Appearance matters whether you are male or female and I feel that there is a lot more pressure on today’s modern man to look his best. The whole purpose of why I started Secrets in Beauty is so that I can help us all be the best version of ourselves.
If you are making any of the below male grooming mistakes, now is the time to stop and put things right. If you are unsure in any way, please contact me.
1 – Bad Feet
There is no excuse for bad feet. Clip your toe nails once a week, wash your feet thoroughly when in the shower and buy a nail & foot file and use them. If you suffer from smelly feet, make sure you use an antibacterial wash for your feet and wash them twice a day. If you have a regular build up of hard skin on your feet, the modern man is not embarrassed about going for a pedicure or to the podiatrist/chiropodist when needed. Your feet will feel so much better afterwards.
2 – Dandruff
It is not your fault if you suffer from dandruff and both men and women suffer. It can be caused by many things including dry skin, red itchy rash with flaky skin (seborrhoeic dermatitis), not cleaning often enough, shampooing too often, scalp psoriasis, eczema and/or sensitivity to hair care products. Dry skin is the most common cause of flaking dandruff.
If you suffer from dandruff, use a good quality anti-dandruff shampoo and try not to use too many products in your hair. A lot of hair products contain alcohol and skin irritants which can dry out the scalp further and make the situation worse.
3 – I’ve Got Your Back
Back care is really important and it often gets forgotten about because we don’t see it. If you have a spotty back, exfoliate the area gently and use an antibacterial skin wash. When using the antibacterial skin wash in the shower, allow it to stay on the skin for a few minutes to allow it to work. The Australian Body Care Skin Wash is amazing for this and smelly feet mentioned above.
If you have a hairy back especially at the top of your shoulders and/or lower back then it is best to take care of this. Ask a family member to help either by using hair removal creams or waxing. A more permanent option is laser hair removal.
As a woman who knows her own mind, I personally do not find a man with no body hair attractive but each to their own! If you naturally do not have body hair or you have to remove all body hair for your work then fair enough. Otherwise as a woman, I do not find it attractive because it looks unnatural to me; a man should look and feel like a man!
4 – Thinking Sun Burn is Attractive
Having a healthy tan is attractive but burning yourself in the sun or even worse on the sunbeds is not attractive and more importantly it isn’t healthy.
If you will be out and about in the sun wear sun protection on your face and body. If you have a tendency to burn your scalp, take your sun protection through your hair too and wear a cap or a hat if you can. The best sun protection I have come across to date is from Ultrasun Once a Day Formula. Apply it just once a day, it bonds with the skin and is clinically proven to provide all day UVA and UVB protection.
5 – Hair Loss
This is a very sensitive issue and a traumatic one at any age. The bravest thing and the sexiest thing a man can do is confront it. When you embrace it and do not try to hide it, you will feel better and more confident in yourself.
If hair loss is so extreme that it can no longer be concealed, the best thing to do now is to shave it off. A bald head is just as susceptible to dryness and flakiness as the skin on other parts of your body. Keep it soft and supple with a good matte moisturiser. Exfoliate once a week to get rid of dead skin cells and use sun protection and a hat if you will be out in the sun.
You could also think about framing your face with some facial hair to add structure and personality to your look.
FYI – I am a massive Bruce Willis fan and I think he is much sexier without hair!
My recommendations for some of the best matte moisturisers for men:
- Kiehl’s Men’s Oil Eliminator 24 Hour Anti-Shine Moisturiser – provides an amazing clean hydrated skin feeling absorbing sweat, oil and shine for 24 hours. This is oil free, paraben free, sulfate free and dermatologist tested.
- TOM FORD For Men Oil Free Daily Moisturiser – a lightweight, quick-absorbing, skin-mattifying moisturiser uses a combination of luxurious butters to hydrate the skin, help reverse dullness and help reduce the look of fine lines and pores. Skin looks toned, polished and re-energised.
- BULL DOG Fast absorbing moisturiser – contains witch hazel, willow bark and juniper. This moisturiser leaves the skin feeling smooth and healthier looking. It provides lightweight hydration whilst giving a mattified finish.
- KORRES Anti-Shine Men’s Moisturiser Cream – this cream has a lightweight texture and matte finish. Borage oil is a key ingredient of this moisturiser cream and helps suppress inflammation in your skin. This is ideal for anyone with fatigued skin or sensitive skin. Aloe and centella have wound-healing properties as well as moisturising effects. This product has no mineral oil, petrolatum/paraffin wax, silicones, parabens and no sulfates.
If you have any questions, please ask in the comments section below or send me an email.
