- Joined
- Mar 16, 2006
- Messages
- 7,252
- Reaction score
- 0
By Kitty Argent
Men are using 'beauty' products now on a daily basis, but do they know what to do when they hit a skin crisis?
According to a recent Boots survey, men under the age of 40 spend approximately £111 a year on pampering products which, rather amazingly, is only £27 less than women. Yes, the average male has come a long, long way in the beauty stakes. Gone are the days when a soap-on-a-rope or a bottle of Old Spice was the sole beauty item on display in his bathroom. Brad Pitt, Jude Law, David Beckham and Jonny Wilkinson have all been pretty vocal about their strict grooming routines, which may well have had an impact on the 'cool' factor of male beauty products, and nowadays it would appear that men are far more willing to wear a daily moisturiser or splash on some scent without worrying that their 'macho' image might be called into question.
To capitalise on this new phenomenon, cosmetic companies have been quick to produce a plethora of products to help men make the most of themselves. But just because there's now a staggering range of men-only grooming goodies to choose from it doesn't mean that the guys are suddenly exempt from getting spots or suffering from shaving rashes. Just like us, they need to use the right product to target specific problem areas. Here's our guide to how you can help your man overcome his beauty trouble spots with a little cosmetic know-how...
Spot the difference
If you thought only teenagers suffered from troublesome skin then think again. Stress, hormones and a full-on lifestyle can cause spots and dehydrated skin. Make sure your man washes his face morning and night with a cleanser that's suited to his skin type to keep it refreshed and hydrated. Korres' Sage Cleanser (£10, 0207 581 6455) is great for acne as it gently lifts dirt but doesn't dry the skin out while Dermalogica's Special Cleansing Gel (£15.35, 0800 591 818) contains extracts of soothing mint and lavender and is ideal for normal and combination skins. Nivea Men's Double Action Face Wash (£4.59, leading chemists) is gentle enough for most complexions and is enriched with skin brightening vitamins which leave the skin looking cleaner and healthier. Two to three times a week your man should also use a gentle exfoliating product such as FCUK's Scrub Up (£5, Boots) or Trevor Sorbie's MG Face Scrub (£5.99, Boots) to gently slough off any dry skin caused from shaving and to keep the skin looking clean and clear. T-Zone's Treatment Stick (£3.29, Tescos) is also brilliant for zapping the odd zit or two.
Smooth operator
To ensure your guy is gorgeously soft to touch you need to instill in him the importance of a moisturiser. Used daily this will ensure that his skin is hydrated and nourished properly. Again, it's vital that he uses a cream that suits his skintype in order to gain optimum results. Clinique's Oil Control Hydrator (£21, 01730 232 566) is great for keeping spot breakouts and grease at bay but if your partner's skin is prone to dryness then get him to try Elemis's SOS Survival Cream (£38.50, 01278 727 830). If he's worried about getting older then get him to slather on some of The Real Shaving Company's Daily Anti-Wrinkle Cream (£6.99, Boots) but if it's simply far too much effort for your boyfriend to massage some cream onto his skin then why not get him to try Oxywater Task Essential's Oxygen Spritzer for Men (£8, 020 7253 2194) instead. If you're planning a big night out and want your man to look red-carpet ready make sure he dabs on some of Clarins for Men's excellent Fatigue Fighter (£25, 020 7307 6700). This brilliant energizing gel will transform his complexion from pasty to picture perfect in no time.
A clean shave
Shaving is a bug bear for many men as it can cause the skin to become irritated and sore. If your man suffers from redness or rashes suggest he uses shaving products that are specifically formulated for sensitive skin. Gels tend to be better for the skin than foams as they often allow the razor to glide over the skin more easily. Jack Black's Beard Lube Conditioning Shave (£12.95, www.hqhair.com) and Gillette's Mach 3 Nitro Gel (£3.49, Boots and Superdrug) are both very effective. He can apply a post-shave balm such as Hackett's After Shave Balm (£7, Boots) or Burt's Bees Bay Rum Aftershave Balm (£12, www.hqhair.com) as both will calm any irritation and soften the skin. It's a good idea to keep this particular product somewhere cool so it's nice and soothing when applied.
document.write('');ebScriptWin0_765837739866881611 69999017078.gEbBanners[0].displayUnit.handleFSCommand(command,args,"ebBanne rFlash_0_76583773986688161169999017078");
Hair raising dilemmas
Nose hair, wiry brows and - dare we say it - wandering pubic hairs are all big no-nos when it comes to a man looking good 'n' sexy. That's why it's essential your boyfriend invests in a hair trimmer and a pair of clippers so he can shear off or pluck out any stray offending strands pronto - the caveman look is not an option. Remington (www.remington.co.uk) has an extensive range of impressive yet affordable clipping and trimming appliances that'll whip everything from eyebrows to chest hairs into shape. Trevor Sorbie's Professional 4-in-1 Wet and Dry Ceramic Hair Clipper (£24.99, Boots) is another good buy as it'll help men create their George Michael-style stubble plus root out nasal hairs!
The eyes have it
Burning the candle at both ends eventually takes its toll and nowhere more obviously than under the eyes. Big, dark circles are not going to make the man in your life look good so tell him to treat himself to an eye cream. Botanics' Look Alert Under Eye Serum (£6.99, Boots) contains extracts of Echinacea which will keep him looking bright eyed while Clinique's Daily Eye Hydrator (£18) will banish bags if used in the morning and at night. Vital Eyes (£3.48, Tesco) is a great way of transforming eyes from bloodshot to bright while a cooling eye pack kept in the fridge can work wonders on puffy peepers. While you're there you could also get him to pop a couple of cucumber slices on his eyes. It may be an age old remedy but it's a good one - and cheap!
