Grooming: taking care of your face and body

Have you ever accompanied a friend to a cosmetics store? I imagine the scene: detached, almost distant gaze, glued to the young lady you are escorting. Above all, you shouldn't believe that you are there for you. Cliché? Almost...

The men's cosmetics sector is currently booming, far outpacing the women's market in terms of growth. “The man is a woman like any other” , it seems. Appearance is a real concern today . And beyond that, well-being.

So we're going to talk about grooming today, or the "art" of taking care of yourself when you're a man. Firstly, we will look at the maintenance of the face, before tackling that of our body.

Being interested in what you wear is good, but being interested in your physique is just as important!

Understand your skin type

Above all, know that, if it is difficult for two men with different body types to dress identically, it will be the same with the care given to their skin. Each type requires appropriate maintenance.

I would also like to point out that the advice given here cannot, under any circumstances, replace a consultation with a dermatologist!

But then, what is my skin type?

“Normal” skin

Friends with normal skin, thank heaven. Your pores are tightened, your skin texture is smooth with few imperfections on the horizon.

“Oily” skin and “combination” skin

If you have so-called “oily” skin, it is because your body secretes more sebum than necessary. It often results from a hormonal problem but also from poor lifestyle , periods of intense stress or even regular tobacco consumption. .

In addition to the often annoying shiny appearance, oily skin facilitates the appearance of blackheads or comedones. . Only advantage? As they age, people with oily skin are generally less prone to wrinkles (and that's something they already have).

Combination skin is probably the most common skin type: oily on the nose line and forehead, and normal on the rest of the face — especially the cheeks.

So-called “dry” skin

If you have dry skin, it is because the natural hydration of your epidermis is not occurring correctly.

Dry skin is generally dry beyond just the face. Very sensitive , it peels easily, will often be rough and prone to tightness or inflammation .

You should, except in special cases, recognize yourself in one of these different skin types. The care to be provided will all be the same. It will only be a matter of adapting the frequency or the products to be used.

I am what I eat

No more a dermatologist than a trained nutritionist, I can assure you that a good diet turns out to be the key to healthy skin.

Nutritional intake has a direct impact on your internal body, of course, but also on your physique. Hair, nails, body hair and skin develop and renew themselves thanks to several active agents. Their vitality therefore depends on your diet.

Here is the list of six commandments to respect to have beautiful skin:

Facial basics

Properly cleansing your face is of paramount importance and must be done on a regular basis.

Imagine what he experiences in a day: pollution, microparticles of all kinds, perspiration, sebum, cigarette smoke , various bacteria and so on. A real explosive cocktail.

The basic facial care ritual should be the same for everyone: daily cleansing and good hydration.

As with your clothes, focus on purchasing quality products and be sure to avoid all products from supermarkets. Alternatives (not necessarily more expensive) exist.

Cleaning your skin

Regardless of your skin type, I recommend a gentle cleanser, containing as few chemicals/stripping products as possible. .

Apply your cleanser and rub generously without using too much force, gently massaging the epidermis. A sacrilege if ever there was one, we never wash our face with body soap or shower gel! These products are absolutely not designed to clean much thinner and more sensitive skin.

So that you can find your way, I have selected a few products for you. There will be something for everyone, don't panic!

What product should you use to clean your face?

All the brands mentioned do not work exclusively in men's cosmetics, but the cleaning products can be considered unisex.

Facial cleanser from the Clarins brand

Horace brand purifying facial cleanser

Facial cleansing gel from the Biotherm brand

Regenerating cleansing foam from the Granado brand

Lush brand Movis cleaner

Hydrating your skin

You're on the right track, don't be discouraged and let's move on to step two together: hydration. Without it, it dies, dries out, becomes damaged and tarnishes.

A simple reflex can save you this trouble: once properly cleansed, the pores on your face are no longer clogged. They are therefore ready to receive good active agents, nourishing your skin. Apply a moisturizer with a gentle massage, ideally spreading the product from the inside out .

The product selection

So, if I work hard for you and give you a small selection, will you promise to get started?

