Best Skin Care Regimens For Men

Ladies, move over and make some room as today’s post is all about the species we love to hate; that’s right, it’s all about the MEN today! Why must everrrrythinnngggg be about us greedy and spoiled gals, when our men deserve a little attention too! That doesn't mean that you ladies shouldn't read this as you should..just pass the info along to that man in your life...With that said, I’ll jump right into it. Guys, now I’m not going to bore you with some fluffy skin care tips and tricks but what I will do is give it to you straight! Here’s the thing, we all know that you men love to spoil, splurge and take care of yourselves as much as we do but for some reason, you all seem to neglect or forget a very important element in your “looking good to impress chicks” mission; your sexy masculine faces! Yes I said it! Though a healthy, strong and manly physique is important in attracting gorgeous women by your side, nothing screams “I am man hear me roar” more than an acne free, clean shaven, no razor burn, soft face.


Now I get that men as a whole spend less time in front of the mirror and more time outdoors either at work, the gym, or engaging in some grueling sport/ activity, but it is a must that you take care of your skin. A simple daily skin care regimen that consists of 3 items is it all it takes to keep your skin looking healthy. These 3 items are a cleanser, exfoliater and a moisturizer. Men please do not opt for a regular bar of soap when washing your face. Cleansing your skin and removing dirt and oil found in your pores is super important as men generally have larger pores than women do. Opt for a mild gel cleanser, lather for 3 minutes, and rinse with cool water and your all set. When you feel a breakout forming, simply exfoliate your skin to remove dead cells caused by sweat and everyday activities. Lastly always remember to moisturize! You want to keep your skin hydrated and soft to the touch.

As a man, shaving is a must. I’m pretty sure you all know how to shave so I won’t get into that. What I will tell you is that using a decent shaving crème that is not of foam consistency will make a huge difference if you’re the guy with sensitive skin that suffers from razor bumps. Instead of opting for the cheap drug store foam shaving crème, have your girlfriend pick you up some of that expensive stuff they sell at Sephora next time she makes a trip for herself. And if you’re single, you know you can always count on mom! Go for shaving crème’s with healing properties in them that will soothe the skin while shaving as each time you pass that razor across your face, the blades remove the top layer of your skin along with your facial hairs. If you use an electric razor, apply a pre-shave lotion to moisten your whiskers and help the shaver glide across your skin. Lastly always remember to rinse with COLD water as it helps to tighten the skin and close the pores. Rinsing with warm water will create ingrown hairs and make your razor bumps appear more visible. Lastly, if you don’t mind smelling like peanuts for a few days, peanut butter is an excellent opt to shaving crème as all its natural elements make it perfect for smooth shave.




Now before I end this off, I figured I would recommend some products to you in order to help make this skin care regimen project a bit easier. I know from experience, that you men work better when research is done for you where you are simply told what to purchase, so here it is…If you suffer from acne; mild or severe “Murad skin care system” is definitely the way to go. I would recommend Pro-activ but I find that once you stop using the product, breakouts reappear and are fairly worse. For a great after shave lotion, my boyfriend loves and lives by “Chanel Bleu” as it smells amazing, leaves the skin soft and seems to prevent razor burn since he never has any! If you’re looking for an everyday men’s skin care line “Khiel’s for men” is the way to go. And lastly, if you want a nice shave crème/ kit try “The Art of Shaving.” All of the above items can be found at Macy’s, Sephora, or Bloomingdales and are priced lower than your next pair of nikes! How’s that for taking care of our men ladies!


(Please note that photos are not my own and are courtesy of Spehora.com, Bloomingdales.com and NYTimes.com)

Kim Kardashian Cheek Bones

"A little shimmer, a little there and lots and lots of SPARKLE!"

    Ooooo La La, our favorite season is just around the corner. Though it may be playing peek a boo making its presence known and than dashing away in a glimpse, Summer is well on its way darlings. Short skirts, tanned legs, wavy hair and bronzey cheek bones! We all know that "bronzer" is a must in order to achieve and maintain that sexy beach look, so why not try this great tip that'll even make Kim K. jealous!!

   
   For that chiseled cheek bone look, you'll need 2 products; a highlighter and bronzer. I prefer to use both in a pressed powder form as it makes the application process much easier. Opt for a "multi color" plaette for each as combining different shades will even out skin tone and create a perfect bronze hue. Make a fish face and apply the bronzer in the hollows of your cheeks (this is the area right below your cheek bone). Now smile and brush the highlighter from the apples of cheeks to your temples bam there you have it! The contrasting tones will even replace the need of blush and help to define and shape your cheekbones.


