Men are brilliant at solving problems, so why not apply that savvy to your grooming routine? We’ve got all the tips, tricks and products to troubleshoot your everyday problems.
1. Is shaving bad for my skin?
Dragging a sharp razor across your face every day may seem brutal, but it can actually keep your face fresh. The friction created by shaving stimulates collagen production and smoothes the skin. Some experts say this is why men generally have less wrinkles than women. However, it does remove a thin layer of skin cells so it won’t hurt to give your face a break every so often.
Plus, to prevent irritation always use a post-shave moisturiser.
TRY: Nivea for Men Extreme Comfort post-shave balm, L’Oréal Men Expert Wrinkle De-Crease moisturising cream, Neutrogena Razor Defence shave gel.
2. How can I combat dark under-eye circles?
Wrinkles and dark bags around the delicate eye area can make you look older than you are – and not in a distinguished, George Clooney kind of way either. According to Cape Town dermatologist Dr Dagmar Whitaker, they’re caused by damage done to the delicate network of elastic fibres under your skin. When you smile, laugh, frown or rub your eyes, wrinkles start to form because of the muscle action under the skin. However, such emotion is hardly avoidable. So what can you do? Get enough sleep, drink plenty of water and use a men’s product that targets puffi ness and dark circles.
TRY: Nivea for Men Revitalising Q10 eye roll-on, L'Oréal Men Expert Hydra Energetic eye.
3. How do I prevent cracked lips?
According to research, a man’s risk of lip cancer in South Africa is more than three times higher than average because of our climate. If you’re into outdoor sports and spend a lot of time in the sun, keep a stiff upper lip rather than a dry, cracked one by using a zinc-based lip balm. However, these can leave you looking like Allan Donald on match day, so for less extreme protection buy lip balm with an SPF of 15 or more. Apply every two hours in the sun and in the winter, put some on at night to keep lips hydrated.
TRY: Labello for Men Active Care lip balm.
4. How do I prevent ingrown hairs?
Ingrown hairs are one of the most common problems that arise from daily shaving. They’re caused by shaved hair getting trapped inside the follicle and start growing back into the skin.
PREP: Wash your face with warm water and hold a clean, damp cloth over the ingrown hairs to soften the skin.
REMOVE: Use a pair of tweezers or a needle. To make sure it’s completely clean either sterilise in isopropyl alcohol or hold it over the flame of a candle. Then coax the hair out of the skin. Be gentle because you don’t want to aggravate the skin. Once it’s out, apply an antiseptic cream followed by moisturiser.
Additional top tips for happy skin
- Don’t put too much pressure on the razor and don’t shave against the grain. Both can cause razor burn and irritation.
- Try a new blade, or try a new type of razor altogether. Old blades can introduce bacteria onto freshly shaved skin.
- Exfoliating removes dead skin and frees the hair out of the skin so it can be shaved.
- In between shaves brush stubble with a fine brush, such as a toothbrush, to ensure the hair grows in the right direction and not back into the skin.
FEATURED PRODUCT: Vaseline MEN
Make use of the convenience of online shopping and buy Vaseline MEN products now!