Facial moisturizing fluid from the Granado brand

Moisturizing fluid from the Otis Skincare brand

Moisturizing day cream from the Codage Paris brand

Baxter of California brand non-greasy moisturizer

Active moisturizer from the Dermalogica brand

For further...

Here's the part where some of you get discouraged. So we arm ourselves with bravery and we continue.

“Masks? I don’t have time” ; "It's no use" ; “ It’s for the chicks ". You are wrong. Here again, in addition to the well-being that these practices provide, the effects are quickly visible if they become habitual.

Exfoliation

Daily cleansing and moisturizing will not always be enough to remove all the impurities that have become embedded in your pores. I then advise you to opt for weekly exfoliation. .

The principle is simple: exfoliating products are made up of an often nourishing base mixed with an exfoliant which, by rubbing, will smooth the skin's texture and eliminate dead cells. , possible ingrown hairs, or even prolong your hard-earned tan last summer.

Always prefer mechanical exfoliation .

The product selection

Italian resort facial exfoliant from the Acqua Di Parma brand

Facial exfoliant from the Horace brand

Kiehl's Papaya and Pineapple Scrub

Facial exfoliating powder from the Granado brand

The moment hides...

About once a week , you can also apply a repairing mask.

It's about freeing the pores of your skin a little more, and nourishing it thanks to the different active agents. These very often consist of clay or other nourishing and/or exfoliating ingredients.

The product selection

Here is a small selection of products that I particularly like, that I have tested or that have been recommended to me.

Perfect Renovator face from the Kokwai brand

Black dotox mask from the Apot.Care brand

Organic vitamin detox face mask from the Nuxe brand

Horace brand purifying clay mask

Good habits to adopt in the shower

Taking care of your face is essential, as it is exposed to it every day.

That said, it's also important to take care of the rest of your body. Cleaning, hydration, the principles are the same but the practices are slightly different. We look at this...

Why, when and how to wash (the basis)?

There are those who only spend two and a half minutes there and those who forget themselves there for more than an hour. There are those who turn off the tap while soaping themselves - thank you for the planet - those who improvise as operetta singers, those who have fun there and those who meditate there. Despite everything, it is important to adopt certain basic habits to take care of your body.

What happens to the skin in the shower?

Your skin is covered with a protective hydrolipidic film, made up of water, sweat and sebum. Seen like that, I grant you, it’s not very appealing. However, it is this layer which partly ensures the waterproofness and measured hydration of the skin, which protects you from microbial attacks or the penetration of foreign bodies.

When you wash, you destroy this protective "dirt layer" which retains bacteria and impurities. Although it is important for this hydrolipidic film to renew itself, you should not constantly attack it, otherwise you risk leaving your skin too raw.

Although it is advisable to wash at least once a day, it is not necessary to use karcher morning and evening: the epidermis, when it is overused, is stripped with products and friction. useless.

Optionally, you can take a classic shower in the morning and then just wash it with water in the evening. , if you feel this need for freshness.

Of course, in hot weather, it is not forbidden to go underwater more than once a day to cool off.

Warm water and soft towel

Better to wash with lukewarm water, to avoid damaging the skin too much.

Finally, when you get out of the shower, avoid drying yourself too vigorously . Instead, dab yourself gently with a suitable, sufficiently absorbent towel. or wrap yourself in a bathrobe. You will avoid possible redness or dryness.

“ Okay and out of all this, what should I wash myself with?”

I'm just coming there!

In the shower !

You understood above, your skin is sensitive and must be at the center of your concerns. Again, be careful about the products you use.

Little point of biology

To start, let's talk pH.

But then Jamy, what is skin pH and how is it determined?

It's very simple: the hydrolipidic film determines the pH of the skin, i.e. its acidity level, which will have a direct impact on its defense potential against external aggressions.

It oscillates between 4.5 and 6, guaranteeing a “small acidity” which protects the skin.

It is therefore important not to alter this acidity by using products with a pH that is too acidic or too basic. I advise you to only use products with neutral pH , i.e. level 7.