Copyright © 2006 handbag.com
Men are using 'beauty' products now on a daily basis, but do they know what to do when they hit a skin crisis?
According to a recent Boots survey, men under the age of 40 spend approximately £111 a year on pampering products which, rather amazingly, is only £27 less than women. Yes, the average male has come a long, long way in the beauty stakes. Gone are the days when a soap-on-a-rope or a bottle of Old Spice was the sole beauty item on display in his bathroom. Brad Pitt, Jude Law, David Beckham and Jonny Wilkinson have all been pretty vocal about their strict grooming routines, which may well have had an impact on the 'cool' factor of male beauty products, and nowadays it would appear that men are far more willing to wear a daily moisturiser or splash on some scent without worrying that their 'macho' image might be called into question.
To capitalise on this new phenomenon, cosmetic companies have been quick to produce a plethora of products to help men make the most of themselves. But just because there's now a staggering range of men-only grooming goodies to choose from it doesn't mean that the guys are suddenly exempt from getting spots or suffering from shaving rashes. Just like us, they need to use the right product to target specific problem areas. Here's our guide to how you can help your man overcome his beauty trouble spots with a little cosmetic know-how...
Spot the difference
If you thought only teenagers suffered from troublesome skin then think again. Stress, hormones and a full-on lifestyle can cause spots and dehydrated skin. Make sure your man washes his face morning and night with a cleanser that's suited to his skin type to keep it refreshed and hydrated. Korres' Sage Cleanser (£10, 0207 581 6455) is great for acne as it gently lifts dirt but doesn't dry the skin out while Dermalogica's Special Cleansing Gel (£15.35, 0800 591 818) contains extracts of soothing mint and lavender and is ideal for normal and combination skins. Nivea Men's Double Action Face Wash (£4.59, leading chemists) is gentle enough for most complexions and is enriched with skin brightening vitamins which leave the skin looking cleaner and healthier. Two to three times a week your man should also use a gentle exfoliating product such as FCUK's Scrub Up (£5, Boots) or Trevor Sorbie's MG Face Scrub (£5.99, Boots) to gently slough off any dry skin caused from shaving and to keep the skin looking clean and clear. T-Zone's Treatment Stick (£3.29, Tescos) is also brilliant for zapping the odd zit or two.
Smooth operator
To ensure your guy is gorgeously soft to touch you need to instill in him the importance of a moisturiser. Used daily this will ensure that his skin is hydrated and nourished properly. Again, it's vital that he uses a cream that suits his skintype in order to gain optimum results. Clinique's Oil Control Hydrator (£21, 01730 232 566) is great for keeping spot breakouts and grease at bay but if your partner's skin is prone to dryness then get him to try Elemis's SOS Survival Cream (£38.50, 01278 727 830). If he's worried about getting older then get him to slather on some of The Real Shaving Company's Daily Anti-Wrinkle Cream (£6.99, Boots) but if it's simply far too much effort for your boyfriend to massage some cream onto his skin then why not get him to try Oxywater Task Essential's Oxygen Spritzer for Men (£8, 020 7253 2194) instead. If you're planning a big night out and want your man to look red-carpet ready make sure he dabs on some of Clarins for Men's excellent Fatigue Fighter (£25, 020 7307 6700). This brilliant energizing gel will transform his complexion from pasty to picture perfect in no time.
A clean shave
Shaving is a bug bear for many men as it can cause the skin to become irritated and sore. If your man suffers from redness or rashes suggest he uses shaving products that are specifically formulated for sensitive skin. Gels tend to be better for the skin than foams as they often allow the razor to glide over the skin more easily. Jack Black's Beard Lube Conditioning Shave (£12.95, www.hqhair.com) and Gillette's Mach 3 Nitro Gel (£3.49, Boots and Superdrug) are both very effective. He can apply a post-shave balm such as Hackett's After Shave Balm (£7, Boots) or Burt's Bees Bay Rum Aftershave Balm (£12, www.hqhair.com) as both will calm any irritation and soften the skin. It's a good idea to keep this particular product somewhere cool so it's nice and soothing when applied.
document.write('');ebScriptWin0_765837739866881611 69999017078.gEbBanners[0].displayUnit.handleFSCommand(command,args,"ebBanne rFlash_0_76583773986688161169999017078");
Hair raising dilemmas
Nose hair, wiry brows and - dare we say it - wandering pubic hairs are all big no-nos when it comes to a man looking good 'n' sexy. That's why it's essential your boyfriend invests in a hair trimmer and a pair of clippers so he can shear off or pluck out any stray offending strands pronto - the caveman look is not an option. Remington (www.remington.co.uk) has an extensive range of impressive yet affordable clipping and trimming appliances that'll whip everything from eyebrows to chest hairs into shape. Trevor Sorbie's Professional 4-in-1 Wet and Dry Ceramic Hair Clipper (£24.99, Boots) is another good buy as it'll help men create their George Michael-style stubble plus root out nasal hairs!
The eyes have it
Burning the candle at both ends eventually takes its toll and nowhere more obviously than under the eyes. Big, dark circles are not going to make the man in your life look good so tell him to treat himself to an eye cream. Botanics' Look Alert Under Eye Serum (£6.99, Boots) contains extracts of Echinacea which will keep him looking bright eyed while Clinique's Daily Eye Hydrator (£18) will banish bags if used in the morning and at night. Vital Eyes (£3.48, Tesco) is a great way of transforming eyes from bloodshot to bright while a cooling eye pack kept in the fridge can work wonders on puffy peepers. While you're there you could also get him to pop a couple of cucumber slices on his eyes. It may be an age old remedy but it's a good one - and cheap!
Copyright © 2006 handbag.com
/emoticons/
