Over and above the daily epidermal ordeal of shaving, male skin requires specialist care. Although men tend to have thicker, oilier skin than women, the impact of shaving means that guys must too pay particular attention to the condition of their facial skin. You should shave after cleansing, and before moisturising. If you’re a once-a-day blade man, you’ll need to cleanse and moisturise twice a day, once in the morning and again before going to bed.

Cleansing
No longer simply a soap and water affair, cleansing male skin is as dependant on skin type as its female counterpart. Discern your skin type by looking at your pores in a magnifying mirror. If they are large and ‘open’ and you find that your skin often feels greasy, then your skin type is oily. Use Zirh Clean Alpha Hydroxy Face Wash to control sebum production and leave skin feeling clean and fresh. If your pores are close to invisible and your skin feels tight after washing, then your skin type is dry. Use Zirh Wash Mild Face Cleanserwith its chamomile, lavender and sage extracts to restore comfort to parched skin.

Shaving
As the fundamental stage of a man’s grooming experience, the selection of effective shaving products is an important decision to get right. In order to maximise the performance of a wet shave, and minimise any skin damage, it is important to soften the hairs and lubricate the skin before shaving. Prepping the skin and hair for shaving is an important step, and Avene Men’s Dermo-K lotion will soften stubble and condition the skin.

To prevent razor burn and protect the delicate facial skin during a shave, Clarins Men Smooth Shave Foaming Gelwill ensure a smooth finish with optimum moisturisation. Shaving upwards can intensify any irritation, so you should move the razor down your face, taking extra care over awkward areas such as the chin, the bottom of the neck and around the mouth.

Moisturising
Your choice of moisturiser will depend on the effect shaving has on your skin. If you experience very few problems, or find that your skin is shiny and greasy rather than dry, you should invest in a light aftershave balm such as JPG Monsieur Energizing Face Balm, or a gel formulation like Clarins Men Shine Free Gel. You must not be fooled into thinking that your skin needs no help at all, because the effects of shaving, stress and the environment will accumulate, and you may develop skin problems in the future.

If you’re already suffering from dry skin, you may not know it. If you experience a tight, dry feeling after washing or shaving, or if your skin flakes from time to time, then you’ll benefit from a richer, creamier moisturiser such as Jack Black Line Smoother Face Moisturiser. Dab onto the face and massage in gently, smoothing right out to the hairline, jaw and neck.

Exfoliating
Just as you would exfoliate the dead skin cells from your body, using a high performance facial buffer such as Hugo Boss Skin Smoothing Face Scrub or Lab Series Skin Refinisher
will breathe new life into the look of your skin. After cleansing, dot the product onto the nose, cheeks and forehead and massage in gently, not forgetting the sides of the nose and the neck. Although the idea of using a facial scrub may sound superfluous to the uninitiated, using an abrasive product once a week will make the effectiveness of the other products you use increase exponentially!