Youthful Men Products Brick NJ

Just for Men

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by karen macklin

Eye cream with that aftershave? What men need to know about proper skin care; brush your way to healthy hair.

Men, it’s time to drop the macho pose and admit to what the sales figures already reveal: You’re more interested than ever in improving your personal appearance and in keeping that youthful look. The reasons vary. You may want to retain an edge in the workplace against the more energetic but less-experienced young lions eyeing your job. Or perhaps you’re in the dating scene and want to give yourself every possible advantage.

Whatever it is, stop the denial: Your vanity index is rising. But in the pursuit of youthful skin, don’t forget the importance of choosing natural products that lack the potentially dangerous stabilizers, coloring agents, fragrance maskers, and preservatives often added to conventional products. Luckily, manufacturers have responded to the rising interest in natural men’s products. Companies such as Jason’s and Zia Natural Skincare, Tom’s of Maine, Burt’s Bees, MyChelle Dermaceuticals, and AnneMarie Borlind offer natural shaving and skin-care products—even an under-eye cream to combat wrinkles—all just for men.

In fact, antiaging products have seen the largest growth in the personal-care sector. It’s unclear what has spiked male interest in personal-care products—whether it’s shows like Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and the “metrosexual” trend or simply a growing desire to remain healthy and youthful for the long haul. Whatever the reason, the traditional mindset that sees beauty regimens as solely a woman’s domain definitely has shifted.

“I’ve never heard anybody say, ‘Under-eye cream for guys? That’s really sissy,’” says Mike Rapport, whole body coordinator for Whole Foods Market, based in Austin, Texas. “Three or four years ago, you would have heard that.”

Skin care fundamentals
So what sort of beauty regimen should men follow? To begin with, the most important step in skin protection doesn’t take place in front of a bathroom mirror but outdoors, under the sun. “Excessive sun exposure clearly correlates with skin cancer as well as rapid aging of the skin,” says Valori Treloar, MD, owner of Integrative Dermatology in Newton, Massachusetts. “Tanning booths are not a safe alternative either because you still get UV damage.” For sun protection, Treloar recommends always wearing a hat outside, as well as a sunblock that contains titanium dioxide or zinc oxide to protect against both UVA and UVB rays. So if you still think the bronzed-Adonis look is in, think again: Forego the tan, and keep your youthful skin for years to come.

Treloar’s second tip for skin care: Wash your face gently. “Don’t over-wash or harshly scrub the skin or overexpose it to irritating chemicals,” she says. “I encourage people, especially if they have irritable skin, to look for products with smaller lists of ingredients, no fragrances, and fewer preservatives, though you have to have one or two [to keep the product...

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