1.      How is a man’s skin different from a woman’s? Men typically have thicker and oilier skin than women.  This combined with thicker facial hair facilitates beard growth.  In producing more sebum (oil), men are less prone to wrinkles and fine lines.  The down side however is that this excess oil can easily clog the pores and lead to blackheads, spots and blemishes.  Daily cleansing is important to remove excess oil, dirt and grime to keep the skin clean and healthy.

2.      What are the basic steps in looking after my skin? Making sure that your skin stays clean and healthy only requires a few simple steps: ·         Clean your face twice daily to remove dirt and excess oils that can clog up pores.  Use a facial cleanser and not a regular soap. ·         Tone the skin using a facial toner to close the pores and wipe off any leftover residue.  Highly recommended if you have oily or combination skin but optional for normal, dry or sensitive skin. ·         Moisturise twice daily to condition and hydrate the skin.  There are different moisturisers to suit different skin types. ·         Exfoliate the skin by using a facial scrub in place of your facial cleanser once or twice a week.  It helps to draw out impurities and dead skin cells.  Apply a facial mask at least once a week to further unclog pores and smooth the skins surface. ·         Protect the skin daily by applying an SPF sunscreen and ward off fine lines and wrinkles. ·         Treat specific skincare problems such as spots and blemishes or eye bags and dark circles. For an in-depth discussion, read our Skin Care Guide.

3.      How should l clean my face?  Should l use soap? Never use a regular soap to clean your face as they tend to dry out the skin and leave your face feeling tight and uncomfortable.  It strips away the skins natural moisture level and can promote premature ageing.  Regular soap can disturb the pH balance of the skin and usually contain fragrances that may cause irritation. Choose a facial cleansing bar instead to clean the face.  They tend to be pH neutral and wash away dead skin cells and debris while protecting from dryness.  Try Baxter Vitamin E-D-A Cleansing Bar.  Alternatively, you can use a facial cleansing lotion to buff away impurities by dissolving dirt and excess oils.  Wet your face with warm water and massage in the cleanser, particularly into oily areas like the forehead, nose and chin.  Rinse if off with warm water and pat your face dry with a clean towel. Clean your face twice a day to prevent build up of daily dirt and grime.  Once in the morning before shaving and then at night before bed.  Follow through with a facial moisturiser. Click here to view our Facial Cleanser products.

4.      How do l determine which skin type l have?  Why is it useful to know this? There are typically 5 categories of skin types: dry, oily, normal, combination and sensitive.  You determine your skin type by examining your face, the size of the pores and the oiliness of the skin.  Refer to our guide on Know Your Skin Type to work out which category you fall within. It is important to know which skin type you have as it will help determine the best skin care routine to follow.  It also guides you in selecting products that are best suited to your skin type.  Dry skin types require products that provide extra moisture and nourishment whilst oily skin types should choose non-greasy, oil-free products.

5.      I’m not sure about this grooming thing.  I’ve been doing without it and my skin appears fine.  Why bother? Maybe you’ve been blessed with perfect skin so far or maybe you don’t realise what you’re missing out on.  And consider the following: ·         Our skin changes as we age.  In our younger years, the hormones are in full swing and oil production is at its peak.  As we get older, the skin produces less oil and becomes drier.  Skin gradually loses its elasticity and wrinkles start appearing.  There is nothing to avoid this but you can certainly minimise and slow down this ageing process. ·         Exposure to the sun and other environmental factors can do damage to unprotected skin.  In fact, it accounts for over 90% of premature ageing not to mention the risk of skin cancer.  Act now to avert problems that can occur later down the track. Above all, remember that prevention is better than cure.  You don’t want to have to suffer the irritation and inflammation of razor bumps, blackheads or blemishes.  Seek to avoid them altogether by maintaining a regular skin care routine.