Soap vs. shower gel: what to choose?

Thanks to marketing prowess, the consumption of shower gel has now become colossal in most homes. Without playing Che Guevara , several options are then available to you:

• soap: economical and often natural, soap such as Aleppo soap is less corrosive to the skin and will escape more easily when rinsed. It also has soothing and nourishing properties that a shower gel will not necessarily have. Be careful, however, of the numerous counterfeits or exaggerated uses of these names.

• shower gel: although some shower gels can be organic or made from natural products, most contain numerous chemical agents that can be aggressive to the skin. Its daily use will not save you money, the packaging being designed for mass consumption. However, certain organic products (from brands such as Douce Nature or Natessance ) can be good alternatives to natural soap.

There is therefore no miracle solution when it comes to choosing your daily cleansing product. It's up to you to decide according to your preferences.

For the most curious, here is nevertheless the list of agents to avoid as far as possible...

Contrary to what your grandmother might have advised you when you were younger , avoid using washcloths or any other such accessories. In addition to being rough and often very aggressive for the skin, they are real nests for microbes and bacteria, which easily develop between two washes when they are damp.

Did you think you were done? Only a few lines left before the torture session ends, hold on!

Exfoliation for clear skin

Like the skin of the face, that of the body will not balk at a good scrub from time to time. Without putting too much strain on your skin, I recommend a weekly exfoliation.

The product selection

Exfoliating body soap from the Kielh's brand

Moroccan rose body scrub with cane sugar from the Ren brand

Almond body scrub by Payot

What about the “no soap” trend?

Still very taboo in an ultra-marketed society, the concept of "no soap" is simple: no longer use soap for the daily maintenance of our body.

A booming “trend” – although marginal – it attracts more and more fans, the web teeming with testimonials extolling its merits. I was interested in this phenomenon in order to provide you with a summary of the opinions expressed, both by the “no soap” pros and the antis.

How it works ?

As explained previously, the many showers that you are probably used to taking are not all necessary. Some dermatologists even say that, for a sedentary, low-mess lifestyle, three showers a week would be sufficient.

At the level of the epidermis and its hydrolipidic film, the body naturally produces a balanced ecosystem, trapping bacteria and partly eliminating them. Too frequent use of soap alters this balance.

No longer using cleansing products would then allow "nature" to take back its rights, letting the body regulate itself - water being, moreover, sufficient to eliminate excess bacteria as well as bad odors.

What do fans say?

• After an adaptation period (two to three weeks), the body gets used to it and self-regulates. The odors, perhaps a little stronger at first, disappear.

• The skin appears healthier, less dry and silkier.

• Any skin problems such as dryness, eczema and red patches tend to disappear.

Note: despite these convincing testimonies, many professionals refute this theory and condemn this practice. If excess is harmful, washing regularly with soap would deeply cleanse the epidermis to eliminate the worst germs which could, ultimately, be responsible for the appearance of serious skin problems.

A practice to be nuanced

Not having the necessary expertise to give a clear opinion, I could still, after cross-checking most of the testimonies, provide some nuances.

Although the idea of ​​"no soap" may seem attractive, certain additional practices should be considered to avoid any inconvenience and implement this hygienic routine more peacefully.

• Continue to wash the most delicate parts of the body with soap .

• Always use deodorant, again natural, or equivalent solutions .

• Consider regular body scrubs using natural products.

• Adopt a balanced diet. Indeed, the bad odors that our body gives off come, in part, from what we consume.

• Continue to wash your hands with soap to prevent contagious diseases.

The final word...

Bad habits die hard and it's up to us to get rid of them.

It is common to think that a healthy mind can only flourish in a healthy body. Far from being time-consuming, a little more attention paid to your physique will only be beneficial for your daily well-being.

And just as changing your clothing style can only increase your self-confidence, so can improving your “beauty” habits.

PS: If I haven't covered the maintenance of your manes here, it's because a dedicated article will be coming out soon. So be patient!