Friday, August 5, 2011

MEN's Choice Product Picks

Cleanse- Anthony Logistics Men's Algae Face Cleanser cleanses, moisturizes and calms the skin. It is PH balanced for men and also helps prep the skin for shaving. It has Algae, Aloe, Azulene, Lavender and Rose Hip Oil! All great ingredients to help sooth, heal, cleanse and refresh the skin. Lather up a dime size amount 2x a day!




Shaving Issues- Zihr product line created a product called Erase which addresses razor burn, redness associated with shaving, and ingrown hairs. Erase is an alcohol free product, which also has moisture enhancing ingredients. It can be applied 1-2x daily with a tissue or cotton ball on affected areas. 






Moisturize+ Sun Protection- H2V Protect SPF Moisturizer is one the Mens choice top selling products at Burke Williams, due to its easy to use, light yet hydrating formulation. It also has a gentle built in SPF without a strong fragrance.  L'oreal also has an affordable men's SPF daily moisturizer (VITA LIFT spf 15), that has anti-aging ingredients added in as well. 


Got other faves???  I would love to hear about them XOXO

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

MEN...this one is for you

I love going to skin training classes and seminars, they always remind me to touch on subjects that I tend to overlook. So this blog is dedicated to MEN; whose skin care market currently measures at $12.1 billion and is expected to grow.  


What Men need to know about their skin (generalization):  
1. Men typically have thicker and more sensitive skin
2. Men's skin has a tendency to produce more oil or sebum and tend to have larger pores than women
3. Men also have a lower PH (more acidic) making them sensitive to chemical peels and other agressive treatments
4. Male skin cells also carry fewer antioxidants, which may lead to a greater number of aging issues 
5. Men suffer from ingrown hairs, rash and dryness from shaving


So what does this mean... 


1. Your cleanser should have a PH of about 5.5 or lower to keep your skin balanced and protected. Most bar soaps men use have a PH of 9.5+  which will strip your skin.


2. You should opt for enzymes as an exfoliant, rather than an acid. It will be gentler on your skin, but still get the job done.


3. Load up on the antioxidants... both internal and external. Drink that green tea, yerba matte & red wine. Alpha lipoic acid and DMAE are also great internal supplements. Externally, you can find all sorts of moisturizers with antioxidants packed in. (Vit. C, grape seed, alpha lipoic acid.... the list goes on)


4. SUN PROTECTION!! 70% of the skin cancer cases were found on men. Free radical exposure, in combination with naturally low antioxidant levels make you great skin cancer targets. And with your thicker skin, you may not burn as easy, which tricks you in to thinking you don't need an SPF. That is not true. Burning and Cancer are 2 different things, so PLEASE find a good SPF and use it daily.


5. As for shaving. Try to find hydrating shaving creams or gels to protect skin in that area and always shave in the direction of hair growth. If you are prone to ingrown hairs, you may use a gentle salicylic acid to help with the breakouts as needed. 


6. Lastly, make an appointment to see your favorite esthetician once a month. You won't regret it!
 Men SPA-ing is the biggest growing trend. 


Stay tuned for some great MEN worthy skin care products!! XOXO