Four Step Facial Care for Men

Today more than ever, men are concerned with skin care and taking care of their skin. Most skin care lines are geared toward women and concerns that women have with skin health, while few are geared towards men’s skin health. The following are easy and fast tips for men to follow to start taking care of their skin, without the confusion of too many products or steps. Men’s skin care should include a daily face wash, a mild facial scrub, proper shaving techniques, and a moisturizer containing sunscreen.

Face Wash

Men should cleanse their skin with a mild facial cleanser morning and night. Cleansers should contain cleansing agents and be mild with moisturizing ingredients that help balance skin ph levels. Cleansing, morning and night, will remove excess oil and dirt, keeping pores clear and skin less prone to break outs.

Facial Scrub

A mild facial scrub that contains micro beads or exfoliating components such as papaya seeds can aid in over all skin health and shaving irritation. A facial scrub can be used a few times a week. A good tip is to leave the scrub in the shower and use on days following shaving. Scrubs help to shed dead skin and keep pores free of debris. Using a scrub a few times a week will also reduce ingrown hairs.

Proper Shaving Techniques

Whether you choose a wet shave or electrical, the skin should be cleansed prior to shaving. If using the traditional wet shave techniques, cleanse the skin first and use a shaving gel or cream to reduce irritation, cuts and skin snags. Shaving gels aid the blade over the skin causing the razor to catch the hairs and not the skin. For electrical shavers, cleanse and dry the skin and be sure that the blades of the electrical shaver are properly cleansed and sanitized. Electrical shavers can harbor bacteria that can then be transferred to the skin, causing irritation. An after-shave or mild facial moisturizer should always be applied after shaving. . After shaves often contain ingredients that will help reduce irritation and sooth the skin, while a moisturizer will sooth and hydrate the area.

Moisturizer with Sunscreen

As men tend to have more oily skin than women, a morning moisturizer containing a sunscreen is usually enough to properly moisturize men’s skin. However, if moisturizing at night is preferred, choose a light moisturizer that does not contain sunscreen. A day time moisturizer with sunscreen will protect the skin from the harmful effects of the sun, while moisturizing and hydrating the skin, leaving it healthy and smooth. A night moisturizer would follow a night cleanse and would be beneficial for older men or men that have a drier skin type. The same moisturizer can be used day and night if it does not contain sunscreen, however a sunscreen should then be applied over the moisturizer during the day.

While it is widely known that most men will not take the same amount of time women may to take care for their skin, these tips are the basics to a great complexion for any man. With a little bit of discipline, any man can have younger-looking, smoother skin too.

By Tiffany Oney

Tiffany Oney is a licensed esthetician, professional makeup artist and natural skincare authority.  She is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in Communications Studies California State University, Long Beach and interning with Vivoderm Natural Skincare in Los Angeles, California.

Easy Tips for Beautiful Skin

Your face is probably the first thing people notice about you.  It is the way we all imprint and record new people to
memory. Since it is the most noticible thing about you, it is very important to take good care of your facial skin. The skin on your face should be properly cleansed, hydrated and moisturized. The skin around your eyes need special attention too as it is very thin and most of the times people suffer from bags, wrinkles and dark circles underneath their eyes. The best facial skin care is what you need to take care of all the different needs of your skin.

Below are some basic tips to help you put your best face forward:

Wear Sunscreen - Protect your skin from the sun. Use at least as SPF 15 sunscreen, and avoid direct sunlight between the hours of 10pm and 3pm.

Drink Water - Water is one of the best things you can put into your body…and it’s calorie free! The more you drink
the better your skin will look!

Catch some Z’s - Poor sleep is a disaster for your skin. Try to get at least 6-8 hours sleep each night.

When in Doubt, Toss It - Replace old sponges in your compact every 3 months or so. Replace the whole compact if not used within 6 months. The average shelf life for make-up is 6 to 12 months.

Oily Skin Tip - To reduce the appearance of oily skin, cut a lemon into wedges. Rub some all over your face. Leave
it for about 15 minutes, rinse with cold water.

Pimples Be Gone - Crush a clove of garlic apply the juice to your daily> It is said to reduce pimples.

Naked Skin is Best - Forget make-up. Go natural as often as possible. After all, make-up is one of the leading
causes of clogged pores. And, we all know that clogged pores leads to pimply skin!

Don’t Forget the Hands - Make sure that you put sunblock on those hands. Your hands really reveal your age. Make sure to moisturize them daily, and do weekly hand treatments (alpha hydroxy works good).

Wash - Be sure and wash your face twice a day. And NEVER go to bed with your make-up on. For every day that you sleep in your make-up, you have aged your skin FOUR! Also, be sure to exfoliate your skin at least every other day.

