Saving Face

By Jen Braff

Skin care basics for both men and women

Spring has always symbolized rebirth, a fresh start, or a new beginning.  And for a lot of women, it's been a time to refresh ourselves, by renewing our skin, changing our hair color or style, and trying new makeup.  But women aren't the only ones concerned with their appearance.    "As early as 10,000 BCE, men and women used scented oils and ointments to clean and soften their skin and mask body odor."  Cohen, M. (1999). Cosmetics and Perfumes, Egypt, 10,000 BCE. Internet site-http://smith.edu/hsc/museum/ancient-inventions/hsc01b.htm.

Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt, soaked in milk baths with frankincense and myrrh to soften her skin, and used kohl-which was sometimes made with a mixture of lead and other substances- to darken and accentuate her eyes.  And the association between men and makeup was mentioned in the Old Testament (Ezekiel 23:40).  Also,  Ancient Greek women swallowed arsenic complexion wafers to whiten skin.  "They worked by poisoning the blood so it transported fewer red blood cells and less oxygen to organs."  -Maybelline/nzgirl.com.  Poison and toxic ingredients were used then.  Even today, men and women risk going under the knife to take the years off.  All for the sake of attractiveness.  

Thankfully, we need not fool around with danger in order to look our best.  There are many safe and affordable products for both sexes, sold over the counter, or through skin care and makeup professionals, to keep our skin radiant and beautiful.  "You are never too young, or too old to start taking care of you skin.  In fact, skin care and protection should be an essential part of you health, fitness, and beauty regime."  According to Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, Ph.D,ND, DACBN. Internet.  Because even with great makeup or a trendy new hairstyle, neither one really matters if you neglect your skin. 

Here is a basic skin care routine for men and women. 

1.  Drink lots of water, about eight or more glasses a day.  Hydrated skin always looks fresher, and every cell in our body, needs water to stay healthy. 

2.  Use a gentle face cleanser every night to remove makeup and dirt.  Your pores are less likely to fill up with pimple causing bacteria.  Foaming gels and lotions are good ones to try.  At the end of the day our skin has a host of bacteria and oil sitting on top of it.

3.  Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least a SPF of 15, even in winter.  There are many lightweight, non-greasy lotions for the face now, and this is a very important step.  Sun exposure is one of the leading causes of pre-maturely aging skin, which means more wrinkles and sagging, not to mention skin cancer. 

4.  Exfoliate skin using a mild scrub or soft face cloth once a week.  I use baby washcloths which are super-gentle.  Since this action is to remove dead skin cells, men that shave only need to do this maybe once a month.   After age 30, you may want to try a skin renewal product.  Something with glycolic, alpha-hydroxy or beta-hydroxy in it's name.  Our skin needs help getting rid of these old, dull cells that stick to the newer, younger cells underneath.     

5.  Before bed, apply a moisturizing face cream or lotion.  Men usually like just a light moisturizer.  And for blemished skin, a product with salicylic acid can be used at this time.  When we sleep, our skin is in repair mode and utilizes these types of products best.  

In the morning, begin this ritual again, starting with six to eight ounces of water. 

As I mentioned above, this is just a basic routine to follow if your skin doesn't require any other special care.  If you see a doctor or other skin specialist, of course you would want to follow their instructions.

Practice these steps for skin care and maintenance, and in the next issue I will have some makeup tips especially for women.