A Basic Skin Care Regimen For Men!

A skin care regimen for men seldom goes beyond washing the face with soap and water. However, with the increasing awareness about the importance of good skin care, more and more men are seeking quality skin care products and an effective regimen that they can easily follow.

Skin care is not a difficult job. All you need is a few minutes every day and some diligence and you can make sure your skin stays healthy and flawless. It is important to understand that men and women have different types of skin and thus their needs and requirements are different as well. Therefore, it is important to follow a skin care regimen that addresses all the specific concerns and caters to it appropriately. Here are the steps of a basic skin care regimen for men...

Step I: Cleansing

Cleansing is the most important step of a skin care regimen. In the course of the day, your skin pores become filled with dirt, pollution particles, excessive oil,sebum and dead skin cells. Cleansing your skin with a good cleanser not only will flush out all these toxins but also rejuvenate your skin. It is important to know that men's skin is thicker than women's and thus requires a stronger cleanser.

Product Suggestions:

Kinerase Gentle Daily Cleanser
This is a gentle foaming cleanser that suits all skin types, even very sensitive skin. It contains green tea extract to soothe the skin and cleans the skin without ripping away essential nutrients.

iS Clinical Cleansing Complex
This is a resurfacing cleanser that deep cleanses the skin and is also anti-acneic. It is powerful but can be used on sensitive skin and does not leave the skin dry. It also contains antioxidants to fight free radicals.

Step II: Toning

Toning your skin is the next essential step. Men's skin tends to produce more sebum and oil as compared to women's. That’s why it is important to extract any remaining residue particles from within the skin pores. Toners not only ensure that your skin pores are clean and protected from inflammations and breakouts, but also normalize the pH balance of the skin. Toning your skin regularly ensures your skin pores don't become clogged and the skin remains healthy and fresh.

Obagi Nu-Derm Toner
It contains a unique combination of natural ingredients and herbs that tones the skin and restores its normal pH balance. It also includes a natural astringent called 'Alum' that helps to adjust the normal pH balance of the skin.

Step III: Moisturizing

After toning, the next step is moisturizing. The cleansing and toning often rips off the essential moisture of the skin that needs to be replaced. Dry skin is highly prone to the development of wrinkles and fine lines and thus it is important to moisturize your skin on regular basis. Also, aging skin tends to become drier with time. Thus, you need to supplement your skin with adequate moisture.

La Roche Posay Anthelios SX
It is a non-greasy moisturizer that also acts as a sunscreen. Anthelios SX offers broad spectrum protection against the UVA and UVB rays and is also a 2009 InStyle best beauty buy!

NIA 24 Skin Strengthening Complex
This is a superb cream that is not too light or too heavy. It not only moisturizes the skin but there is also a visible reduction in wrinkles and fine lines with regular use. This is because it enhances the barrier function of your skin and accelerates the repair process by supplying moisture.

Step IV: Exfoliating

In due course of time, dead skin cells begin to accumulate on the skin surface leading to a dull looking complexion. Use an exfoliating scrub about twice a week to scrape off this layer of dead skin cells and reveal fresh new cells from underneath. A good scrub with reinvigorate and energize your complexion at the same time.

Nia 24 Physical Cleansing Scrub
This is an excellent scrub that removes dead skin cells and calms, hydrates as well as soothes the skin. It contains Pro-Niasomes to wash away visible imperfections caused by the sun and aging.

Step V: Shaving

Shaving is also a crucial part of your skin care routine. In fact, it is important to shave in a correct manner in order to protect the skin. This is because regular shaving makes the skin hard. Make sure you use a gentle nourishing aftershave lotion or gel that soothes the shaved area.

iS Clinical Hydra Cool Serum
This is a Hydrating, Soothing serum and is anti-acneic. Great for after shaving. It also contains botanicals and bionutrients to feed the skin.