For men, taking care of our skin can prove to be one of the best things to learn how to do. Besides the most obvious advantages like looking better, it has also the advantage of improving our health. Skin care does it part on helping us stay healthy, especially when taking accounts recent studies that prove men are genetically more prone to develop skin cancer. Every activity begins with some essentials stuff, and daily men’s skin care is no exception, here are the 5 essential aids to start looking and feeling better:

1. Face Cleanser

A good face cleanser is different from your regular soap. It will remove dead skin cells, dirt, oil and pollutants we catch from the environment. It will also unclog the pores and by doing that it will also prevent us from acne blemishes and pimples.

If you have very dry skin use creamy cleansers. For oily skin, acid-based cleansers. But well, most cleansers serve for all types of skin, so better read well the labels before buying any product. Sometimes you may feel your face “tight” after cleaning and drying, this happens because the cleanser has got rid off of too much oil. (You need some oil on your skin after all!) What happens next, is that your skin will try to compensate producing more oil, eventually clogging pores. If you notice this, switch to a better cleanser.

The face cleanser should be applied once in the morning and once at night. Apply with water on face and neck, using a warm temperature and pat dry with a soft towel.

2. Shaving Cream or Shaving Gel

The shaving gel or cream basically does two things. First, it softens up the beard allowing a close shave; and second, it will help the razor blades glide smoothly over your skin. This helps reduce razor burns and blemishes caused by ingrown hair.

When choosing a shaving cream, most will work for any type of skin. But it is better to use a quality shaving cream that does some “extra work”, like providing natural nutrients to the -soon to be damaged- skin.

The application of the cream or gel depends on the product. Now in the market there are even dry shave gels, that don’t require you to wet your skin first. One common advice is too put the shaving cream or gel, and let it rest for about a minute (just let it do it’s work for a while) and then shave. If you want to get an even better shave, do it right after a hot bath. hot water helps open up the pores.

3. Toner

The toner will clean the pores, removing shaving residues and restore the skin pH. It also helps the skin fight bacterial invasion. As the cleanser, apply it once by morning and once at night. For normal to dry skin use an hydrating toner, and for oily skin a toner-astringent.

Toner should be applied after shaving, and if you don’t have facial hair, after cleansing. It is also good idea to apply it after prolonged sun exposure to restore the acid levels on the skin.

4. After Shave

The after have is more than a cologne to close the pores. A good after shave will restore the skin’s natural moisture after shaving and relieve of irritations. Advanced after shaves will also combat razor burn and leave you with a soft restored-from-damage skin. They come in lotions and creams, I’ve found creams often work better.

To apply it just massage a little on shaved skin on face and neck immediately after shaving and toning.

5. Moisturizer

This is the final step in daily men’s skin care. The moisturizer will prevent the natural moisture n the top layer of your skin to go away. And will help water retention. Most people think it brings water into your skin, but it just helps holding its natural moisture. If you have dry skin go foir oil based moisturizers, and if you have oily skin go for humectant lotion.

To apply it, massage the moisturizer gently on your skin until you will it is fully absorbed, and do it after shaving and toning. If your skin is very very oily you should not require moisturizer, but talk with a skin professional first for better advice.

That’s it. These are the 5 essentials of men’s daily skin care. If you take of your skin no problems will arise in the future and you can end up looking younger and healthier.

By: Paolo Basauri

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Did you know that about 80,000 facial skin cells die every day? This is why your skin can take on a dull, lustreless appearance, accentuating lines and wrinkles on your face if you do not include exfoliation in your daily skin care regime.

Many women still use commercial soaps that are harsh on your skin and contain chemicals you’d rather not know. The combination of these chemicals and the harshness of these soaps can leave your face dry, robbed of moisture and having removed the protective Acid Mantel, vulnerable to microbes and other potentially harmful environmental factors.

Exfoliation is the first step in any good daily skin care regime. Exfoliation can take a number of forms, you can use a facial clay gel-wash, which removes dirt, stale natural oils as well as gently remove the dead skin cells from your face, leaving your face clean, free of stale oils and dirt, and unblock the pores of your skin.

Alternatively, you can use products such as the Skin Renewal Gel from Wildcrafted Herbal Products or a multitude of other natural products that will help to remove the layer of dead skin cells.

