There’s no shortage of beauty experts, all pushing a confusing range of products claiming to be the miracle defence against the inevitable march of time.
In reality, we’re all so busy with our day-to-day lives that our beauty regimes develop without too much planning or thought. Industry research indicates that we tend to find products that we like and then we stick with those products because we know how to use them and they make us feel good.
This haphazard approach to taking care of ourselves can lead to the development of some bad beauty habits.
How do I know what beauty products I need?
We’re all different – you need to find the products that work for you. While it’s great to get advice from beauty experts or your friends, ultimately you need to figure out what your body needs and how to create the best possible self-care regime.
Step 1: Complete a beauty audit
Set some time aside and look at all of the beauty products that are cluttering your bathroom. Make a list, document them all. Then, make an honest assessment of how often you use each product. Which products do you use daily? Which products are for special occasions? Which products don’t you use?
Step 2: Simplify things
Throw out anything that you’re not using on a regular basis – there’s a reason you’re not using these products, you don’t need them.
Take a close look at the ‘special occasion’ products. Why do you use these products only occasionally? Should you be using them more frequently, or do you actually need them at all?
Make a detailed assessment of the products that comprise your daily beauty routine. Why have you chosen these products? How do these products make you feel? Is there any duplication that could be removed? What are the beauty benefits of these products?
Step 3: Try new products
The beauty industry is one of the most innovative. New products are regularly being developed, and rigorous research and testing goes into figuring out how to make tackle our daily beauty dilemmas.
It’s important that you’re open to trying new things. Not everything is going to be right for you, but there might be a game-changer beauty product out there that could be the perfect addition to your daily beauty regime.
How much should I spend on beauty products?
Your beauty regime doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Just because a big-name brand has spent a lot of money on their marketing doesn’t mean that you need to pay the high prices that they’re charging.
Some of the best products come from boutique beauty houses, or independent brands that don’t have A-list celebrity endorsements.
One of the benefits of online shopping is that you can now source high-quality beauty products from around the world and have them delivered to your door – ensuring that you get the benefit of the best products at the best prices.
Isn’t it time you took a fresh look at your beauty regime?
Beauty basics for beefy boys – A grooming guide for gay guys on the go.
Don’t put your foot in it!
How sexy are your feet?
You don’t have to have a foot fetish to appreciate that there’s a big difference between someone who’s been paying their feet some attention, and someone who doesn’t seem to think of anything below their knees.
This is the time of year when you really need to make your feet count. You’re going to be wearing flip-flops. You’re going to be hanging out in the park. You’re going to be at the beach. Your feet are going to be on display.
Here’s some strategies you can try to always put your best foot forward.
Give them a good scrub – buy a proper foot scrub and spend a bit of time each week giving your feet a proper deep-clean.
Trim those toe-nails – it’s never a fun task, but if you stay on top of the job then it’s really just a bit of regular maintenance.
Moisturise – there’s really no part of your body that won’t appreciate a bit of lotion attention. Your feet are no exception.
Do not wear a toe ring.
Essential summer skin care tips for queer guys – there’s more to it than just sunscreen!
While the increasingly extreme summers are undoubtedly a sign of an impending environmental disaster, in the short-term we’ve all got to find ways to keep cool and carry on.
A basic step is to make sure you’ve got some sun-block on before stepping outdoors, but there’s a lot more to summer skin-care than just slapping on some Factor 50.
Here’s some tips on how to survive the scorching sun of a sizzling summer.
Get the basics right
The sun is generally at its hottest from 10 AM to 2 PM. If you’re heading outside during the hottest part of the day, do your best to wear a hat, sunglasses, and keep as much of your skin covered by clothing as possible.
Putting some sun-block on before you leave the house is pretty much essential. Be generous with it – you want to apply sun-block to your face, neck, arms, and any other parts of your body that are going to be exposed. If you’re wearing shorts then you’re going to want sun-block on your legs.
Not all sun-blocks are equal
Lots of products come with sun-block included as a component. Do a bit of research. You want broad spectrum protection that helps prevent damage from both UVA and UVB rays.
