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The original page can be found on-line at http://www.pioneerthinking.com/pb_menfacialcare.html

Men Facial Care Tips
By Paolo Basauri

Men usually don’t care about our skin. It’s a simple fact.

We tend to think we are made from an indestructible material, and that our skin is made of iron. And so, we go on in life, shaving everyday, standing in extreme weather on our vacations, and eating junk food. But hey, our skin is actually deteriorating each passing day, and it’s not a matter of attitude, “machismo”, or whatever you’d like to call it. It’s a matter of health. And in today’s world men facial care is even a matter of social life.

You may not know this, but we men, have very sensitive skin. I used to ignore this also, until I notice my skin was getting too dry, now I have to use baby’s soap because the doctor told me that my skin type is very sensitive. He went on saying that a large portion of men have this same type of skin, and it is due to bad eating habits, lack of exercise and basic men facial care treatment . But what is most disturbing is that most men also ignore this, or they do not take proper action.

So what is proper action?

There are certain habits to take in consideration when you start caring about your facial skin care. Here are some tips that will help you get started in men facial care:

* Drink water, a lot. Water is good for overall health; it is a common advice to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.

* Buy vitamin supplements. To have a healthy skin you should include in your diet multi-vitamins. Particularly helpful to your skin is the Vitamin E.

* Exfoliate your face twice a week. Exfoliation helps removing the dead cells on your facial skin, the result will be a skin free of impurities.

* Protect yourself from the sun. Keep in mind doing it in a healthy way, for example if you’re staying too much time outdoors with a hot weather. Don’t use too much, because sun blockers contain chemicals. Nowadays even some moisturizers have sun protection.

Remember this is all men facial care basic stuff. People have different skin types that have their own issues. You should visit your doctor if you notice anything strange in your skin. However these tips will help you in having a healthier, better looking skin. Bottom line is, start taking care. The web has plenty of information regarding these issues and is a good place to start.
about the author

Paolo Basauri is an expert author. You can find more tips for men facial care at http://www.menskincaretips.com , your place on the web for men skin care. Find advice and articles to get a healthy skin.

Source: Articlecity.com

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The original page can be found on-line at http://www.pioneerthinking.com/jg_menskin.html

Discovering the Facts on Men’s Skin Care
By John Gibb

An important factor which contributes to one’s personality is the look and feel of one’s skin. So, dedicated skin care is a vital step in grooming yourself. However, the question of gender, to which skin belongs, does not arise in skin care and mens skin care is equally as important to that of a women’s.

The idea that men should not care about how they look like, or how their skin is, is a story of the past. People are made more aware now to look after themselves and their skin in a much better and appropriate way to ensure health and healthy skin. The fact is - irrespective of our gender, everyone has a right to enjoy clear and smoother skin.

Proper skin care like avoiding the sun, drinking plenty of water, regular moisturizing and skin massaging and using soap-free products can help in delaying the natural aging and wrinkling process. Similarly, it also saves you from other skin disorders like dryness and acne.

Protecting our skin from damaging sun rays will keep you from deep wrinkles, rough and dry skin and serious disorders like skin cancer. Avoid going out in the sun in peak times. Be sure to cover your body with a cloth to protect it from direct exposure to the sun. Wear long sleeves and pants. Certain fabrics are designed to protect you from the damages of sun rays, use them. Use a sunscreen before going out.

Smoking, alcohol or other medication or drugs accelerates aging and induces wrinkles, dryness and itchiness in the skin. Smoking depletes the skin of oxygen and some important nutrients and it results in decreased blood flow, and reduces elasticity.

Male skin is exposed to dust and sun more frequently as compared to female skin, so cleansing is an essential part of mens skin care. Treat your skin gently, wash your skin gently to cleanse the excess oils and dirt, and avoid soap because it causes dryness and itchiness.

While bathing use warm water, hot baths remove natural oils from your skin and can leave it flaky and dry. Do not take a bath for more than 15 minutes. Moisturize your skin regularly as it will hydrate the skin and give it a fresh glowing look.

Take care while shaving because it can cause irritation. Use shaving gels, a toner and aftershaves which have natural ingredients because they are harmless and effective. Avoid aftershaves which have alcohol in their content because they can cause burning and redness. Use a warm towel on the skin to soften hair.

Use these tips, because mens skin care is very important to make you look great and appealing to others.

The Author

John Gibb is a dedicated researcher of skin care health and products. He shares his research on his website - Natural Skincare. If you have unwanted wrinkles, fine lines and damaged skin, visit - How to achieve the best looking skin naturally now to learn about the skin care line our editors personally use and recommend.

We have personally been using these products with excellent results.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

[LOL - if the men on this list have not as yet learned to shave, this will help you discover how...granny]

The original page can be found on-line at http://www.pioneerthinking.com/bw_shave.html

Tips for a Great Shave!
By Buck Williams

Warning - this is the long answer - but isn’t a couple of minutes of reading worth it? After all, your face is the first thing they notice......

1. Make Sure Your Beard is Thoroughly Wet

One of the keys to a great close shave without irritation or skin rash is to make sure your beard is thoroughly wet. Facial hair will absorb moisture up to 30% of its volume. Hair swollen with water becomes quite weak and therefore easier to cut. Showering before shaving is the ideal way to ensure you beard is properly moistened. If a shower is not possible, rinse your face and then apply a warm moistened towel to your face for at least a couple of minutes. This is the technique that barbers use. Never shave cold or apply shaving products to a dry face.