Exfoliation is intended to do nothing more than remove dead skin cells, however, you need to be aware of how ‘ruff’ they are. For example, there are chemical exfoliants which will not just attack the dead skin cells, but also harm living cells. This is not the aim of a quality exfoliant, on the contrary, exfoliation is supposed to help promote new growth of skin cells, not attack new cells.

Similarly, there are natural as well as non-natural exfoliants that have ingredients, which can cause minute cuts and be quite abrasive to your facial skin. Again this is not the type of product you would want to use.

Exfoliants should contain substances such as high quality clays, herbal extracts and essential oils that are gentle to your skin, but do remove the dead skin layer at the same time. Clay, for example, is made up of rounded particles and because of their shape, they will not irritate or cut your skin nor will they be abrasive to the skin. Essential oils, such as Chamomile are soothing, anti-septic and cleansing. Finally, a good exfoliant should be natural, gentle and contain ingredients that are cleansing and soothing to your skin.



By: Dr Danny Siegenthaler

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A professional skin care regime is one of the most important parts of maintaining your skin’s health. Your skin is not a smooth surface like a sheet of glass. On the contrary, your skin is more like a riverbed, full of little lumps, bumps, crevasses and holes. You can give these dermatological names such as fine lines, pores, sebaceous glands, etc., but at the end of the day the fact remains your skin is far from a flat, smooth surface.

Because of this and because your skin is a living, breathing part of your body and fulfils several major functions including temperature regulation, immune defence, protection from the external environment, etc., you will need to look after it if you wish to have it work at its optimal level and hope to have good, healthy skin into your late 70’s and beyond.

What about the type of products I should use for my skin care regime?

You should always choose natural skin care products as many commercially mass-produced skin care products utilise potentially toxic chemicals and highly modified ‘natural’ ingredients.

Wildcrafted Herbal Products hand makes a range of holistically-natural skin care products suitable for your particular skin type. These products are based on traditional naturopathic principles and utilize herbal extracts and essential oils to produce lasting effects.

Their products are designed to benefit your skin’s health for the long term and include only the best ingredients suitable for your specific skin type.

Daily Skin Care Regime

Cleansing your skin

Cleansing your skin is one of the most important steps if you want to maintain a healthy, vibrant and youthful looking skin.

As well as providing the basis for an advanced skin care regime, effective cleansing can actually improve the quality of our skin, enhancing its radiance and keeping it looking younger for longer.

Thorough cleansing is one of the most important steps of a complete skin care regime. Cleansing of your skin should be done morning and night to ensure the removal of surface impurities, make-up, and stale skin oils. When regularly performed cleansing will enhance the skin’s ability to breathe and maintain its other important functions.

One of the best ways to do this is to make cleansing your skin part of your daily skin care regime.

This is how you do it:

First, moisten your face with lukewarm water. Then apply a small amount of facial cleanser. Gently spread the product over your skin, using light, circular movements. At this stage, spend an extra minute massaging the product into your face to boost your skin’s circulation and help decongestion.

Secondly, be sure to be gentle, your skin is a delicate organ and needs to be treated with care and respect.

Lastly, rinse off the cleanser, using lukewarm water and pat your face dry.

If you are still using ordinary soap, STOP. You are seriously compromising the health of your skin. Throw it away and start using a quality cleanser.

Toning your skin

Toning is the second step in your daily skin care regime. These days, women often leave this step out and yet it is just as important as the cleansing of your skin or the moisturizing. It is a must include step. The one or two minutes it takes are worth every second if you desire to have healthy, vibrant skin with a minimum of lines and wrinkles. Don’t leave this step out.

You have just spent time cleaning your skin, ridding it of stale oils, makeup, dead skin cells and other impurities, now you have to tone your skin.

A quality cleanser may contain such ingredients as clay. This helps to remove dead skin cells and other impurities, but may not rinse off totally. This is why you need to use a quality toner.

Firstly, it removes every last bit of the cleanser such as the fine clay particles and other residues from the cleansing process.

Secondly it will close the skin’s pores to protect it from further loss of moisture, which invariably happens when cleansing your face.

Thirdly it provides nutrients and restores the pH balance of your skin.

Now that is worth spending a minute or two, isn’t it?

Moisturising your skin

This is the third part of your daily skin care regime and should also be done morning and night using a day crème in the morning and a night crème before retiring.

A quality moisturiser protects your facial skin from environmental damage, provides nutrients for the skin and prevents loss of moisture, thereby slowing down the aging process.

