Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Men Skin Care 1- Determine Your Skin Type


NORMAL SKIN
How to Tell
• Small, clean pores
• Smooth, rosy complexion
• Face is matte after cleansing
• Excellent skin elasticity
• Few blemishes or none at all
How to Treat
You're among the small percentage of people who are blessed with normal or balanced skin. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't look after it. Ignore your skin and it may dry out or become sun damaged, which can hasten the signs of aging.

Follow a twice daily cleanse-tone-moisturize regimen and use a sunscreen with a minimum SPF 15 rating, if you plan to spend more than 10 or 15 minutes outside. Exfoliate with a gentle facial scrub once or twice a week, in the shower after cleansing, and mask once or twice a month.


OILY SKIN
How to Tell
• Large pores clogged with dirt and oil
• Skin is thick, sallow, insensitive to irritants
• Face is shiny, even after cleansing
• Few wrinkles or fine lines
• Problems with blemishes
How to Treat
Try a mild facial cleanser every morning in the shower, followed by an astringent toner and oil free face lotion. Do not use products that dry out your skin. Do not rub your skin dry after cleansing. Instead, pat it dry with a soft towel.

Use glycerin soap when you shower. Exfoliate with a mild facial scrub two or three times per week, in the morning after cleansing. Mask at least once a week. Tone before and after exercise or when you're sweaty. Use an astringent aftershave or aftershave gel instead of a lotion-based shave balm. Avoid all-over body moisturizers.

DRY SKIN
How to Tell
• Small or invisible pores
• Fine lines, especially around eyes
• Droplets of perspiration on upper lip
• Men of color: Skin is grey or ashen
• Caucasians: Skin is thin, flaky, transparent
How to Treat
It's easy to mistake dry skin symptoms or some mild forms of skin disease for truly dry skin. In fact, you most likely have normal skin that you aren't treating with the proper amount of respect.

Follow the instructions above for normal skin. If you don't see an immediate improvement, talk to a dermatologist.

COMBINATION SKIN
How to Tell
• Shiny "T" zone (forehead, nose, chin)
• Large pores on nose
• Dry or normal eye areas, cheeks, neck
• Dry areas have small or invisible pores
• Fine lines around eyes
How to Treat
Treat each area separately, according to the instructions for oily and normal or dry skin types.

SENSITIVE SKIN
How to Tell
• Skin reacts to sun, wind, fabrics, cosmetics
• Exposed skin burns easily in direct sunlight
• Skin is dry and thin
• Skin always itches or stings
• Shaving is often extremely painful
How to Treat
Be very careful about the products you choose for your skin. Even with their fine botanical ingredients and hypoallergenic testing, some of our items have been known to provoke rare but intense reactions in a few of our more sensitive clients.

For shaving, try a gel instead of a cream. Follow with an aftershave balm that has a little sun protection for your daily walkabouts. Bathe with a glycerin soap bar and avoid fragrances.

Caution remains the word of the day. If you see redness after an application of any product, discontinue its use at once.

PROBLEM SKIN
How to Tell
• Very large, dirty pores
• Pores exude fat when squeezed
• Skin is excessively oily
• Moderate to severe acne
• Skin is prone to blackheads, blemishes
How to Treat
Consult a dermatologist, if you have not already done so. You most likely require prescription medication that you cannot obtain at MenEssentials.

If you are already on prescription medication, do not pop, squeeze or pick at acne blemishes. Wash your face twice daily with a mild cleanser and pat dry. Use cosmetics and toiletries that are specifically marked "noncomedogenic."

Avoid things that can aggravate your acne (oils, airborne grease, irritating clothing or sporting equipment, and so on). Use protective clothing and sunscreens. Avoid tanning booths.

Friday, September 4, 2009

A must food towards healthy skin

Apart from calcium, cottage cheese is great for selenium and it’s an essential mineral for a youthful, glowing skin, Ladies!

Almonds …

Vitamin E helps to moisturize your skin from within. It also protects your skin from damage and premature aging. Eating almonds can help your facial tissue stay in its best shape for years!



Mangoes …

Yum! I’m glad this one’s on the list. Lots of vitamin A is in store with this skin do-gooder! This fruit will repair your skin cells so that your skin doesn’t look flaky. It has only 70 calories per serving so it’s ideal for your weight loss program as well.

Avocado is rich in B-complex vitamins and essential oils and works like an anti-inflammatory agent. It also soothes skin that is red, irritated or blotchy. You can even mix it with yogurt and berries to add some flavor!

Water …

Did I even need to mention it? :) Good hydration is our skin’s best friend, right? And I’m talking about good bottled or filtered water in its purest form and not sodas or energy drinks. So ensure that you’re getting at least 8 glasses of water a day for your beautiful skin.

This drink contains polyphenols which have anti-inflammatory characteristics. And despite what they say, a good tea will not dehydrate your body, it will only work as an anti-oxidant and an anti-inflammatory agent that’ll keep bacteria at bay and will fight off those free radicals that make our skin age early.

Low fat yogurt …

Low fat dairy products are full of vitamin A. This essential vitamin does wonders for our skin. If you have a thyroid problem or diabetes that’s another reason for you to stock up on organic law fat yogurts!


Berries …

I am talking about plums, strawberries, blueberries and blackberries (No, not the phone!). These berries have a great antioxidant capacity which means - the more of these we have, the longer our skin will look youthful and healthy!


Salmon …

Our skin needs essential fatty acids. If fish isn’t your thing, try walnuts, flax seed or canola oil. All these will give you an amazing result! Omega 3 and Omega 6 may sound like a Sci-fi flick, but these fatty acids are a must for a beautiful, well moisturized skin