Advice On Male Grooming

1. Know your skin type. If you want to look after your skin you must know it well and choose appropriate products. Do you have oily skin? If so you should be using a light oil free moisturiser. Sensitive skin? Try to use fragrance free products when possible.

2. Get a regime. A simple everyday skin care regime is essential to help you look and feel your best. Keep it straightforward, face scrub before shaving and moisturising after can make all the difference.

3. Learn How To Shave! Some men really seem to struggle with the art of shaving. After a hot shower is the best time to shave. Don't use a disposable razor, use a high quality one such as Mach 3. Use a high quality shave creme and apply it with a shaving brush. Never shave against the grain, it will greatly increase the chance of irritation and will do long term damage to your skin.

4. Trim your brows Eyebrows should not be ignored. If you have bushy brows then do you best to keep them in check. Mono-brow is NOT a good look, so give it a quick shave when doing the rest of your face.

5. Drink Water. Water is proven to help keep your skin clear and healthy. You should drink at least 1.5 litres a day.

Cleansing

Face Wash - Essential part of an everyday routine. You should cleanse with a face wash twice a day, in the morning and evening before you go to bed.

Cleansing Wipes - Ideal as a quick fix if you're skin gets oily in the afternoon then give it a quick cleanse with a wipe.

Face Scrub - Face scrubs deep cleanse and help to remove dead skin cells. Most scrubs should be used once or twice a week, although some are now designed for everyday use.

Moisturise

Moisturiser is an important part of everyday grooming and should not be overlooked. If you have very dry skin you are better to spend a bit more on a top quality moisturiser designed specifically for dry skin and only use a small amount each day, rather than by a cheap one and use a lot. For very dry skin try Biotherm Homme, Aquapower Dry Skin Moisturiser.

For oily skin you should be using a light oil-free mosturiser such as Men-U Matt Finish, oil and fragrance free it contains sebum absorbers to combat grease. The matt finish also helps to avoid your skin from looking oily.

Eye Creams & Gels

The area around the eyes is very delicate and you should try to avoid using your usual moisturiser here. After a few too many hours in the office or a few too many late nights your eyes can be a real giveaway. Eye Gels help to soothe and cool, and Eye Creams help to protect and moisturise.

Face Masks

Face Masks are great for drawing out impurities and unblocking pores, used once a week they will leave your skin feeling clean, smooth and revitalised.

Male Concealers

Concealers are a great way to hide any blemishes, spots or under eye shadows. They blend into your skin to leave a totally natural look and usually come in a number of differents shades to suit your skin tone.

Spot Prone Skin

If you are prone to breakouts it's importnant that you do everything possible to aid the situation. First off ensure that you are using appropriate products, Dermalogica have a great range for spot prone skin.

A consistent daily routine is even more important with problem skin - Find the products that work for you and stick with them, constantly changing from one brand to the next will only make the situation worse.

Oily Skin

If you suffer from oily skin it can be very tempting to wash more frequently, as your skin will appear oil free for a while after washing. However if you dry out your skin too much the oil producing glands will try to overcompensate and make your skin even worse. Try to use specific products to control oily skin like Lab Series Oil Control Face Wash.

You should also avoid and oil based moisturisers as these will increase your chance of blackheads and spots and make your skin look shinier. Men-U Matt Finish moisturiser mentioned previously is a great option for oily skin.

Anthony Logistics Oil-Free Facial Lotion is also an excellent product for oily skin, it leaves a matt finish while helping to rebalance oily complexions.

Dry Skin

If you suffer from dry skin you may notice your skin feels very tight with some flaking and dry patches. You should try to use mild, fragrance free products designed specifically for dry skin and use plenty of moisturiser. For a face wash try Anthony Logistics Algae Facial Cleanser designed specifically for dry skin.

Nickel Dry Skin Moisturiser is ideal for dry or tight skin, it's a rich moisturiser which will really comfort your skin without leaving it looking shiny.

Your hair is so important to your overall look. You can look well groomed everywhere else but if your hair is a mess that's all people are going to notice!

First of all book an appointment at a good salon. If your not comfortable at a regular salon then fear not, there are now lots of men only salons (google it for one near you) which are sure to make you as relaxed as possible. You want to make sure your hair style suits your face, so ask a professional for advice.

If you have fine or thin hair then be sure to ask your hair stylist about "razor cutting". This is where they use a specialised razor to cut the hair which gives more texture and in turn makes your hair appear thicker.

Keep It Simple! Make sure the style you choose is one that you can manage on a daily basis. Keep it short enough that you can manage it in the mornings without spending hours trying to get it right.

Keep It Clean - This may seem fairly obvious, but lots of guys use far too much product, which just makes your hair look greasy and unclean.

Use a shampoo that is suitable, if you use styling products on your hair find a shampoo specifically designed to rid your hair of any product and leave it clean such as Tigi B for Men Clean Up Daily Shampoo.

Less Is More - It's so important not to use to much styling product as it will leave your hair looking greasy. Not a good look! If you have fine hair try using a volumising mouse or gel after washing and dry with your hands or a hair-dryer. Nioxin Volumising Reflectives Thickening Gel is the business to help boost and thicken your hair.

1. The best time to shave is immediately after a hot shower, the steam and hot water will help to soften your facial hair and prepare your face for shaving.

2. Use a good quality shave oil or cream. Massage into your face and leave for 30 seconds to give it time to start working.

3. Use the best possible multi-blade razor, like a Mach 3 or Gillette Fusion. Don't use cheap disposable razors, they make for a bad shave and are not good for your skin.

4. Shave with the grain not against it. This will help to minimise the chance of irritation and razor burn.

5. When finished rinse your face will cold water as this will help to close up your pores.