Love the face your in and shine those looks your way with gorgeous bronzey cheeks!
Product ranges about $38 to $40 in price.






(Please note that photo is not my own and is from qvc.com)

Truth Behind Brazilian Keratin Hair Treatments

“The Future of Keratin”


I’m pretty sure that we’ve all heard of the hype behind the Keratin Hair Treatment procedures that promise smooth, silky, straight and soft hair for an extended period of time. We have seen its results and needless to say they are good based upon appearance alone. On the other hand, we have also read the articles or heard from friends of the benefits and not so beneficial factors of having a procedure like this done. It can get pretty confusing trying to understand such a complex and debate-able subject when you have so many brands and products out there that almost guarantee amazing results. Then there is also the FDA and horrific stories we hear about on the news that place the topic into a totally different ball game. In an attempt to fully understand the pros and cons of a Keratin Procedure, I did some thorough research, spoke to a few stylist and clients who have had the procedure performed and came up with a conclusion…When thinking about getting a treatment like this done, please think again!!

Let’s start from the beginning with a brief understanding of what exactly Keratin is. To put it simply, Keratin is a protein that is naturally found in your hair. It is an active ingredient that is supposed to fill in gaps within the hair’s cuticle that are cracked, dry or damaged. Think of Keratin like food for your hair. Now you may be thinking, “Wow that’s great!”, which in fact it is; when used alone and on its own. On the other hand, Keratin becomes a hazardous ingredient when mixed with Formaldehyde (a carcinogen) and other chemicals just for the sake of straightening the hair. Formaldehyde holds the keratin molecules together which basically relax the hair and keep it that way breaking down the hairs elasticity. It’s at this point that Keratin goes from a healthy food product for your hair to a damaging element that is not only bad for your hair but your health altogether causing headaches, body aches, breathing problems and cancer.

OK, so now we’re talking about risking our health just to have some straight and shiny hair. Believe it or not, even after being informed of the dangers, many women still use and live by Keratin procedures.  Brand or names do not matter as these vary from Brazilian Blow out to Coppola to Keratin Plus, etc etc. At the end of the day all of these products are the same as they all have exceedingly high volumes of Formaldehyde making them beyond toxic.

Are there any alternatives to Keratin Treatments? Can Formaldehyde free ones be found? Absolutely but it’s going to take some searching and “acceptance” of some sort. Here’s the thing, the reason that Keratin treatments have been successful in smoothing out curls and frizz is because of the high levels of Formaldehyde; the higher the consistency, the smoother and straighter the hair will be. Formaldehyde free Keratin treatments will still condition and treat the hair but not with such a strong finish. It will have a milder affect on your locks keeping the elasticity of your hair in its truer form thus helping you reap the benefits of Keratin as a whole later on.

So what are the alternative options you may ask? One that seems to be a hit and fairly new straight from Brazil hitting the states mid last year is the “Cysteine Hair Treatment.”

Cysteine is an Amino Acid found within our hair bonds. It is the element that makes and defines the elasticity of our hair. In addition, it is also the same element that is found in virgin hair that is lost after a chemical service or color process. It is stated that by infusing your hair with this natural amino acid, you are simply strengthening the bonds your hair already has by filling in the missing gaps that lack such an element. It’s those missing gaps that cause frizzi-ness, static and unmanageable hair. When you fill in the gaps and rehydrate your hair with Cysteine, you are basically bringing it back to the basics. The way the actual product works is by counter acting the element of Cysteine. Being that your hair already produces and has this amino acid, once you fill your hair with it again, you are counter acting the elasticity makeup of the hair strand, thus resulting  in a sleeker straighter hair texture appearance and feel. Overall Cysteine Brazilian Hair Treatment is more of a deep intensive conditioning treatment as opposed to a hair straightening system. However, the results from a Cysteine Hair Treatment are similar to that of a Keratin procedure just in a milder form with no hazardous chemicals that will compromise your health. So there you have it. If you’re considering a Keratin Treatment, please do your research and make sure that you willing to chance the risks for some straight hair. If you ask me, I think natural is the best way to go, but HEALTHY definitely takes the cake in my book...

(Please note that photos are not my own are courtesy of brazilianterapy.com & nytimes.com)