Know Your Skin Type
Your skin is in fact an organ, the largest in the body. It protects you from the elements, controls your temperature and provides you with your sense of touch.
You have on average about 300 million skin cells, more on the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet, where it's thickest and a lot less around the eyes and lips where the it's very thin and vulnerable (and wrinkles quicker!) A square inch of skin contains about 200 sweat glands, 2m of blood vessels, 20 hairs and 30 sebaceous (oil) glands.
Men's skin is a fraction thicker than women's and is therefore a little more robust, which is just as well considering the rigors of shaving and the harsh concoctions that people slap on to it. Next time you see a baby take a peer at its skin. It's normally smooth, blemish free and healthy looking. This healthy complexion usually stays with us throughout childhood with perhaps the addition of the odd scar or two to add character. It's once we reach puberty that the problems start. If you are one of the lucky ones you will escape with the odd spot or two but normally puberty is a miserable time for the skin. Hormones cause the oil glands to work overtime resulting in blackheads, spots and in severe cases, acne.
By the time you reach adulthood your skin should have settled down and the spots and pimples should be just a memory. For some however they are still lurking in the wings waiting until you have a hot date or a big meeting to appear in the most visible place. Another left-over problem can be oily shine, a real nuisance as it can make the skin look dirty and greasy. However with proper care even oily skin can look great.
Whatever your type a good skin care rountine is all you need to keep it looking healthy, fresh and clear. What's your skin type?
Every man's skin is different but can generally be described as one of five main types.
Oily Skin
Usually has a greasy shine, especially on the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) and is prone to blackheads, spots and pimples. Oily skin can be a real problem, often looking dull and patchy. You need to keep it as clean as possible by using a good quality facial wash twice a day, a facial scrub two or three time a week and an oil-free moisturiser that will leave the skin matte, at least once a day. Take care not to over stimulate with harsh products or those that will over dry the skin. Avoid soap as it will disturb the skin's natural protection and make the problem worse.
Dry Skin
Dry skin usually feels uncomfortable and tight, especially after shaving or washing. It can peel, flake and look scaly and lined. Dry skin looks older as its rough, dull surface does not reflect the light very effectively. This skin type needs a good moisturiser, avoid shaving foams and soap like the plague and use sun protection of at least factor 15. Drink plenty of water (beer and wine don't count!) to prevent dehydration especially if you work in an air conditioning office.
Sensitive Skin
If your skin reacts easily to anything you put on it, then chances are you have sensitive skin. It may also have a tendency to go red when touched, exposed to heat or to the sun and you might find that certain foods or fragrances will cause a rash or make your skin itch. You need to avoid anything containing harsh chemicals or a lot of perfume, avoid soap and always try to select products designed for sensitive skin. Always protect sensitive skin from the sun even in cooler weather.
Normal Skin
If you suffer with none of the above and your skin is even-textured and problem free then you have normal skin. You do still need to protect it however to keep it that way. Don't overload it with thick, greasy products and avoid harsh chemical formulas. Aim for products that are designed with men in mind and it should stay healthy and good-looking!
Combination Skin
It's not uncommon to have a skin type that's a combination of two or more of the above. Your skin will normally be a combination of both oily and dry. The oily areas are normally straight down the middle of your face, the centre of the forehead, nose and chin. Dry areas are often the cheeks and sometimes the forehead. You need to take care not to use products that are too harsh and that will dry your skin out. Also nothing too greasy as this will only exacerbate the problem. The best solution is to use different products on different area i.e. oil-free on the greasy areas and moisturising on the dry areas or specific products for combination skin.
You have on average about 300 million skin cells, more on the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet, where it's thickest and a lot less around the eyes and lips where the it's very thin and vulnerable (and wrinkles quicker!) A square inch of skin contains about 200 sweat glands, 2m of blood vessels, 20 hairs and 30 sebaceous (oil) glands.
Men's skin is a fraction thicker than women's and is therefore a little more robust, which is just as well considering the rigors of shaving and the harsh concoctions that people slap on to it. Next time you see a baby take a peer at its skin. It's normally smooth, blemish free and healthy looking. This healthy complexion usually stays with us throughout childhood with perhaps the addition of the odd scar or two to add character. It's once we reach puberty that the problems start. If you are one of the lucky ones you will escape with the odd spot or two but normally puberty is a miserable time for the skin. Hormones cause the oil glands to work overtime resulting in blackheads, spots and in severe cases, acne.
By the time you reach adulthood your skin should have settled down and the spots and pimples should be just a memory. For some however they are still lurking in the wings waiting until you have a hot date or a big meeting to appear in the most visible place. Another left-over problem can be oily shine, a real nuisance as it can make the skin look dirty and greasy. However with proper care even oily skin can look great.
Whatever your type a good skin care rountine is all you need to keep it looking healthy, fresh and clear. What's your skin type?
Every man's skin is different but can generally be described as one of five main types.
Oily Skin
Usually has a greasy shine, especially on the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) and is prone to blackheads, spots and pimples. Oily skin can be a real problem, often looking dull and patchy. You need to keep it as clean as possible by using a good quality facial wash twice a day, a facial scrub two or three time a week and an oil-free moisturiser that will leave the skin matte, at least once a day. Take care not to over stimulate with harsh products or those that will over dry the skin. Avoid soap as it will disturb the skin's natural protection and make the problem worse.
Dry Skin
Dry skin usually feels uncomfortable and tight, especially after shaving or washing. It can peel, flake and look scaly and lined. Dry skin looks older as its rough, dull surface does not reflect the light very effectively. This skin type needs a good moisturiser, avoid shaving foams and soap like the plague and use sun protection of at least factor 15. Drink plenty of water (beer and wine don't count!) to prevent dehydration especially if you work in an air conditioning office.
Sensitive Skin
If your skin reacts easily to anything you put on it, then chances are you have sensitive skin. It may also have a tendency to go red when touched, exposed to heat or to the sun and you might find that certain foods or fragrances will cause a rash or make your skin itch. You need to avoid anything containing harsh chemicals or a lot of perfume, avoid soap and always try to select products designed for sensitive skin. Always protect sensitive skin from the sun even in cooler weather.
Normal Skin
If you suffer with none of the above and your skin is even-textured and problem free then you have normal skin. You do still need to protect it however to keep it that way. Don't overload it with thick, greasy products and avoid harsh chemical formulas. Aim for products that are designed with men in mind and it should stay healthy and good-looking!
Combination Skin
It's not uncommon to have a skin type that's a combination of two or more of the above. Your skin will normally be a combination of both oily and dry. The oily areas are normally straight down the middle of your face, the centre of the forehead, nose and chin. Dry areas are often the cheeks and sometimes the forehead. You need to take care not to use products that are too harsh and that will dry your skin out. Also nothing too greasy as this will only exacerbate the problem. The best solution is to use different products on different area i.e. oil-free on the greasy areas and moisturising on the dry areas or specific products for combination skin.
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