In addition, a moisturiser should help to maintain the acid mantle of your skin, which is part of your immune system and if the pH of your skin becomes too acidic or alkaline, the acid mantel is compromised.

Weekly Regime

To complete your skin care regime, you should set aside a few minutes once a week, preferably at the weekend to deeply cleanse and nourish your skin. Your weekly treats should include, the use of a Facial Mask and Exfoliation.

These treatments encourage cellular repair, step up collagen production and help strengthen, tone and firm up your skin.

Facial Clay Mask:

Using a clay mask will help to draw toxins from your skin, whilst moisturising and nourishing the skin at the same time. There are different clays that will work for specific skin types and choosing the right products containing the clay that is most suitable to your skin type is important. There are 3 basic clays: Green, Yellow and Red.

Exfoliation

Think of Exfoliation from this perspective. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells, soothes the skin and improves its tone. Dead skin cells are the very top layer of your skin. Applying moisturiser to dead skin cells does not make sense, does it? So exfoliation, removes the dead skin cells, promotes blood circulation and helps to invigorate and prepare the skin to more easily absorb any moisturising product you apply.

Exfoliation also helps speed up the rate of cell turn over. Another word for exfoliation is scrubbing. Using a facial scrub at least once a week, makes your skin more receptive to creams and treatments. However care must be taken not to over exfoliate.

The aim is to remove any dead cells from the skins surface without disturbing the healthy cells beneath.

In conclusion, to follow a skin care regime is like taking out an insurance policy on the health and vitality of your skin. Can you afford not to follow a complete, daily skin care regime?



By: Dr Danny Siegenthaler

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Experts in the beauty industry say that there are actually two effective ways of skin care to the aging skin: first is the artificial means and the natural means. The former can be done through plastic surgeries and through the use of products that contain chemicals that are believed to minimize the signs of aging and the latter would include measures to living a healthy lifestyle.

More and more people prefer the artificial means because it is an easy remedy to aging. They encourage people to take natural means as possible because if these are done and followed properly, they can have a lasting effect on the person’s appearance and over all health and well being.

Experts say that natural skin regimen is the best way to achieve a long lasting, healthy skin. This might include having a balanced and healthy diet and developing a regular work out, exercise or physical activities to keep the blood circulate freely. This can also be possible by stopping smoking cigarettes; veering away from stressful events; finding ample time to sleep; being well hydrated through lots of fluids especially water and by keeping a positive outlook in life.

Why Skin Care Is Important

To avoid the early signs of aging, proper skin care should be an essential part of every person’s life. The first step in taking care of skin is to know what type of skin you possess. Dermatologists—professionals who are experts on skin and skin care and treatment—categorize skin types into four that include dry, oily, normal, and combination.

If there’s a tight or rough feel of the skin, you should pay more attention to the way you treat your skin because this is an indicator of dry skin—the most common contributor of ugly skin. This is characterized by the presence of flakes and scales as well as redness and itchiness of the skin. Experts say that is if you have dry skin, it is a must that you avoid washing it with hot water. It is also a must that you stay away from using harsh or strong soaps and alcohol-based skin products to avoid skin irritation.

Then, the next type is the oily skin that is characterized by shiny appearance and large pores on the skin’s surface that makes it prone to acne. People who have oily skin should shun away from too much scrubbing that can cause more pimple breakout. It is also advisable that they use non-comedogenic skin products to maintain a healthy skin.

On the other hand, normal skin is characterized by healthy glow. It doesn’t have redness or large pores. People who have normal skin type should use skin care products that help maintain the natural water balance of their skin.

Last effective skin care would be the combination skin that has dry and oily areas. Oily sections usually include the T-zone (the forehead, nose, and chin), while cheeks remain less oily. People with combination skin must use products that are specifically developed for this skin type in order to avoid over-drying that can cause redness, itchiness, or any irritation.



By: Dina Brown

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There are four basic steps to regular skin care. However, before you start following the tips and instructions don’t forget to find out and make sure what skin type you have. There are various simple at home tests you can perform to make sure if you have greasy, dry, or combination skin. Without knowing your skin type you may cause more damage to the skin then get any benefit out of the following tips.

