Men's Skin Care Archives | Page 7 of 7

What's Your Type?

May 8, 2014

Our skin types are genetically determined. However, to the joy of some and the dismay of others, they can change over time, or you can have a combination of several all at once. Dry skin and a few breakouts here and there? Yup. As weird as it sounds, it can happen.

Do you know your skin type(s) or do you just recall what someone once told you your skin type was and have clung to that notion ever since?

Here are six common skin types and their characteristics to help you determine-or at least give you an idea of- of what would be beneficial to your skin.

Normal

Normal skin (oh the lucky ones!) has a good oil-water balance and is soft and plump. It has a healthy glow and color, with fine texture, small pores and no congestion . Maintenance and preventative care are your main goals.

Combination

I personally fall into this category and let me tell you, it can be gosh darn frustrating. Combination skin is characterized by an oily T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) while the cheeks tend to be on the dry side, causing a flaky appearance. The goal is to control areas prone to oiliness while moisturizing areas that are dry, and to keep skin well exfoliated to help combat breakouts and dryness.

Oily

Oily skin is characterized by an all over greasy shine, visible pores, coarser skin texture (akin to that of an orange), little wrinkling (silver lining, no?), blackheads/whiteheads, breakouts. Controlling sebum production, and clearing out the pores is key. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin are good at providing hydration.

Acne

Not just for teenagers anymore as the number of adult acne is rising. Symptoms range from blackheads/whiteheads, breakouts, painful cysts, inflammation and sensitivity . Causes of acne can be genetic or a hormonal imbalance. Deep cleansing facials, proper home regimen and soothing the skin are goals. Avoid excessive or harsh cleansers as it can make acne worse.

Dry

If the Sahara desert would be envious, then you probably have dry skin. Where oily skin produces a mass amount of oil, dry skin doesn’t produce enough. Visible dryness, small pores, tightness,and a propensity to wrinkles are indicators of dry skin. Cleansing creams or milky cleansers are ideal as they don’t strip the skin while ingredients like shea butter or borage seed oil are great moisturizers.

Sensitive

Sensitive skin is identified by fragile, thin, red skin that has an impaired barrier function and more reactive capillaries. It’s easily irritated by products (even sometime water) and exposure to heat and sun. Avoid excessive rubbing, heat, exfoliation, or extractions. Use calming, soothing ingredients like aloe vera, panthenol (pro-vitamin B-5), bisabolol, and niacinamide.

Has your skin type been consistent or has it undergone major changes throughout the years?

Why Squeaky Clean Can Be Mean

May 6, 2014

At some point, whether it be morning, mid-afternoon, or evening- perhaps even all three- we walk ourselves over to the sink or shower to cleanse our face. The accumulation of sebum, dirt and environmental pollution can leave our skin feeling grimy and we think that tight, squeaky clean feeling after cleansing means we have gotten rid of it all. Often, the choice of said cleansing is soap, and well, why not? It’s convenient, fairly inexpensive, and if it’s tough enough to remove oil and dirt from our body, hey, why not extend its use to our face, right?

Wrong!

Aside from removing debris and oil, soap tends to remove the fats between the skin cells known as intercellular lipids. Our skin has what’s know as an internal cellular matrix,which is the lipid (fat) substance between cells that protect the cells from water loss and irritation. Excessive removal of these lipids results in dry skin and skin disease.

Take a quick trip back to your chemistry class by glancing at pH (potential hydrogen) scale below.

The pH scale measures the acidity or alkalinity of any substance that contains water and extends from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. Anything below 7 is considered acidic and anything above 7 is alkaline. Soap also has a high pH level, 9-11, while the natural pH of skin can range from 4-6. Since sebum and sweat create a barrier on the skin’s surface known as the acid mantle, this protects against certain forms of bacteria and other microorganisms. Extreme variations in pH can damage the skin’s barrier functions and cause sensitivity, aging, dehydration, and can worsen skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Also, highly alkaline solutions can form an insoluble film, leaving skin feeling dry, irritated and itchy.

Considering the information above and knowing the skin on our face is a lot more delicate than the skin on our body, using facial cleansers that are soap-free or pH balanced are best.

I hope this post was helpful in explaining why using soap to cleanse the face isn’t an ideal option.

Have a great Tuesday!

Shaving 101!

April 14, 2014

Razor burn. Ingrown hairs. Razor bumps. Sensitivity. Inflammation.

Sound familiar?

For most men, shaving has become a habitual ritual since their adolescent years. Shaving is a fast, easy, and effective way to remove hair but can all too often leave you with some skin woes.

Follow these proper shaving techniques and tips to minimize undesired skin problems- it’s simple and makes a difference!

1) Choose a multi-blade razor with replaceable cartridge blades.

2) Change razors/razor cartridge blades frequently. Most razors allow for 5-7 uses.

3) Store razors in a cool, dry place. Blades need to be thoroughly rinsed of any debris/product.

4) Always cleanse your face first and make sure your face is wet prior to shaving.

5) Allow shaving gel/foam/cream to sit on skin for a couple of minutes to create a barrier between skin and blade and to soften the hair. Use of bar soap, shampoo, and hair conditioner is NOT recommended as it can leave a film on the blade, thus dulling it quicker.

6) Shave with minimal pressure.

7) Keep in mind that if you shave the same area multiple times, the chance for razor burn increases.

8) Never shave with a damaged blade.

9) Soaking the razor head and blade in rubbing alcohol for one minute can minimize the spread of bacterial infections.

10) Never shave an infected area/broken until it’s been completely treated.

11) Never share razors.

12) Chamomile, allantoin, licorice root and aloe are a few ingredients to look for to calm and soothe the skin.

13) Products with chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid and lactic acid can help prevent ingrown hairs and can lift ingrown hairs to the skin’s surface.

Anthony Logistics for Men, Jack Black, and The Art of Shaving seem to be popular (and loved!) brands that offer simple, no fuss but effective shaving products for men.

I hope this post was helpful!

Thoughts or comments, please share!