It's a guy thing: men's skin care in 5 easy steps - bodycare - Brief Article

By the time a man is 50 years old, he's probably pulled a sharp blade across his face more than 9,000 times. That much shaving calls for some serious skin care and repair. So if your morning ritual consists of scrubbing your face with deodorant soap, dragging a razor across your stubble and splashing on a handful of Old Spice, it's time to rethink your routine. The fact is, real men do moisturize, tone and exfoliate.

That doesn't mean you should start raiding your sweetie's stash for facial care products. "Men's skin is a lot different from women's," says Susan Hussey, vice president of Aubrey Organics in Tampa, Florida. "It's thicker and oilier, and every day it gets scraped and tugged by shaving, so it has very distinct needs."

But you don't have to fuss over your face. Five simple steps, followed faithfully, can substantially improve the skin you're in.

1. Cleanse. Start by washing your face, morning and night. And forget the Dial and Irish Spring--most bar soaps contain harsh ingredients that dry or irritate skin, especially if they're of the deodorant variety. "Instead, choose a gentle liquid cleanser to emulsify oil and dirt from the surface of the skin without stripping away natural protective oils," says Mary Abrahamsen, sales manager for Kiss My Face Corp. in Gardiner, New York. Check the ingredients for antioxidant vitamins to nourish and emollients such as olive oil and aloe vera to moisturize. If you're attached to bars, choose an unscented glycerin variety. Or try a gentle exfoliating soap containing ground herbs, grains or nuts to deep-clean pores and boost circulation. Some to try: Burt's Bees Bay Rum Exfoliating Soap, Kiss My Face Citrus Cleanser and Avalon Therapeutic Lavender Cleansing Gel.

2. Shave. The best time to shave is right after you wash your face, when your skin is moist and your beard is softened. First, replace harsh shaving cream with a natural cream or gel made from vegetable products. And don't expect big bubbles from a natural product. "Extra-foamy shaving creams contain artificial ingredients and harsh detergents, which are hard on the skin," says Mark Egide, CEO of Avalon Natural Products in Petaluma, California. Some to try: Tom's of Maine All-Natural Lathering Cream, Aubrey Herbal Mint And Ginseng Shaving Cream, Kiss My Face Moisture Shave and Alba Botanical Cream Shave.

3. Tone. After washing and shaving, use an alcohol-free toner to remove shaving cream residue, tighten pores and help skin recover after being scraped with a razor. Use cotton balls or pads to apply toner. Look for one with a base of witch hazel to tone without drying. You can also use aftershave instead of toner, so long as it's free of alcohol and synthetic fragrances that can irritate skin. Some to try: California North After Shave Care With Sunscreen, Aubrey Ginseng-Mint Herbal Skin Bracer and Alba Sea Kelp Toner.

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