Men's Skin vs. Women's Skin

Men are from Mars and women are from Venus. This literary illustration of the difference between men and women points out to the disparity between their ways of thinking, feeling, and manner of perception. However, it does not end there. Even the structures of their skins are unequal. And with this clarified, it only follows that you and your boyfriend/husband cannot share the same skin care products. And if you are a guy who has a habit of using whatever product your girlfriend/wife is using for herself, don't you think it's about time you start getting your own stuff to meet your own needs?

For many years now, the concentration of most beauty and hygiene products are women. Cosmetics companies have already created a very wide selection of beauty concoctions to meet the needs and wants of women when it comes to their skin. Vanity and beauty are attributes typically related to women. Nevertheless, caring for our skin is not entirely due to vanity but it also has a great deal to do with proper hygiene and good health. Good thing that skin care companies nowadays have finally realized that men too have to concentrate on the needs of their own skin. To better understand the differences between the structures of men's and women's skin, let us take a look at these pointers:


Basic Facts

Based on thickness, men's skin is 20% thicker than women's. It is also firmer since it contains a higher level of elastin and collagen. This works to their advantage, for it makes them less prone to developing fine lines and wrinkles. As differentiated from women's skin, men's skin tend to have bigger pores, more active but smaller oil glands (also known as sebaceous glands), and more blood supply. By and large, men's skin sweats more easily and is oilier, thus, their skin tends to become dirtier than women's.

As men age, their skin thickness decreases by 1% annually. Aside from this, their skin is also more vulnerable. Although this may seem unlikely given their image and all that, there are several good reasons why this is so. For one, unlike women, most men have never been conscious of their skin. This lack of consciousness led them to neglect its needs. Besides, they are also more exposed to the negative environmental factors. But most of all, the fragility of their skin is due to their predilection for shaving. Shaving on a day-to-day basis causes the destruction of their hydrolipidic film, responsible for lubricating and protecting the skin.


Basic Needs

The most primary need of men's skin is deep-cleansing. Since their skin becomes dirtier, daily cleansing is a must in their routine. Although men have an advantage because their skin does not age as fast as women's, they still need to use products specifically made for their skin type because these are created with their specific needs in mind. Those that should become staples are aftershave lotion for their specific skin type and a moisturizer with SPF to help protect their skin from the damaging rays of the sun. Although no adverse effects have been reported with regards to the men's use of women's skin products, it is still better for them to acquire and use their own products because women's products may not have what it takes to address their specific needs.



Resource Box: Maricel Modesto is a writer and editor who writes for various health and lifestyle magazines.

Beneficial Ingredients for Good Skin

One of the secrets to acquiring beautiful, flawless skin is through the use of appropriate skin care products and treatments suited for your specific skin type and condition. Having smooth, flawless skin is tantamount to having self-confidence. Thus, taking care of our skin is essential to keep it at its prime. So we would be assured of not only looking good on the outside, but also of a better defense against the external harmful elements that threaten us. However, if you have blemished skin, you would be inclined to feel conscious of your physical appearance. Half the time, the kinds of products we use are to blame for this condition. For this reason, we should really practice caution in selecting the products we use on our skin.

Knowledge of the contents of these products automatically gives you the upper hand. With the vast melange of skincare products being offered in the market these days, it is very easy to fall into the trap of using the wrong ones that could do more harm than good to your skin. Do not be duped by fancy packaging or brand popularity. Neither a good marketing campaign nor steep prices could guarantee the effectiveness of any skincare product. The best way for you to determine if they work well with your skin or not is by looking at the ingredients written on their labels.

Not every promising ingredient used on skin care products could be good for everyone's skin. What works for a few individuals may not necessarily work for you. For all you know, you could be allergic to some of them. Once these ingredients turn out to be incompatible with your skin, they become irritants, causing blemishes and break outs as a result. Hence, you should be wary of the nature of these ingredients as well as your skin's probable reaction to them.



Helpful Skincare Product Ingredients

* Keratin

Keratin is considered as one of the most vital ingredients used in many skin treatments and even hair products. A kind of insoluble protein derived from animals, it is a component found in the hair, skin, and nails. It is used to grow collagen and elastin. Taken from sheep wool, Keratin is known for its capacity to rejuvenate the skin by retarding its aging process.

* Coenzyme Q10

An enzyme located in every cell, Coenzyme Q10 maintains the energy level in the cells. However, exposure to UV rays can sap these enzymes. Thus, we are required to obtain them from skin treatments.

* Retin A and Isotrenoin

Retin A and Isotrenoin creams are very efficient when it comes to the removal of dead skin cells. Also, they can keep pimples at bay, and they also work well in unclogging the pores of impurities. In particular, Isotrenoin is used in topical skincare creams used to regulate oil glands that are active. But despite the advantageous effects of these ingredients, they also have adverse effects, such as liver damage and birth defects. So before you use products containing them, it is best if you obtain medical advice first. It is also best to practice caution, especially when you are using them for a long period of time.

* Phytoessence Wakame

A kelp popularly used in Japanese skin care products, Phytoessence Wakame contains large concetrations of calcium, iron, and other minerals that are vital in maintaining the firmness and moisture of the skin. Widely acclaimed for its youth-enhancing and beautifying components, it has adequate amounts of vitamin B complex that do not only combat skin aging, but is also responsible for treating some skin problems.




