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Men's Skincare

© Marlin Bressi

I probably wouldn't be going out on a limb if I said that most men don't think about their skin. Leave it to the women to worry about smile lines and wrinkles and bags under the eyes, you may say. After all, aren't men supposed to be rugged? With skin bronzed by a hard day's work beneath the blazing sun? What man worries about moisturizing and exfoliating? Well, the answer may surprise you....

Recent surveys suggest that men are actually more concerned with their physical appearance than women. Perhaps then it's just that most men don't really admit that they think about skincare. But there are many reasons why men should start to give serious consideration to their skin. Pollution levels continue to rise, and even an hour outside in a busy city can coat your skin with a layer of grime. Once this dirt finds its way into your pores, it sends a signal to the body to produce more oil, and breakouts and acne can occur. Then there are the health risks, the most obvious being skin cancer. We are seeing only now the effects the sun can have on the skin over a lifetime. The fact is that most of this damage can be prevented if steps are taken to ensure proper care for the skin. I find it mindboggling that men will spend tons of money on products that claim to cure baldness, which affects the top of the head only, while neglecting the skin that covers the rest of the entire body.

A good place to start is in the shower. Take a cue from your wife or your girlfriend and toss out those bars of soap. Most soaps are alkaline, which may dry out your skin (which is naturally slightly acidic). I prefer to use a body wash, and there are many body washes out there to choose from, several that are made exclusively for men. I have found that the very best product for washing the body is shampoo. I haven't touched a bar of soap in years, and I don't plan on it. Shampoo just makes sense, since most mens' bodies are covered with hair anyway. Shampoos are less harsh than most soaps, and they lather better. If you want to shampoo your skin, go with Paul Mitchell Awapuhi shampoo. It even says on the bottle that it makes an ideal body wash. Paul Mitchell Tea Tree shampoo is also good, it will make your skin tingle (due to the vasodilating properties of the tea tree oil), and it's minty scent is quite invigorating in the morning.