Moisturize - After you wash that beautiful skin, moisturize it. Use night cream before bed, and face cream during the day. Make sure you take care of your eyes as well. When you do wear make-up, be sure and put a good moisturizer underneath.

Applying these simple skin care tips are sure to help you have beautiful skin!

End of Summer Skincare and Sun Protection

By Van Le | Labor Day can be bittersweet since it offers an always-welcomed three-day weekend, but it also marks the unofficial end of summer. In other words, after one last frolic at the beach, it’s time to put away the swimming suits and flip-flops, and wake the winter coats and boots from their hiatus. The seasonal closet makeover is a no-brainer, but there’s another place that needs attention: your makeup and skincare cabinet. Towards the end of the year, your skin needs protection from cold weather and reduced humidity. Switching to winter-friendly products can keep your skin looking healthy and beautiful.

Hot, humid weather during the summer can cause pores to expand because sebum is more fluid in this environment. As a result, deep cleansers and foamy cleansing products are appropriate, since they are able to reach deep into the pores, eliminating dirt and oil buildups. During the winter, however, cold temperatures can lead to dry and cracked skin. Switch to a mild soap, and your skin will feel smooth and soft as opposed to dry and tight after washing. Products that contain natural moisture such as Aloe vera are also excellent, since they are not harsh on dry, winter skin.

Winter air literally sucks moisture from your skin, so moisturizing is a crucial step in winter skin care. Even more important to moisturizing is choosing the right product. Products containing mineral oil, almond oil, or avocado oil work especially well since they keep the skin hydrated without clogging pores. Flaxseed oil is another beneficial ingredient, since it is not only rich in omega-3 fatty acid, but also has the ability to hydrate the skin from the inside out. Moisturizing right after a warm shower will help seal in the water and prevent dry skin. Also consider using a humidifier in your room or office, since it returns the moisture into the air and help the skin stay hydrated.

Just because it is cold outside does not mean you should toss your sunscreen tube. Even when you can’t feel the heat, the sun is still emitting harmful UVA and UVB rays, so it still important to protect your skin. Apply a moisturizer that contains an SPF of at least 15, or use products containing zinc oxide, which acts as a natural barrier between your skin and the sun. Surprisingly, the sun’s reflective power on snow can be as high as 80%, so it is possible to be sunburned after spending a day on the ski slopes without sun protection. Moreover, don’t forget to help your lips battle harsh winter conditions with plenty of lip balm. Packaging is also important when deciding on a lip balm. Little tins and jars can spread germs since you are using your fingers to apply. Tubes can be a healthier and more convenient option. Remember to keep your skincare products readily available in your purse, car or desk so you can reapply throughout the day.

Winter skin care may differ from summer skin care in the type of products used, but the regimen for healthy skin is the same year round: cleanse, moisturize and protect.

Van Le is a staff writer for the CSU paper the Daily Titan and writing intern for Vivoderm Laboratories in Los Angeles, California. She is currently pursuing a Journalism degree at California State University, Fullerton.

For the latest findings on natural skincare link to http://organicskincareinfo.net

Daily Skin Regime For A Gorgeous Complexion

By Van Le | Beauty may only be skin deep, but having a great complexion makes life a lot more pleasant. The key to having great skin is finding a skin care regimen that tailors to your skin’s individual needs, and following this regimen daily. It does not have to be complex and complicated—in fact, simpler is better since you will need to follow the same steps twice a day .

The first step is to do your homework. Determine what your skin type is, and find a product line that works well for you. There are many resources you can use either online or through your local library to help you determine your skin type. Look for published works by dermatologists or skincare experts who have created their own skin typing quizzes or online calculators such as this one: http://www.biobalance4women.com/skin_type.html. There are even sunscreen and UV calculators to help you find the best sun protection for your skin type. A product that works perfectly for your friend or sister may not produce the same results for you. Luckily, most products now specify which skin type it works best for. Also, there are several herbal skin care lines on the market whose products contain all-natural ingredients that work well with most skin types. When experimenting with new products, keep track of those that are effective and more importantly, those that irritate your skin so you can stay away from other products that contain similar ingredients. Ultimately, creating and maintaining a great complexion comes down to three simple steps: cleanse, tone, moisturize.

Cleanse

Finding a cleanser that works well for your skin is the foundation of having great skin. Some prefer to use a heavier cream cleanser during the winter months and a lighter cleanser through the summer, while others use the same product year-round. Wash your face twice a day, massaging the cleanser in a circular motion to remove dirt and excess oil, which can clog your pores. Proper cleansing at night also removes all traces of makeup and allows your skin to breath freely. Remember to change your pillow cover regularly, since the dirt and pollutants can transfer to your face while you are sleeping.

