Off the Cuff - Carson Kressley [48]
Why cleanse? Because there’s tons and tons of grime and buildup that accumulates in your pores as you go about your daily routine. You’re exposed to outside pollutants, city dirt and grime, and natural oils. A good test for that: If your pillow is dirty, you’ve probably got dirty skin. Or you’re into some kinky bedroom fantasies I don’t even want to know about.
You basically want to keep the skin clean, but you don’t want to strip it or scrub it down to the bone. So you use a mild cleanser formulated for your skin type: oily, dry, or combination. I recommend cleansing in the morning as part of your morning routine and then again when you go to bed, to remove that full day’s buildup. To keep it simple, keep your facial cleanser in the shower, so you don’t need to add an extra step to your daily routine. And besides, it’s fun taking care of business in the shower.
Exfoliation is the part where you gently scrub away the dead skin cells. Exfoliate once a week and you’re golden, pony boy. On Saturdays, while in between college football games, why not live large and exfoliate?
Moisturizing is like putting that final protective coat of wax on your car. Moisturizers keep the skin soft and conditioned. They should be rich in natural antioxidants, but they shouldn’t make you break out. Acne was sad at thirteen; it’s tragic at thirty-three. Don’t fear that moisturizers are too girly. There’s a full array of men’s moisturizers that are unscented. You can find them in drugstores or department stores. You don’t have to make an appointment with your mother’s Mary Kay lady.
Skin Color
Everyone looks good with a healthy glow. But we all know we need to stay out of the sun and use a good quality sunscreen with a high SPF every day of the year. There are a plethora of sunless tanning gels and creams on the market that can give you a healthy glow without landing you at Sloan Kettering. No one wants to look like Magda, the frighteningly leather-skinned neighbor from There’s Something About Mary.
Just make sure you use the right products for the right part of your body. Your body needs a different product from your face because the texture and sensitivity of the skin on your face is different from the skin on your body.
When it comes to finding the right products for your skin, there are some drugstore brands—Neutrogena and ROC come to mind—that are good products that won’t clog your cute little pores. But I do think it’s smart to take a little more care and consider going to a department store, specialty apothecary, or skin care center. There’s no shame in going to the beauty counter and asking for help. It’s not some terrible sin like wearing white after Labor Day. Odds are a very hot sales associate will direct you to the men’s skin care area, which, much like the population of China, seems to be getting bigger every day.
For the ultimate in skin care, I highly recommend that every man get a facial twice a year. It’s just like cleaning your teeth or changing your oil. You do that, don’t ya?
How to find a facialist? Ask around. Ask your girlfriend, your mom, your gay lover. I mean uncle. Ask that coworker of yours who’s so fond of the Funny Girl soundtrack. Or even easier, when you’re seeing your HCP, ask if the salon has a facialist. If they don’t, just ask your HCP if he or she can suggest one. Hairdressers just know these kinds of things. And just like your hair care professional, your facialist can advise you on what skin care products you should be using to keep it (and you) looking its best.
NAILS
If you’re going to be holding hands with your girl, there’s nothing worse than big old mangled man hands. Clean fingernails are of the utmost importance. No woman wants to hold your hand if it has enough dirt on it to pot a geranium.
So let’s put the “man” back in “manicure,” shall we? It’s not called a “ladycure,” now, is it? It’s a very simple procedure in which no straight people are hurt, I promise. Manicures are a really inexpensive treat—between