Source: http://www.cosmeticscop.com/learn/article.asp?PAGETYPE=ART&REFER=SKIN&ID=20

Over the past several years there has been a marked increase in the sales of men’s skin-care products. One major downside to all this is now men have about the same opportunity to waste their money on unnecessary or problematic skin-care products as women do. But in many ways men have it even harder differentiating between reliable and unreliable products because in general, they are reluctant “cosmetic” consumers and are hesitant to spend too much energy delving into consumer information on the topic. As a result, most men don't use sunscreen on a consistent basis and leave their skin at risk for cancer, not to mention wrinkles. This also means that most men don't know what irritating ingredients might be lurking in their shaving products, and they end up with razor burn, (which is often really “product” burn). While it would be great if it were simple enough to recommend products from skin care lines “designed” for men, it turns out that most of those products are either poorly formulated, contain far too many irritating ingredients, or are overpriced and not worth the extra expense. Here is the information every man needs to know to take great care of his skin.

Shaving is the most typical start to a man's day, and it is the first area where they can make mistakes. Most shaving creams and pre-shave products, especially those geared toward men, contain irritating ingredients such as alcohol, menthol, mint, and camphor, as well as high levels of potassium or sodium hydroxide. These skin irritants make the hair follicle and skin swell, forcing the hair up and away from the skin, supposedly allowing for a closer shave. Unfortunately, the irritation and resulting swelling cause some of the hair to be hidden by the swollen follicle and skin. Note that sodium hydroxide is used in many skin-care products at very low levels (the lesser amount of an ingredient in a product, the lower it will be on the ingredient list on the label) to adjust the pH value. In these low quantities, it is not irritating to skin. Additionally, the swollen skin makes it harder for the stubble to find its way back out. If the hair begins to grow (which it does almost immediately) before the swelling is reduced, the likelihood of ingrown hairs is increased.

Shaving with a razor abrades the skin enough to cause havoc, but then men typically splash an alcohol-based aftershave lotion with irritating ingredients over that broken skin. Think of splashing aftershave on a cut or scrape on any other part of your body. Now, why would you want to do that to your face? Basic skin-care rule number one for both men and women: If the skin-care product you use burns, irritates, tingles, causes the skin to become inflamed, or hurts, don't use it.

What can men do to take care of their skin?
To start with, all men need a gentle, water-soluble cleanser, a gentle shave product (foam, cream, or gel), followed by a gentle, nonirritating aftershave or shaving lotion (which is actually just a masculine name for a gentle toner). An ideal after-shave product for men would be an aspirin-based topical product that uses additional potent anti-irritants. Aspirin is a very effective anti-inflammatory agent for irritated skin and is able to alleviate the redness and razor bumps/burn. Take one or two aspirin tablets, dissolve it in about two tablespoons of water and then apply that to the face with a cotton pad.

When it comes to treating breakouts, preventing wrinkles, and addressing dry skin, the protocol is the same for men as it is for women. For blemishes, a topical antibacterial product containing benzoyl peroxide, daily sun care with at least SPF 15 and effective UVA protection (it must contain one of the following ingredients: avobenzone (which may also be listed as Parsol 1789 or butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane), titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide) and a state-of-the-art moisturizer loaded with antioxidants and ingredients that replace vital substances to skin. Any product containing antioxidants or other light- and air-sensitive ingredients should be packaged in an opaque container whose contents receive minimal exposure to air. That automatically rules out products packaged in jars, because shortly after opening the antioxidants begin to lose potency and won’t last for the lifespan of the product.

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