Metrosexual men may have long looked after their skin, but now it seems even the most rugged of males can be seen browsing for cosmetics. This month alive looks beyond the basic shaving creme and aftershave combo to see what other products are out there for the guys.

A word of advice before we begin–and most men will wince at this–before buying anything, it’s a good idea to visit an aesthetician. The skin expert at the spa can analyze your skin and recommend a regimen suited to your skin type (book a facial for two and take your wife or girlfriend if you don’t want to visit the spa alone). Once you know what kind of skin you have, you’ll be ready to splash out on some of these atypical skin products for men.

Cleansers

Did you know that men have 15 percent oilier skin and larger pores than women do? A man needs to clean his face every day to remove dirt, dead skin cells, excess oil, and other pollutants. Look for a natural cleanser with bergamot essential oil to cleanse the pores and organic juniper to eliminate nasty shine.

Toner-Astringents

Environmental pollutants can affect your skin health, especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors. Toning helps keep skin clear and firm and restores your skin’s acid mantle (by lowering pH levels). Products with glycolic or alpha hydroxy acids work best as they reduce pore size and prevent ingrown hairs.

Moisturizers

Dry, dehydrated skin is prone to wrinkles and sun damage. Keep your skin hydrated by drinking plenty of water and using a good moisturizing creme. For dry skin, use a silicon-based moisturizer; for oily skin, use the oil-free kind. Some moisturizers have built-in sunscreens, which are great for men who want to keep things simple (get one with an SPF of 15 or higher).

Eye Cremes

The area under the eyes is very sensitive and thus is one of the first places to show age. An eye creme or gel will reduce fine lines, puffiness, and dark circles. Look for products with vitamin E or aloe vera oil.

Rest assured–you can take good care of your skin while keeping your masculinity intact. Isn’t it time to boldly go beyond shaving creme?

Skin product pitfalls

If you have:

• oily skin, avoid products that overdry your skin as your skin will produce more oil than usual to compensate.
• dry skin, avoid products with alcohol or other chemicals and harsh soaps.
• combination skin, avoid products with alpha hydroxyl when shaving as they could cause irritation.
  

Antoine Giraud is an assistant editor at alive who moisturizes daily. Really!

Source: alive #308, June 2008

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