Tone

Even after washing your face with a cleanser, some traces of dirt and stubborn makeup may remain on your skin. A toner will completely remove any leftover dirt or residue left by the cleanser, reducing the chances of infections. Some cleansers may change the skin’s pH, and a toner will help bring the skin back to the proper level. Toners are also excellent in prepping the skin for the next step, moisturizing. Dip a cotton ball into your favorite toner and apply across the surface of the face, being careful not to get too close to the eyes.

Moisturize

Moisturizing daily will help the skin stay hydrated and produce a healthy glow. Lack of moisture can lead to wrinkles, fine lines, and can produce premature signs of aging. A moisturizer will restore the skin of all the natural oil stripped throughout the day and during the cleansing and toning process. The right moisturizer depends on your individual skin type, and will help your skin produce a natural glow.

Weekly, bi-weekly and monthly skin care products and processes such as masks, peels and facials are great to help revamp and rejuvenate your skin; however, a great complexion starts and ends with a proper daily skincare regimen.

Van Le is a staff writer for the CSU Daily Titan and writing intern for Vivoderm Laboratories in Los Angeles, California. She is currently pursuing a Journalism degree at California State University, Fullerton.

For the latest findings on natural skincare you can also link to http://herbalfacialskincare.com

What is the Best Skin Care?

The best skincare is also the simplest. Easy to follow instructions means that you are less likely to forget what it is you should be doing. You’ll see that everything we mention here is logical.There’s no need to go to extremes, just follow a few rules and your skin will look more youthful for the rest of your life. Here’s some tips for the best skincare.

Stay in the Shade. We all need a little sunlight. It makes us feel better. Many people suffer from seasonal depression. It’s caused primarily by a lack of sunlight. But, limit your exposure to no more than 15 minutes of direct sunlight. 15 minutes three times a week will insure that you get enough vitamin D. UV rays from the sun do too much damage to the skin. They cause the cells to produce less hyaluronan, a protein import in tissue and skin-cell repair. Evidence continues to show that you cannot rely heavily on sunscreens.

Drink More Water

Why do people have dry skin? Well, there could be any number of reasons, but one that is very common is minor dehydration. Severe dehydration, of course, causes stomach cramps and other problems. But, many people walk around everyday with mild dehydration, because they simply don’t drink enough water. 70% of your body weight is water. Each of the cells in your body is comprised mostly of water. That includes the cells of your skin. At least eight 8 ounce glasses per day is a good rule to follow, but to keep it simpler, have a glass with every meal or snack, drink one when you wake up in the morning and another before you go to bed at night.

Eat Right; often people forget to include this step in their anti aging skin care guide. If your diet is lacking in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, then your body does not have the ingredients that it needs to go about repairing cellular damage on a daily basis.

Anti Aging Skin Care Treatment: Creams, Gels & Lotions

As you continue to follow the anti aging skin care guide above, you are ensuring younger looking, healthier skin throughout your lifetime. But, the right anti aging skin care treatment creams can undo some of the damage that occurred in your youth.  There are many on the market to choose from. Some are not very good, but others are great.  The best ones are designed to help your body produce new collagen and elastin fibers. The loss of those two components causes many of the outward signs of aging.  Now there are a number of products on the market that contain small amounts of collagen derived from bovine hide, but skin cells cannot actually absorb it.  So, products that contain it are ineffective.

Phytessence Wakame

Wakame is a specific type of Japanese seaweed or kelp. It was used for years both as a food source and also to keep younger more beautiful facial skin. Recently it was learned that there are components in Wakame that actually undo some of the damage that has already been done and prevents additional damage from occurring. The kelp is full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Phytessence Wakame was created using a process that allows for quicker deeper absorption into the pores.

Nanobelle CoenzymeQ10

Coenzyme Q10 has become a popular ingredient in many anti aging skin care treatment creams, but the companies that use it did not consider that unless the antioxidant is finely ground to a microscopic powder, it cannot enter the pores. Only Nanobelle will penetrate to the deepest layers, healing and soaking up free radicals as it goes. Other things to look for include products that will light age spots and lighten dark circles.  High quality moisturizers are also important. Dry skin is more easily damaged. There are many more things that could be include in an anti aging skin care guide. All we attempted to do here was give you the basic rules and some key information about the newest ingredients.

So there you have it. Choose the best skincare and combine it with these simple steps and an the best skincare product to keep a younger and more healthy complexion.