Resource Box: Maricel Modesto is a writer and editor who writes for various health and lifestyle magazines.

Skin Care Guide For Aging Skin

When it comes to aging, you cannot really stop having birthdays as years pass. But you can surely do something about keeping your skin younger and healthier looking even as you age.

The skin can be considered a very important part of the body, for this can protect us from harmful rays of the sun as well as with other external factors. However as you age, the skin looses some of this elastin and collagen. While this a natural cycle, you can still do something about keeping your skin younger looking. All it takes is proper aging skin care regimen for you to have a beautiful skin that looks many years younger.

The following are some tips on how to make your skin look younger than ever even as you age:

1. Enough sleep is a must.

To keep your skin from aging fast, try to get eight hours of sleep each day. To help you achieve an eight-hour sleep, avoid drinking coffee several hours before hitting the sheets for this can keep you up and active.

2. Eat and drink right.

Try to have and maintain a daily diet that is full of carbohydrates and proteins. Some nutritionists even suggests that it is better to eat small meals several times within the day than just eating a few full and big ones. Also, make sure to always and always drink eight glasses of water daily. Eating and drinking right can do wonders to your skin.

3. Exercising is good.

Exercising is a good way of relieving yourself from stress. If you're too much stressed, this can reflect on your skin. Simple exercise routines daily such as jogging, walking, as well as swimming can do the trick.


4. Pampering is necessary.

Sometimes, it is okay to treat yourself once in a while. Pamper your skin by going to a spa that offers skin care treatments. You will not only get to have your skin pampered, buy you will surely have a grand time with at the spa as well. Definitely a perfect way to treat your skin and have a relaxing time.

Furthermore, proper skin care is also important in keeping your skin from early signs of aging. Below are steps on how to properly take care of your skin and delay signs of aging:

1. Apply sunscreen everyday when you go out.

This way, you can protect your skin from age spots and wrinkles. You can also try using face lotions or foundations that has an SPF level of at least 15.

2. Lessen over-exposure to the sun.

When you go out during a sunny day, make sure to wear long-sleeved shirt and hat, for these can shield you from the harmful rays of the sun.

3. Check the ingredients of your skin care and beauty products.

As you shop for skin care and beauty products, avoid products that contain irritating ingredients like fragrances, extracts, and botanicals.

4. Regularly apply a moisturizer.

It is a must for you to always moisturize your face during cold and dry weather if you want to keep it wrinkle free and young looking.



Resource Box:

Rcon Franchesca V. Pascua is a web content writer and researcher who specializes in health and fitness topics. She enjoys reading health-related features and articles and sharing what she learns by providing tips and guidelines on how to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

Care For Your Skin, The Natural Way

Skin care is one of the things that everyone performs everyday to keep the skin young and healthy looking. However, more and more people each year are getting tired of using costly skin care and beauty products that contain so much chemical ingredients. These products do not only hurt your budget, but these can also do a lot of harm to your skin.

In line with this, many are now turning to the benefits and conveniences brought by all-natural skin care regimen. This is fast becoming popular as it is simpler and easier to do for a daily routine.

The following are simple steps to follow in practicing an all-natural skin care routine:

1. Only buy natural and mild soaps.

As part of your skin care routine, only choose and buy soap products that are gentle on the skin. Go for products that are made from oatmeal, tea tree, as well as eucalyptus. After washing with your all-natural soap, rinse your face properly and pat dry.

One goof example of an all-natural soap is the castile soap, which is made from either vegetable or olive oil. This soap is also scented with natural healing essential oils. Castile soap is a perfect alternative for harsh soaps containing strong chemicals.

2. Use an all-natural facial toner.

An all-natural facial toner is best in removing oil and other reside in the face that ordinary soap cannot. As for making an all-natural facial toner, you can combine one teaspoon of rosemary, one bay leaf, one cup of organic white wine, and one teaspoon of thyme. Let the ingredients simmer for 10 minutes, strain, cool, and you can then apply it to your skin.

3. Use an all-natural moisturizing product.

Moisturizers containing olive oil and almond oil ingredients are perfect for the skin as these slow down aging as well as prevent acne. Almond oil can also relaxes, soothes, soften, as well as improve the complexion of your skin.

4. Regularly exfoliate your skin.

As you regularly exfoliate your skin, this will help get rid of dead skin cell as well as prevent acnes. A good example of an all-natural skin exfoliate treatment is to gently brush your skin using a soft-bristle brush. You can start from your feet towards the abdomen, at the back, all the way to the stomach.

5. Treat yourself with a home facial treatment.

Using products and ingredients found in your own kitchen, you can make a thick paste that you can use and apply to clean your skin. Ingredients that can be mixed and blended are lemon juice, eggs, tomato, and avocado.

Taking good care of the skin doesn't have to be costly and complicated. Since many goods and services in the market these days are skyrocketing, there is really no need for you to use very expensive skin care and beauty products to take care of you skin. All-natural skin care treatments make it easier for on-the-budget ladies to have and maintain a young and healthy looking skin.

So, if you are tired of chemical-laden skin care and beauty products, start looking around your home and make yourself an all-natural skin care treatments that you can make and use at the comforts of your home.


Resource Box:
Rcon Franchesca V. Pascua is a web content writer and researcher who specializes in health and fitness topics. She enjoys reading health-related features and articles and sharing what she learns by providing tips and guidelines on how to achieve a healthier lifestyle.