6.      What does exfoliate mean and why is it important? Exfoliating the skin refers to the deep down cleansing of the face to remove the build up of dead skin cells, dirt, grime and excess oils.  This is done using a scrub or a mask.  A facial cleanser is gentle and mild enough for daily cleaning whilst a scrub or mask is more intensive and should only be used once or twice a week.  Exfoliating is important to get rid of any impurities that your cleanser failed to remove and to help release any ingrown hairs. A scrub is similar to a facial cleanser except that it contains small particles such as crushed nut or beads to exfoliate the skin.  Gently massage it onto a wet face and rinse off with warm water.  Don’t rub too hard as you can aggravate the skin and cause it to produce more oils.  Use once or twice a week in replacement of your facial cleanser. An exfoliating mask contains natural clays that dry hard on your face to absorb dirt and excess oils from the pores.  Ideal for oily skin types and use at least once a week.  Apply a thin layer onto the face, avoiding the eye and lip area.  Allow it to dry for 10-15 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. Your skin will look and feel noticeably smoother and brighter after exfoliating.  Click to view our Facial Scrubs and Masks.

7.      My skin feels dry and flaky.  What can l do about it? After washing your face with a gentle cleanser, always apply a moisturiser to rehydrate the skin.  Use a rich moisturising cream such as WU Ginseng, Royal Jelly & Pearl Moisturiser.  Once a week, use a facial scrub to remove dead and flaky skin.  Also apply a hydrating mask weekly to provide extra nourishment to dry skin.  We recommend WU Rehydrating Mask.  Protect your skin daily from the damaging effects of the sun with a minimum SPF 15 sunscreen.  Following such a routine will help restore the skins moisture level and avoid that tight and taut feeling.

8.      What is the best way to look after oily skin? Oily skin requires consistent maintenance to prevent excess oil combined with dirt and debris from clogging the pores and resulting in blackheads and blemishes.  Clean your skin with a gentle non-abrasive facial cleanser that won’t over dry the skin.  Steer clear of regular soap as it contains harsh ingredients that strip away natural oils.  Your skin will compensate for this by producing even more oil.  After cleansing, use a toner to remove leftover sebum (oil) and tighten the pores.  Apply an oil-free moisturiser such as Phytomer Nutri-T Anti-Shine Moisturizing Fluid.  Use a facial scrub twice a week and an exfoliating mask at least once a week to absorb excess oils and unclog pores.

9.      What are blackheads and how do l prevent and treat them? Blackheads are plugs of hardened sebum (oil) that get trapped in the pores and turn black.  They tend to affect those with oilier skin and larger pores, appearing mainly on the forehead, nose and chin.  Preventing blackheads involves cleansing the skin twice a day to remove dirt and excess oil from the pores.  Using a facial scrub and mask twice a week will further help to remove build up of dead skin cells that can block the pores.  To treat blackheads, you can try removing them yourself but you need to be gentle to avoid scarring.  Open up the pores first by having a warm shower or steaming your face over a bowl of hot water.  Wrap some tissue around the index fingers and gently apply pressure on either side of the blackhead until the trapped oil pops out.  Leave nasty blackheads alone as squeezing too hard can easily damage the skin and run the risk of a scar.   Apply an antiseptic cream afterwards to avoid infection and heal the area.  Alternatively you can visit a professional grooming salon to perform an extraction.

10.   Help l’ve got acne. What should l do? Severe forms of acne characterised by sore lumps, inflammation and infection should always be referred to a doctor or dermatologist.  They may prescribe you with antibiotics or hormone treatments to relieve the problem.  For mild cases of acne, ensure the problem is not aggravated further by cleansing your face twice daily with a gentle facial wash.  Exfoliate using a facial scrub twice a week and an exfoliating mask once a week.  This will help to control excess oil from building up and blocking the pores.  Apply an oil-free moisturiser and treat the area with a topical treatment such as Zirh Fix.  Avoid rubbing or touching the area too often and drink plenty of water.

11. How do l decide which product or brand to choose? Rest assured that all our featured brands are of high quality and formulated specifically for men.  It is therefore a matter of personal preference.  However, your skin type may guide you in selecting the most appropriate product as some are more suited to a particular skin type.    Look at the product reviews added by our customers to assist you or get a hold of our free sample pack.  Sometimes the best way is simply to try it out yourself.  Changing the brand you use every once in a while is also beneficial.  You may find that your skin will adjust to continual use of a brand and become less effective.