Head Part 4- Facial Care

In men’s fashion and style, the inescapable part of the body guys have to look after is the… … face!

Yes, you can wear the most precious clothes, put on the most expensive colognes and have the snazziest hairstyles; but if you have a face that screams neglect and unclean, you will not leave a good impression.

The problem is, when it comes to facial care, men nowadays seem to be bombarded by various adverts from spas and cosmetics companies that scream out so many ways on how guys should keep their skin youthful. In addition, we also are further confused by the hundreds of skin care regimes that women use- no wonder most men don’t even want to find out more about taking care of their face.

However, there really are only a few basic steps that guys need to be concern about… … and here they are:

WASH

TONE

MOISTURIZE

Yup! That’s about it. No fuss and not very complicating.

The fact of the matter is most men only need to worry about three parts to facial care; the only part that men sometimes need help in is how to go about the simple three steps. You see, there is a jungle of products, information and opinions on how men should take care of their skin; take for example, the first step of the three step regime, WASH.

Facial wash or cleansers come in many shapes and sizes; they can be found in supermarkets, pharmacies and department stores. And in that order, the price of the cleansers tends to rise as well. I would suggest avoiding supermarkets as in my experience, supermarket tend to not carry good cleansers. Having said that, department stores can carry the really high end stuff, but they also have ones that are good for value. Whether you are searching in the pharmacy or department store, do not be afraid to try out the product (if it’s allowed) and feel how your skin feels. If it feels tight and stretchy after a wash, it’s probably too strong for your skin.

As you need to know what kind of skin you have before you buy a suitable cleanser, here’s a rough guide for you. But do ask the consultant (if there is one) to verify your skin type!

Dry Skin- Skin is rough to the touch and easily irritated- Skin tends to flake, chap, and appear dull- Skin feels thin, tight and uncomfortable- Skin pores are small

Normal Skin- Skin is neither too oily or too dry- Skin is usually free from blemishes and not problematic (from acne etc.)- Skin feels smooth to the touch- Skin pores are small and clean

Oily Skin- Skin feels greasy and looks shiny especially on the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin)- Skin is prone to blackheads, acne, spots, blemishes- Skin is thick and dull, and generally not affected by harsh chemicals and weather- Skin pores are large and congested

Combination Skin- Skin feels rough and tight on the cheeks and eye area, but greasy and shiny on the T-zone area- Skin is prone to blackheads, acne, spots and blemishes within the T-zone- Skin is a combination of both dry and oily skin- Skin pores are large within the T-zone area, and small elsewhere

Sensitive Skin- Skin feels dry, itchy and tight- Skin is red and blotchy when irritated and burns easily when exposed to sunlight- Skin reacts badly to weather and chemicals- Skin pores are small

Cheers

EMS