2. Use a Quality Shaving Cream

Use a shaving cream that has a high concentration of lubricants (eg silicones) and moisturizers. The best shaving creams create a rich creamy lather and do not foam up like the cheaper drug store brands. The less “foaming” in the shave cream the better, as it is what is in contact with the skin and beard that matters - all else is wasted. Less resistance, less irritation and less nicks also mean a longer lasting blade! While the primiary function of the shaving cream is to lubricate your face so that the razor will glide smoothly and effortlessly across the surface, it also serves to lock the moisture into the whiskers, keeping them soft and upright, primed for the cut. The ideal scenario is to leave the shaving cream on your face for at least a minute before you begin cutting, so that the beard is as soft and wet as possible.

3. A Shaving Brush is One of the Best Tools

One of the best tools you can use to achieve the optimum shave is a shaving brush (as top barbers do). A shaving brush does a couple of things. First, it helps raise the hair so that a closer cut is possible. Second, it helps create a rich creamy lather with the shaving cream that stays close to the skin. And, finally, it helps remove dead skin cells (exfoliation) which reduces the chance of blemishes, razor bumps and also helps the skin look and feel smooth and healthy. Always look for a shaving brush with bristles that have the right balance between softness (to create a rich creamy that stays close to the skin) and resistance to raise the beard (making a closer cut easier!)

4. Apply the shaving cream using the brush in a circular motion ending in an upward stroke to help lift the beard up and away from the face.

5. Use a Quality Razor and Change the Blades

Always use a good quality sharp razor blade. Be sure the blade is sharp. You’re not just cutting off hair, you’re also scraping off up to two layers of surface skin when you shave. A dull blade is more traumatic to the skin, making your face feel scratchy and look blotchy. Depending on the toughness of your beard, change the blade somewhere between every three and every ten shaves, if you shave every day. Two weeks is too long to go without changing blades. Regardless of the number of shaves, if the blade is dulled, ditch it.

As to which brand of razor to use - we think you can’t go wrong with any of the Gillette Mach series. Of course there are very high quality and expensive razors available at specialty retailers that you may want to try.

Rinse your blade under hot water before you begin to shave and after every few swipes. This removes the accumulated shaving cream, whiskers, and skin goop. For a really close shave, remoisten the section you just shaved, by spreading a thin layer of lather from another area of your face, and then swiping that area again. Keep everything moist. (Note: The use of hot water here is to help lubricate, has nothing to do with “killing bacteria.”)

6. Use the Razor Properly

Ideally shave in the direction of the beard growth. Start with the sides, then the moustache area and last the chin. The chin hairs are the toughest, so this allows them the most time to soften under the shave cream.

Shaving against the direction of hair growth gives a closer shave, but has two drawbacks:

A. It’s a good way to donate blood, and

B. You run a high risk of cutting off a hair below skin level, causing an ingrown hair (razor bumps) - the whisker grows into the surrounding tissue instead of out of the pore, resulting in inflammation and possible infection.

To avoid these shaving problems, again, shave “with the grain” (that is, in the direction your hair grows.) Each person’s facial hair has its own growth pattern. If you are unsure of the direction of your beard, let it grow for a day or two and you’ll see it.

7. If you want an even Closer Shave

If you wish to achieve an even closer shave (as many barbers do) apply some more lather from your brush (add more cream if necessary) to the areas you wish to shave again. This is one of the extra advantages of using a brush. For most guys, re-shaving certain areas with the grain should do the job. Professional barbers, by the way, usually first shave with the grain, and then re-shave going sideways - but they’re trained professionals!

But, don’t over shave. Too much shaving will cause skin irritation and rashes.

Rinse the blade thoroughly before you put it away. (The water temperature isn’t going to have any impact on bacteria; you’re rinsing the blade to get rid of hairs, shaving cream, oils, and gunk, not to kill bacteria. You’d need to boil the razor for that, which is not necessary.) Do NOT wipe the blade with a tissue or towel—that will just dull it faster.

8. Cleanse and Soothe After Shaving

After shaving, when the skin is most vulnerable (remember, you’ve just scraped off up to 2 layers of surface skin!), rinse the face with warm water and use a facial wash that has a high concentration of tea tree oil (a natural antiseptic that is ideal to help cleanse and protect from spots and shaving rash) and witch hazel (for its soothing, healing and astringent properties).

9. Rinse with the coolest water that is comfortable and pat dry with a clean towel. (Don’t rub! Just pat)

10. Finish off with an Aftershave Moisturizer.

Shaving can remove up to two layers of skin. There is no other regular activity that does this, which is why it is so important to use a good quality moisturizer after shaving. An after shave moisturizer, designed as an after shave balm and moisturizer in one, is the ideal way to replace lost moisture and soothe the skin. And, be sure to use one made just for guys - these formulas are designed so that they are not greasy, absorb quickly and dry with a matte finish so that your face doesn’t look shiny. Typically moisturizers made for women are too greasy as men tend to have not only thicker skin but also oiler skin than women due to men’s larger sebaceous glands. The best aftershave moisturizers not only replace lost moisture and soothe, but also have ingredients that will cool and refresh the skin.

Following these 10 shaving tips should help you achieve optimum skin health, avoid shaving problems and help you look and feel your best.
author

Buck Williams is a master barber with over 15 years of barbering and product development experience for premier barbershops, salons and manufacturers. Most recently, Buck has appeared on TV as a makeover guru, and behind the scenes on TV and film production sets and magazine features helping actors and sports celebrities look their best. Buck’s passion is helping men look and feel their best and believes that a great shave and post shave skin care is so important to the impression you make.

This article on the Shaving Tips and Techniques is reprinted with permission.