Let me tell you a quick story about skin care for men. Years ago I was a reporter on a city newspaper and one day my chief reporter came to my desk with a big grin. My assignment for the afternoon was to go to a beauty salon where a brand new product was being promoted — makeup for men.
So next day the paper carried my short report with a large photo of me in the hairdresser’s chair with male lipstick and color greatly improving my otherwise ordinary looks. It caused a ripple of laughs and jokes around the newsroom (the office homosexual didn’t see the joke — he awkwardly asked me if he could have the lipstick tube). But the male make up was not a commercial success. Men skin care and makeup were just not sitting comfortably together then.
But that was some years ago. Today the attitude to men putting “things” on their face and taking care of their appearance is no longer a joke. In fact, skin care for men is a booming industry.
Part of the reason is probably the switch men are making in health awareness. We are seeing our doctors more readily. We are hearing more about men’s ailments. We are putting on sunscreen and protecting our hearing much more than we did a few decades ago. Skin care for men becomes a logical focus and point of concern.
Another reason why skin care for men at least, is now more visible might be a growing interest in how men look. There was a time when a rugged, outdoors’ look was normal. It was what we aspired to. Not so now. More and more we want to have soft, smooth skin and a face with few wrinkles and bags. So skin care products for men have a market.
Two suggestions to help you care for your skin.
Throw away the bar of cheap scented soap you get from the supermarket. It is harsh, its full of chemicals (those artificial soap fragrances are full of chemicals!) and it does not take into account your type of skin.
Instead get a decent cleanser. No fragrance and no detergent. The best one for an oily skin will be one that foams, as they remove a lot of oil. Dry skin? Then a creamy cleanser will moisturize and leave oils in place. Use a good cleanser at the beginning and end of each day.
And remove the dead skin cells on the surface of your skin with a brisk exfoliation at least once a week. Do this and you’ll also be lowering your chance of getting ingrown hairs and razor burn while shaving. And you’ll clear the way for whatever skin care products you use to take effect on the surface of your skin.
So, go ahead, and take advantage of the new-found freedom to use products that give skin care for men. You’ll feel fresher and cleaner than you did using soap and water, with some after shave splashed on in the morning. And your skin will look softer, healthier and younger. You’ll find suggestions on skin care for men on my web site, so you might want to click there now and do some more reading.
By: William Leonard
Have you ever heard the new buzz term “cosmeceuticals”? This nifty term refers to the fusion of two areas, one which cultivates necessary medications which control our bodily processes internally, and the other, which manipulates our body from the outside, cosmetically improving our appearance.
You guessed it, the first is “pharmaceuticals” and the second is “cosmetics”. The joining of these two fields, both extremely lucrative, and arguably necessary, is called “cosmeceuticals”, and this exciting new breed is causing a stir in the beauty community lately.
Although they have been united in this new genre of cosmetics, the two are very different when it comes to government and advisory board regulation. Pharmaceuticals, at least in the US currently, are heavily regulated by the organization known as the FDA, while cosmetics are not government regulated.
Why? Cosmetics are not regulated by any government agency because they are not considered a device that alters bodily chemistry of function internally in any way, nor are they advertised as substances that change the chemistry of the body.
Currently, cosmetics manufacturers are walking on eggshells to keep this paritcular pharmaceutical and cosmetic distinction in tact, as precious dollars could be lost if the new breed of cosmeceuticals were government regulated.
Even if a wrinkle cream currently marketed had the ability to actually “get rid of wrinkles”, cosmetic marketers are very careful to still note that they only decrease or eliminate the “appearance” of aging and wrinkles, since this still technically is not pharmaceutical in nature.
Some of these new cosmeceuticals which feature high grade vitamins and various proteins and peptides actually do “get rid of wrinkles” and remove signs of aging though, although they still are careful to avoid this overzealous marketing for fear of FDA regulation.
Cosmetic companies specializing in anti aging have come up with everything from potent vitamin extracts, to skin tightening complexes with antioxidants, restructuring aids like peptides and other skin cell regenerators, and a host of other interesting sounding ingredients that keep popping up as the latest in age reversal and age prevention.
And which of these latest “cosmeceutical grade” anti aging and wrinkle creams is best? Well, it’s hard to say, because there are now quite a few in competition with one another that do contain ingredients that are beneficial in different ways.
If you’re looking for a fresher and brighter look, with more cell turnover, you may turn to a formula with acids such as alpha hydroxy and other fruit derived acids, or one loaded with antioxidants.
If you’re looking for more of a quick fix, skin tightening formula, you may choose a formula with ingredients like copper, hyaluronic acid and DMAE, which is a substance that is found naturally in the skin of certain fish and is excellent for almost instantaneous firming and toning.
Either way you slice it, women have the best options for anti aging and wrinkle fighting in the here and now, than they ever had in the past.
The best part is, it only stands to get better, with the constant development of new anti aging products. As long as the cosmetics companies keep responding to increasing consumer demand for anti aging aids, we will have consistent upgrades in cosmeceutical offerings.
The downside? Some of it can become a bit pricey, but remember, a little usually goes a long way, so you may actually be going through the “expensive” stuff at a fraction of the speed you would go through a cheaper, lighter formula. And who can put a price on looking and feeling young? Call me vain, shallow, or narcissistic, but I’ll pay the extra money, as long as I get serious results!
Copyright 2006 Danna Schneider
By: Danna Schneider
You have probably heard about the numerous benefits that vitamin A can have for your skin. What exactly are all of those benefits?
There are so many skin care products out there that claim you can restore your youth and beauty through them. However, have you ever tried to read the ingredient’s labels on some of these products? It is nearly impossible sometimes. There are ingredients in there that most people cannot even pronounce!
How can something help you if you do not even know what it is and why it is there? Help your skin bring back its natural beauty and health with a natural product we can all pronounce and it is even found in certain foods.
Here Are Just A Few Of The Benefits Vitamin A Can Have For Your Skin :
-Regenerate Your Skin
-Reduce Signs of Aging
-Help Reduce Fine Lines and Wrinkles
-Lighten up Dark Circles Under the Eyes
-Help Your Skin Grow New Cells
-Help With Saggy Skin to Make it More Tight
-Help With Dry Skin by Restoring Moisture
-Create a Healthy Skin Color: Diminish Skin Discolorations
-Smooth Out Rough Skin
-Help to Prevent Outside and Inside Threats that Will Make Your Skin Age.
Those are all of the benefits your skin could be getting from this vitamin, something completely natural. It does not have any chemicals or strange words you cannot pronounce as with in other skin care products. Vitamin A can be found in certain foods, but it can also be applied directly to your skin to get the most effects you can from this natural substance.
Carrots, broccoli, beets, and other foods have a lot of this wonderful vitamin in them. However, you do not have to munch on a carrot every day to experience the beautiful results of this natural skin care ingredient. You just have to massage it on your face and surrounding areas and watch as the results take place right in front of your eyes.
This is a new and better way to help reduce the signs of aging on your face, to help firm and hydrate your skin and even repair the look of fine lines and wrinkles.
Forget about plastic surgery or other expensive and painful ways to create a more youthful looking appearance. Vitamin A can do all of that for you when you use it as suggested and stick to your skin care routine. You could experience such wonderful benefits from just using this natural and easy skin enhancer on a regular basis.
Try this new and easy anti-aging skin care ingredient to reduce the aging effects in your skin and discover a beautiful new you in no time.
By: Ken Black