Having said that, the most simple and basic daily skin care routine consists of the following four steps:

Step 1: Cleansing The more simple you keep it, the better. Look for a cleanser that most agrees with your skin type and then limit yourself to it. Ordinary bar soaps available in the market must be avoided at all costs as they tend to over dry the skin. The good thing about cleansers, or at least most of them, is that their content includes oil, aqua and surfactants. Surfactants act by removing any dirt or traces of make up from the face and water helps to wash it off. But the trick is to find a cleanser with the right amount of oil as excessive oil leads to clogged pores and too little dries the skin.

Too much cleansing is not a good idea. Cleansing at night is best. All you need to do in the morning is splash your face with tepid water.

Step 2: Exfoliate Exfoliation, though much ignored is one of the most wonderful ways of keeping your skin healthy. Right kind of exfoliation gives immediate results. Several methods of exfoliation exist.

One of the best ways is to use a scrub. This helps remove the dead skin on top of the skin which causes it to appear dull. Only use gentle scrubs with minute grains as the cheap variety with big grains are harsh on the skin.

Go for a chemical peel. The time you have to spend waiting for it to work (an hour usually) can do amazing things for your skin, leaving it looking younger by say five years. However, these tend to be on the pricy side. So if you can’t afford them, try buying an over the counter one. It takes longer to take effect but it’s worth the wait.

Step 3: Moisturize Moisturizing is one routine every skin type requires. These help to trap moisture in the skin leaving it hydrated. The amount and frequency of moisturizing your skin depends on its type. When the skin feels “tight” and coarse, it’s demanding to be moisturized. Nevertheless, be careful you don’t over do it as it can lead to clogged pores that cause blackheads and also makes the skin break out.

Step 4: Apply Sunscreen More than anything else, exposure to sun for too long wreaks havoc with your skin leading to wrinkling and the appearance of unwanted brown spots. Whether it’s cloudy or sunny, never go out without your sunblock and this must become a habit from a young age.

By: Liam Derbyshire

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A lot of people do this mistake: they try to cure the blemishes when the problem exaggerates. Acne is a skin disorder and it needs regular attention. It is not difficult to understand whether a person has acne-prone skin or not. If you are susceptible to acne, you need to follow a daily skin care regime for acne. There is no alternative.

Daily skin care helps you keep your skin clear, remove excess oil and cure existing breakouts. You don’t need to spend hours in front of the mirror practicing the skin care routine. Daily skin care for acne does not take much time – all it needs is regularity.

Here are the details of your daily acne skin care routine:

1) Cleansing:

Use a mild cleanser; if you have severe acne breakouts on your skin, use a cleanser that has benzoyl peroxide as an ingredient. Do not use any rubbing or cleansing pad, washcloth etc. to rub your face. Use the fingertips in order to cleanse your face, neck and both front and back side of your ears thoroughly. Rinse with plain water and repeat the process again. Cleanse your face at least twice a day – it won’t take more than 10 minutes of your time.

2) Toning:

This is the second step of your daily skin care for acne. Take a pad or cotton ball and apply the toner on it. Rub it gently over your face and neck. This will help you remove the residual part of cleanser or makeup from the skin.

If your skin is dry, use alcohol-free toner. Alcohol may lead to skin irritation for those who already have acne breakouts. You can consult a skin doctor to know which type of toner would be good for your skin.

3) Medication:

Those suffering from inflammatory acne outbreaks should now use acne creams. When the toner dries out completely, apply acne medication on the blemishes as instructed by your skin doctor. Wait for the cream to dry completely; then proceed to the next step.

4) Moisturizing:

Use an oil-free moisturizer; acne creams often over-dry your skin. Moisturizer will reduce the dryness of your skin and stop it to peel off. You may think that what is the use of applying moisturizer when you wanted the skin to become dry? By using a light moisturizer you are actually protecting it from becoming over dried. Use moisturizing lotion or gels; they are usually much lighter than creams.

These are the four easy steps that you need to follow to get rid of acne forever. Apart from these skin care routine, you may follow a healthy and balanced diet to prevent acne. You should consult a dermatologist or skin doctor to know how food habit can help you prevent acne.



By: Tara Mace

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The first thing we notice about any human being is their face. Maintaining clean, healthy skin is absolutely essential for self-esteem, confidence and a good attitude about life. Having healthy skin doesn’t mean you have to spend hundreds of dollars on skin care products and make-up. It’s about having a healthy lifestyle and upholding disciplined cleansing habits that will make flawless skin possible.

