Good Grooming is a Plus for Men

Men have found the beauty isle. It's been there for a long time, but only recently have men discovered that looking great helps them compete in the business world.

They don't have to be obsessed with their appearance to care about roughened cuticles, regular hair trims, and moisturizer to make their skin look youthful. The national beauty director for Nordstrom says looking your best is more important in our image-conscious world. It's true that they are in the business of selling products, but their ideas could give you a leg up on looking good.

* Add a face scrub to your regimen twice a week. It will slough off oil, dirt, and dead skin cells. Use it in the shower, and you'll find you get a closer shave afterward.
* Hydrate your skin with a moisturizer. Everyone needs hydration, they say, even a man with oily skin. Apply it after shaving and it will feel good.
* Use an eye cream. A great eye cream hydrates the skin around the eyes, reducing puffiness and minimizing the signs of wrinkles, which is a step toward preventing them. Use men's cream, not women's.
* Pay attention to the condition of your hands and fingernails. Have an occasional manicure and otherwise maintain finger nails.
* Invest in a good shampoo, conditioner and hair styling product.

Remember, I have several treatments available that are specifically designed for men - be sure to ask!

~Sandy

Got Chapped Lips?

The bleak, shortened days of mid-winter aren’t the only tough part about January.

This time of year, your lips are probably crying out for attention, too.

Winter air can lack moisture, making skin and lips drier than usual. Combine cold, dry air with a wicked winter wind, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for dry, chapped lips.

Yet, often, we overlook the fact that the skin on our lips is just as sensitive to the environment as any other area, even prone to skin cancer. And with cold, wintry air now the norm, you’ve got to do more than, well, just pay lip service to this neglected area.

Old standbys like Vaseline, made with petrolatum, work well as a barrier against indoor and outdoor dryness, says Dr. David E. Bank, director of The Center for Dermatology, Cosmetic & Laser Surgery in Mount Kisco. Dimethicone, an ingredient in many lip treatments, is also effective, says Bank, as is Aquaphor, an all-purpose ointment.

Estheticians prefer to use products made with protective plant oils or beeswax. Weleda Skin Food, a multitasking moisturizer that works well on the lips, contains organic pansy, chamomile and sweet almond and sunflower-seed oils, which can nourish dry skin. The company also offers Everon lip balm and Weather Protection Cream.

To get the best effect from any kind of balm or treatment, be sure your lips are moist first, ideally with a few drops of water, suggests Bank. But resist the urge to lick them.

“Obviously it brings immediate relief, because you’re adding moisture, but it’s a double whammy, because as saliva evaporates, it takes even more of the water from the lip with it,” says Bank. Even worse, he says, saliva contains digestive enzymes that work like a solvent.

“It’s better to reach for your lip balm, and if you feel you want to moisten them, reach for some water, but don’t do it by licking.”

Keep in mind that sun damage remains a threat year-round — and that while skiiers need to be extra-vigilant about skin and lip protection, so does everyone else who goes outside.

Rosacea

 Rosacea is an increasingly common condition that affects men and women alike.  While women are more likely to have this condition, it's men who have the more severe symptoms.

Symptoms include red, blotchy, sometimes "pimply" areas of the face, which is why many mistakenly refer to it as adult acne.  Most who suffer from this will notice certain things that will trigger a flare-up - alcohol, spicy foods, wind, sun exposure and more.  There's a really good article on WebMD that gives some good information about flare-up prevention and treatment.

Regular treatment by a dermatologist can help control the symptoms, as well as regular care of the face.  I have specially designed treatments that are safe to use, and can help with keeping the flare-ups at bay.  Give me a call to see how I can help!

~Sandy