does not cover areas around the eyes or the forehead. In addition, the periodic use of a face scrub is essential for the prevention of acne, blackheads, dry, sensitive and oily skin, as well as for the removal of dead skin cells. A good facial exfoliator should not only remove dead skin cells, it should also purify and deep cleanse your skin. You also want a face scrub that won't dry out your skin. 

Step 7 - Apply A Clay Face Mask Once A Week

While some suggest the use of a clay face mask twice a week, particularly if you have oily skin we say that this depends on the type of clay mask as some clays will dry out the skin more than others. If you have acne-prone or oily skin then applying a clay face mask is another essential step in any men's skin care routine.