Skin Care For Men

I find myself reading articles on a regulare basis based on skin care, however most of these articles are targeted towards woman.

Karel  Vermeulen who is an expert at what he does has put together some fantastic articles on skin care tips for men! I have read thru them and I must admit that they are definitely worth reading. I will be publishing a few over the next few weeks and I believe that you guys will enjoy them.

I have also joined forces with Karel and KARL DE L’EAU skincare products and we will be giving away a  skincare hamper towards the end of these articles being published.

Karel can be contacted at sales@skincarekdl.com or you can view his website at www.skincarekdl.com for more information on his products.

The first article he sent me is one on skin care basics and knowing your skin type, and in the article it describes a handy way of determining the type of skin you have! Which is vital to know when it comes to determining what kind of sin care regime you need to follow.

SKIN CARE BASICS: KNOW YOUR SKYN TYPE

First impressions are lasting impressions. Your face is the very first thing that people see and most often remember.  We all want to look good. When you look good, you feel good, you have more boldness, you feel empowered and your self-worth grows.

Although a man’s facial skin is thicker than a woman’s-remarkably it is more delicate. You wouldn’t think that this is the case. However, there are some reasons for that:

·         Men historically have taken less care of their skin

·         Men’s skin tends to be exposed more often to damaging environmental elements

·         Daily shaving destroys the hydrolipidic film, leading to loss of natural lubrication and protection

·         Daily shaving also causes scraping and nicks

The skin is the body’s largest organ, with a total surface of about 1.8 square meters and weighing about 11 kilograms. It is a complex system made of multiple layers of tissues that protect our muscles and other organs. It is made up of about 70% water, 25% protein and 2% lipids (fats).

Knowing your skin type is absolutely necessary in order to make a right decision about a proper skin care or treatment for your particular needs. Generally, we can single out five basic skin types: normal, dry, oily, combination, and sensitive with each having particular characteristics and requiring specific care and/ or treatment.

To determine your type, use a simple test with a clean facial tissue to wipe your face in the morning, when you have just woken up.

Normal Skin

The tissue will not reveal any traces of oil. Your skin should feel vibrant, elastic, and supple. It looks clean and smooth and has a good circulation and healthy complexion.

Dry Skin

The paper will be clean, too, but your face skin will feel flaky, dry, and tight after you have wiped it. Dry Skin can easily develop a sallow tone, wrinkles, and fine pores, and prone to aging and irritation.

Oily Skin

The paper will have spots of facial oil on it, corresponding to the areas of your cheeks, nose, and forehead.  Your face usually looks greasy, thick, coarse, and shiny has enlarged pores, and tend to break into acne.

Combination Skin

Most common among adults and increasingly so after the middle period of life. Characterised by a central band of skin which is oilier and more coarsely textured than the rest of the face.

Sensitive Skin

Often have similar qualities to dry skin with the addition of areas that tend to react against both internal and external influences. Sites of reaction might be caused by  allergies, pollution, chemical irritants, illness, extremes of temperature and other unsuitable environmental conditions. The visible signs of reaction include redness dermatitis, chafing, broken veins, capillaries and mild bruising.