JOIN USFellas, it’s cool to be a dandy. Pampering your skin is essential for you to look both, healthy and suave, advises Shahnaz Husain.
A man’s skin is just as vulnerable as a woman’s, if not more, since men spend more time out of doors.
Exposure to the sun, air conditioning, air pollutants, chlorinated water, harsh soaps and aftershave preparations influence his skin, making it dry and sensitive. Looking good is not just a female prerogative. Men also know the importance of appearance now - that looking one’s best imparts self confidence. Men’s grooming products and salon care have grown at a phenomenal pace over the last decade.
Men require skin care routines that are simple and not too time consuming. A light cleansing gel or facewash can be used for cleansing in the morning. Rinse well and apply skin tonic, using cotton wool. This can be a pre-shave routine. If the skin is oily and prone to blackheads, a cleansing scrub should be used at least twice a week, rubbing it gently on the skin and washing it off with plain water.
Cleansing at night is important, to remove the pollutants and impurities that have been deposited on the skin during the day.
Men spend more time out of doors, in the sun. The application of sunscreens before going out in the sun plays an important role in preventing damage from UV radiation. For shaving, choose a gentle, creamy, emollient product.
This softens the hair, making shaving much easier. It also leaves the skin smooth and supple. Most aftershave lotions are alcohol-based. This has a drying effect on the skin and has also been known to cause rashes in some cases. A non-greasy aftershave cream would be ideal. An astringent lotion or skin tonic may be used after shaving. Or use an aftershave cream containing sandalwood. This will help prevent skin rashes and also soothe the skin. If the skin is prone to rashes, add sandalwood paste to rose water and apply daily on the face, washing it off after 15 minutes.
Must haves
The personal care products that should be included in the travel kit are face wash or soap, shower gel, shaving cream, aftershave cream or lotion, sunscreen, moisturiser, lip balm, hair serum, hair dressing product, wet tissues (during summer) and cologne.
Homemade packs
n For oily skin, mix three teaspoons oats with rose water and egg white. Apply on face and wash off after 20 minutes.
n For dry skin, mix powdered milk with aloe vera gel and orange juice. Apply on face and wash off after 20 to 30 minutes.
n Take curd and ground almonds. Apply on face and wash off after 20 minutes. n For acne-prone skin, mix multani mitti with sandalwood paste and rose water into a paste. Apply on face and wash it off when it dries.
Do
n Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before sun-exposure.
n For oily skin, use a non-oily day cream, or matte moisturiser.
n For oily skin, an astringent-toner should be applied.
Don’t
n If you have oily skin, avoid applying oil on the face. It can clog the pores and lead to pimples and acne.
n If there are pimples, don’t apply scrubs or grainy face packs.
n If skin is oily, don’t wash with soap and water more than two or three times a day.
(The writer is a beauty expert)