Must-have cosmetics for your guy
WITH the male beauty industry expanding, it’s clear that more men are opening up to the idea of investing in the most suitable products for their hair, skin, face and other aspects of personal grooming. Making the transition has not been as easy for macho men, however, who find cosmetic products too feminine. But if your man is uncomfortable with exploring the softer cosmetic products like anti-ageing gels or concealers, beautician Patrice Clarke said he should find the list of self-care products below as perfect additions to his personal care and grooming products.
Lip balm
The moment some men think about lip balm they think lipstick, but they are not one and the same thing. Lip balm will prevent your lips from cracking and breaking, which can easily happen when exposed to the sun or even from being in the AC at work. Men can choose a colourless, medicated lip balm that will keep their lips hydrated and kissable.
Skin moisturiser
Most men skip moisturising their skin, but moisturisers are important to keep the skin hydrated. Moisturisers help to fight ageing skin and ensure that your skin does not get dry and flaky.
“It is important that while we want our men to make sure that they always moisturise their skin, that they take note of their skin type so that they can purchase the most appropriate type — water or oil-based —for their skin type,” Clarke advised
Shampoo
Scalp care is just as important as skin care and so you want to ensure that your man’s hair is shampooed regularly enough to improve follicular health. Using shampoo removes grime and dirt from the hair follicles and scalp.
“The right shampoo has nourishment for the hair and scalp. This is why we don’t encourage men to use regular bar soaps and detergents because these might be too harsh for the scalp and might cause damage to the hair follicles,” Clarke shared.
Conditioner
A lot of men who use shampoo skip the conditioning stage because they think it is unnecessary. However, Clarke said that a conditioner not only neutralises the chemicals in the shampoo, but it also hydrates the hair follicles, leaving the hair with a natural glow.
Facial scrubs
Yes gentlemen, you can include a scrub in your skin care routine and still be macho. Scrubs help to prevent one of the most common skin challenges experienced by men, especially those with facial hair — ingrown hair.
“Our faces get clogged with natural oils, dust, dirt and so on, so from time to time they need to be cleaned or the dirt can cause different complications, acne being one of them. When you use facial scrubs you clean the pores and allow the skin to breathe naturally,” Clarke explained. Also, scrubs will break down dead cells and leave his skin glowing.
Hair moisturiser
Hair moisturisers and oils are essential parts of hair care. These oils or moisturisers provide the scalp and the hair follicles with nutrients that will promote growth and will prevent other things such as the hair breaking and falling out. Your best choice for hair care is the use of natural oils such as coconut, olive and castor oils.
Aftershave
Many macho men do not invest in aftershave — they apply a little alcohol and that’s about it.
“But alcohol is a poor choice for the face because what it tends to do is dry the skin out. Alternatively, aftershave not only soothes the skin, which is often irritated after getting shaved, but it also minimises pores and reduces bacteria build-up,” Clarke explained.