Healthy Diet. By avoiding greasy, fatty foods that will make your face break out, your skin will be less oily and more resistant to blemishes. Some foods that cause your skin to break our include pizza, French fries, chocolate and most other types of candy, fast food and soft drinks. You don’t have to give up these special treats completely, just eat them in moderation.

Hydration and Exercise. Drinking the recommended eight glasses of water a day – along with regular exercise like walking, jogging, bicycling or getting involved in sports – will make a tremendous impact on the way your skin looks and feels. Exercise will increase blood flow, making your dull skin glow like new. It will also make your feel more energized and generally happier. Keeping your body in shape allows for less stress and a feeling of achievement.

Sun Exposure. Protect yourself from sun damage, skin cancer and premature wrinkles by using a moderate strength sunscreen. Too much sun can blister your lips, leaving them red and sore. Sunburned skin can peel, leaving your skin patchy and sensitive. Monitor how much time you spend in the sun and use good judgment when deciding if you’ve had enough for the day.

Regular Cleaning Routine. Cleanse, exfoliate, tone and moisturize – this daily routine should carry you on your way toward healthier skin in no time. Choose a gentle cleansing solution that works for your specific type of skin, whether it’s dry, oily or normal. Using your selected product, cleanse your face in a gentle circular motion and rinse with lukewarm water, as hot water drains the skin’s moisture.

The next step is to exfoliate. A granular exfoliant product is often especially effective in smoothly rough areas and rubbing away dead skin cells, allowing the face to be better moisturized.

After exfoliating, use a toner or astringent to tighten skin and remove any make-up or cleanser residue. An alternative to toner or astringent would be a facial masque at least once a week, which tackles clogged pores while also firming skin and leaving it soft and silky.

The final step is to apply a moisturizer that will protect against dry skin. People with oily skin don’t have to moisturize as often as those who have dry, normal or combination skin.

You could spend hundreds of dollars on skin care products and only achieve clear, healthy skin for a short period of time. A daily skin care routine, along with a healthy diet, drinking lots of water, exercising and protecting your skin from sun damage, will help you achieve healthy skin for a lifetime.



By: Pretty Skin 4 Less

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With the way our days go by, most of us are busy with the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. It wouldn’t come as a surprise knowing that there are many, even the prettiest faces who have got skin problems, dull skin and occasional break outs simply because there’s never time for that three hour relaxation spa treatment.

To improve the condition of your skin without going all out on the pampering, indulge in daily skin care. There are actually only 4 basic things you should do to get good skin, starting with cleansing. Make sure that your cleanser is meant for the face and not ordinary bar soap as those can be too rough for facial skin. there is absolutely no need for fancy wash, so just stick to the common facial cleansers which you can purchase at pharmacies, malls and regular stores. Also, try to not overdo on the cleansing part, just wash your face once or twice a day and make sure you use lukewarm water. Cold and hot water can cause capillaries to break which wouldn’t look very pretty.

Furthermore, exfoliate your skin. There isn’t a need to do this every day, just once a week should do. Many tend to skip this but it is indeed an important step that can make a lot of differences. Don’t bother with those expensive exfoliating mask, just purchase regular scrubs and work it on your face for about 5 minutes then splash with warm water. This will help remove stubborn dirt and clean your pores as well. In addition to that, make sure you use a known brand for scrubs or try and test out a few before settling for one. Large grains from cheap products can tear your skin if not used carefully. However, if you want to save a few bucks and opt for a home remedy, mix olive oil with some sugar and use it as a substitute to your scrubs.

The next step would be to make sure your skin gets enough moisture. So always use a moisturizer once or twice a day depending on the brand. It doesn’t matter if you’ve got oily skin, you still should use some, just opt for something light. This is so because moisturizers don’t only work on the surface of your skin but beneath it as well by locking in the moisture keeping your skin soft and supple. Be careful not to overdo it with the moisturizer as it would result in clogged pores.

Last step to daily skin care would be to always use sunscreen to protect your skin from the damage excessive sunrays can cause. If you purchase a day moisturizer with UV protection, there would be no need for this, but do make sure you use something to keep wrinkles and dry skin at bay.

In a nutshell, skin care can be as easy as 123 if you take the time and effort to make it as part of your daily regime. So spend a few extra minutes on your skin and you would be glowing with difference.



By: Rowena

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