Don’t mess around with low-level sun-blocks. You need something that’s at least SPF30.
You probably need different sun-block for your face and your body – particularly if you’ve got sensitive skin.
High-end grooming products that include some level of sun-block might feel nicer on your skin, but they’re probably not giving you strong enough protection.
Make sure you’re reapplying your sun-block regularly. If you’re out and about for most of the day, you should be re-applying every couple of hours.
You have to be particularly cautious with hair-care products that include sun-block – especially if you’ve coloured your hair. A hat is generally a better option.
The after-sun regime
After you’ve been exposed to the sun, your skin is going to be sensitive. You want to wash the day away with gentle cleansing oils and milky cleansers – products that will get you clean without stripping away too many skin cells.
Once you’ve cleaned up, don’t forget to moisturise. Get some lotion on that body.
Sun-burn strategy
If things haven’t gone to plan and you’ve ended up getting sun-burnt, don’t try and tough it out. Take some action to try and help your body recover as quickly as possible.
Take a cool shower when you get home. Use moisturisers that contain aloe vera or soy.
Taking pain-killers such as aspirin or ibuprofen can help to reduce the redness and discomfort.
Drink lots of water. You need to rehydrate.
The damage is done
UV rays reach your inner skin layers. You might think that your skin has got a nice tan, but what you’ve got is damaged skin cells.
Sun damage can present as freckles, discoloration, wrinkles, and other signs of premature ageing – all with higher risks of skin cancer.
Treatments for sun-damage are available. You’re looking at microdermabrasion, photofacials, laser resurfacing treatments, microneedling, and peels. All of which requires a visit to your local dermatology clinic.
Moisturising is what you should focus on at home. Look for moisturisers that contain Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Lecithin, Sorbitol, and Glycerol.
Some sun is essential
Don’t avoid the sun completely. It’s essential for producing Vitamin D and Serotonin. If you can spend 15-20 minutes outdoors in the morning, that would be ideal – it could be a quick walk or run before work, or planning your commute so that it includes some outdoor walking.
There’s no shortage of beauty experts, all pushing a confusing range of products claiming to be the miracle defence against the inevitable march of time.
In reality, we’re all so busy with our day-to-day lives that our beauty regimes develop without too much planning or thought. Industry research indicates that we tend to find products that we like and then we stick with those products because we know how to use them and they make us feel good.
This haphazard approach to taking care of ourselves can lead to the development of some bad beauty habits.
How do I know what beauty products I need?
We’re all different – you need to find the products that work for you. While it’s great to get advice from beauty experts or your friends, ultimately you need to figure out what your body needs and how to create the best possible self-care regime.
Step 1: Complete a beauty audit
Set some time aside and look at all of the beauty products that are cluttering your bathroom. Make a list, document them all. Then, make an honest assessment of how often you use each product. Which products do you use daily? Which products are for special occasions? Which products don’t you use?
Step 2: Simplify things
Throw out anything that you’re not using on a regular basis – there’s a reason you’re not using these products, you don’t need them.
Take a close look at the ‘special occasion’ products. Why do you use these products only occasionally? Should you be using them more frequently, or do you actually need them at all?
Make a detailed assessment of the products that comprise your daily beauty routine. Why have you chosen these products? How do these products make you feel? Is there any duplication that could be removed? What are the beauty benefits of these products?
Step 3: Try new products
The beauty industry is one of the most innovative. New products are regularly being developed, and rigorous research and testing goes into figuring out how to make tackle our daily beauty dilemmas.
It’s important that you’re open to trying new things. Not everything is going to be right for you, but there might be a game-changer beauty product out there that could be the perfect addition to your daily beauty regime.
How much should I spend on beauty products?
Your beauty regime doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Just because a big-name brand has spent a lot of money on their marketing doesn’t mean that you need to pay the high prices that they’re charging.
Some of the best products come from boutique beauty houses, or independent brands that don’t have A-list celebrity endorsements.
One of the benefits of online shopping is that you can now source high-quality beauty products from around the world and have them delivered to your door – ensuring that you get the benefit of the best products at the best prices.
