MAN post: How to Get Great Skin She Will Notice

This is a post for all my male readers...which is funnily enough a growing readership!

There are two major factors that come into play when caring for your skin — your lifestyle and your skin care routine. (Yes, there is such a thing as a skin care routine.)

In order to get a great complexion, you might need to make a few adjustments in the sleeping and eating departments and may have to adjust the products you use on your skin. (Again.  Yes, you’re supposed to be using products.)
Here, I share the seven steps you should take in order to improve your skin. To see results in about a month, stick with this plan. Like exercise, taking care of your skin requires consistency.

 Step 1: Eat Well
Eating well is “one of the easiest, least expensive and guaranteed ways to achieve and maintain great skin. There are a few key vitamins and nutrients skin needs to look fantastic. They are:
Essential fatty acids — the body doesn’t naturally produce these, so eat things like avocado, cheese and other dairy products to load up on them. Lucky for you, these things are delicious.
Vitamins C, E, lycopene — not only do these benefit your skin, but they also have heart-healthy and even cancer-fighting benefits. Get them by eating colorful vegetables. The more colors you eat, the better.

Step 2: Minimize Stress
Easier said than done, but there are a few ways you can help minimize the effect stress is having on your body, and a bottle of Jack is not one of them.
I recommend vitamin B, which helps calm the nervous system. In addition, I suggest taking an omega fatty acid supplement like fish oil, and exercising regularly.
Together these will help prevent breakouts and keep your skin cells functioning the way they need to in order to keep your skin looking young.

Step 3: Get Enough Sleep
Again, I know this is a tall order, because you have already vowed to sleep when you're dead, but getting eight hours of sleep every night is key to keeping your skin in great shape.
When you don’t get enough sleep your skin can become dull and pale, and the lack of shut-eye “actually causes our bodies, including our skin, to generate free radicals.
Free radicals are responsible for a lot of the aging you see on your face, such as dark spots and sagging.

Step 4: Be Consistent With Your Skin Care Routine
If you want to see a noticeable difference in your skin, follow good skin care habits every day and you’ll reap the benefits. Four simple steps will keep your skin in great shape — if you do them every day.
Cleanse: Wash your face morning and night with a cleanser suited to your skin type.
Use a cream or lotion cleanser if skin is dry or normal (try Neutrogena Continuous Hydration Cream Cleanser, £3.99 ) or foaming cleanser if skin is oily or acne prone (try Basis Cleaner Clean Face Wash, £3.99 ). And avoid aggressive cleansing of the skin. Although clean skin is very important, over-cleansing the skin will not reduce breakouts. In fact, it might dry out the skin, which can cause MORE breakouts.

Step 5: Exfoliate
Although this is something you do partially when you shave, you should lightly exfoliate your entire face to help boost collagen production, which will make your skin look younger.
No, it does not make you less of a man.
I'd recommend using daily peels in lieu of grainy scrubs or masks because they’re more gentle on skin.
Try Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel, £50.35. Use the peel once a day at night or before shaving in the morning to prevent irritation.



Step 6: Moisturise
After shaving, moisturise your skin to soothe it and keep it hydrated.
Look for products that contain ingredients like green tea extract (nature’s cortisone), hyaluronic acid, essential fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic acids). They will calm any post-shaving irritation and help fight signs of aging.
Try Juice Beauty Green Apple Antioxidant Moisturiser, £32.95.
At night, use a different moisturizer that contains peptides or retinol to kick your anti-aging program into high gear. Try L’Oreal Paris Men’s Expert Vita Lift Anti-Wrinkle & Firming Moisturizer, £8.05.
You will like the way it feels. But you don't have to tell anyone.

Step 7: Protect
Sunscreen should be applied 365 days a year, it is possible to sustain sun damage all year-round, even on cloudy days.
Apply SPF 30 after your moisturiser daily (or use a moisturiser that contains SPF like Olay Complete SPF 30 Defense, £12). If you use a sun block that also contains green tea and vitamin C (like Dr Dennis Gross Skincare Powerful Sun Protection SPF 30 Towelettes, £19.12), you’ll get additional protection from environmental toxins found in pollution.





Your other option: never leave the house. But then who will see your beautiful skin?

Share this with the man in your life, and give them the opportunity to have skin that shines and stands out from the crowd.

xoxo,
Angelique