During the recent past I have experienced numerous instances when a make friend of mine entered my bathroom to come out holding a cream I had left on the sink and asking me why do I use it, how do I apply it and what it supposedly does to my skin. The first time this happened, I began laughing and thinking that my male friend had some feminine characteristics he wished to show me by asking me all these questions. When the exact same incident was repeated by others, I realized that men are curious of how the women's cosmetic industry has evolved to a multi-billion dollar one and how exactly all these cosmetics assist women's skin stay young and fresh looking.



Over the last few years, men's magazines have slowly introduced pages that in women's magazines have existed for decades, presenting skin cosmetics and offering advice to men and how to take care of their skin. Beauty editors unveil simple approaches to male grooming and men have come to understand the importance of taking care not only of their wardrobe, but also of their skin. "Dress for success" is not anymore just a term that corresponds to the outfit a man will select to feel comfortable in and win his case, but it has evolved to a generic term that describes the state of the contemporary male mind and beauty tactics used to look sharp and handsome.

In order to maintain their edge, guys of all ages are interested in taking care of themselves and indulging in image enhancing products, gadgets and treatments. But since they are still men, they are impatient and less likely to grasp the concept of maintenance procedures. In fact they prefer to get it over with in one shot.

Beauty salons and massage clinics have reintroduced skin treatment techniques, especially designed to cover the male needs and men are not anymore bothered with the too many skin care products a woman usually carries in a trip. They have themselves started by doing the basics, cleansing, protection, moisturizing, post shaving and a weekly anti-clog treatment, while TV series and advertisements have discovered a virgin target audience that wishes to be fed with information and learn from the previously annoying women experts.

Although men's skin is thicker, specifically approximately 0.5mm thicker than women's, it is also oilier, with larger exposed pores, and more of a tendency to break out in a sweat. Thus, using deodorant soaps directly on the face is a practice men should avoid, as they might irritate their skin and leave a sticky residue. Men should try something tangy that will leave their skin feeling fresh and clean. Moreover, for those men that are super lazy, multi-tasking products for face, hair and body will save them precious steps.

In general, if you are a man you should remember that the areas prone to dryness need hydration, but it is better if you select a lighter gel-lotion formula that will be oil-free and will not add shine. In addition, eye gels work nicely for men, but rich eye creams that lock in moisture can make eyes look puffy. Finally, skin that gets shaved on a regular basis has a host of other problems, like red bumps, ingrown hairs and leathery patches. For those instances, you should remember that razor burns or skin cuts can be reduced by using a good cleanser in the shower, a scrub every couple of days and a softening shave cream with a sharp razor. Of course, changing the blades at least once a week is vital.

The problem of shine can be addressed by using a scrub to get rid off dead cells and for blemishes and the advice of beauty editors is for men to use a weekly treatment product containing salicylic acid. Keep in mind that adding a toner can reduce pore size, control oil slicks, and help avoid nasty ingrown hairs, but anything too harsh will strip away essential oils when the skin is most vulnerable. Concluding, wearing a high SPF cream to protect it from the sun marks and the possible wrinkles, especially on the face, nose, ears and scalp is considered necessary during the sunnier months of the year. My impression after all these is that guys are definitely taking more notice of what they see in the mirror, while saving their skin from possible damage has become a priority.