Here are my steps (including order of use for product):

1. Morning-Daily: Face Wash and Daily Moisturizer

2. Shaving Days: *Mild exfoliant, Face Wash, Shave Oil + Shave Cream, After Shave Balm (on shaved area), Daily Moisturizer

*On my shaving days, (every 2 days) I use a mild exfoliant before the shave. However, if you are a daily shaver, stick with exfoliating on the days you are not shaving (i.e. weekends) to prevent irritation.

3. Evening: Face Wash and *Evening face cream

*Since getting enough sleep helps your skin to repair itself, I follow my daily face wash with a face moisturizer that aids the skins healing process!

**Also, the evening is the best time to fight skin irritation from shaving, so from time to time I will use a product designed just for that like:  3-in-1 Post Shave by Lab Series or The Cool Fix by Shaveworks. Applying either of these on the “problem areas” does the trick!

• Shea Butter – rich in fatty acids and vitamins like A, E and F; but, because it’s very thick, it’s better to use on the body and NOT the face.
• Lanolin Oil – prone to aggravating acne.
• Mineral Oil – creates a film on the skin which can trick your skin into thinking it’s actually hydrated. It’s also thick and clogs pores which may lead to breakouts.

Here are a few brands without these ingredients!

• Kiehl’s - Ultra Facial Moisturizer Moisturizer SPF 15
• Anthony Logistics – Oil Free Facial Lotion & w/SPF 15
• Lab Series – Instant Moisture Gel
• Jack Black – Double Duty Face moisturizer SPF 20
• Molton Brown – Ultra light Bai Ji Hydrator
• Dermalogica - Active Moist

*Source: New Beauty Magazine

Not only are “your eyes the window to your soul”, they can also be a sound indication as to how much sleep you’ve had and even reveal your age!  Now, we don’t want any of that information getting out do we?  Of course not!

Ok, so, a great way to help slow down the aging process around your eyes is to use an eye cream.  Yes, I know your first question… “aren’t eye creams for women?” My answer, not anymore! If you’ve ever struggled with trying to figure out a woman’s age, then this item may have been the reason why.

Hey, I am not trying to overwhelm your bathroom counter space with recommended products, but, if you have some concern related to premature wrinkles around the eyes, then an anti-aging eye cream should be in your future!

*Ingredients to look for in an eye cream: Caffeine, Vitamin C, Cynergy TK, Vitamin K

Has anyone ever told you…o

If your answer to that question is yes… Stop!

The practice of shaving an area, any area, in hopes of speeding up the hair growth process is purely a myth. You see, genetics plays a major part in determining if you will “finally” be able to sport a full goatee, and even that can take several years to reveal itself.

Many physically mature guys don’t finish developing a full adult beard until their early 20′s or even later. If you’re still young, find comfort in knowing that your beard may continue to get thicker as you get older. Many guys notice their beards growing thicker, denser and faster when they enter their 30′s and 40′s. So, give it time!

*Got help from: The beard community

I stumbled upon this article

Have a read!

Not knowing when to reapply sunblock is one of the main reasons so many of us are at risk of getting skin cancer. To help you remember, UVSunSense has developed a wristband to which you apply lotion at the same time as you slather it on yourself.  When the band fades from bright purple to lavender, it’s time to reapply. You’ll know you’ve had enough sun for the day when the band turns pale yellow.

For only $7, find it here!

*Article taken from Men’s Journal Magazine – August 2010.

One of the ways that I go about testing products, is by selecting a few that I like, and then sampling them on my clients during their services. It’s essentially a win-win for me, because their feedback allows me to decide on my next P.O.T.M. (Product of the Month), and it also gives me an opportunity to introduce a new product!

Last month, I sampled Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Energizing Scrub in my signature 7-towel shave.  It impressed my clients, as well as myself!

Here’s the skinny…

Two active ingredients:

• Apricot Kernel Oil – extracted from apricot kernels, delivering a higher level of  Vitamin E to the skin. Increasing the moisturizing and softening effect on the skin while also helping to retain the skins clarity and suppleness.
• Caffeine – helps to reduce the appearance of puffiness. (See post: Who said caffeine isn’t good for you?)

To finish off this well balanced scrub, Kiehl’s also added menthol and extracts derived from Lemon and Orange Peels. The complete mixture lives up to its name, by delivering a cool that “wakes up you up”, and your skin! As I’ve mentioned before, a mild exfoliant is perfect for preparing the skin for a shave… and my friend, this is one fits the bill!

Moderately priced @ less than $20, makes this scrub a win-win for you as well!

Today is the day.

So what are you going to do? Planning on hanging out more? Well, if you are, here are a few steps on how to determine the best SPF for you!

3 Simple Steps…

1. Determine how many minutes your bare skin can be exposed to the sun before it burns.
2. Divide that number of minutes into the total number of minutes you want to remain in the sun.
3. The result is the SPF you should look for in a sun block.

Example. 15 minutes x SPF 20 = 300 minutes (5 hours) of sun protection

Good Luck!

Of course you know how to open your pores, right? Warm water… Steam…? The purpose is to soften beard hair, allow easier skin manipulation while shaving, and it also makes cleansing the skin’s surface more effective!

So what’s the big deal with closing your pores?

Well closing, or the tightening of the skin’s pores, reduces the chances of them getting clogged with dirt or debris.  The most common condition produced by clogged pores is acne.

So after you’ve finished shaving or taking a shower, and before you apply an aftershave or body moisturizer, try a cold splash of water (See Post: Cold Water), a skin toner, or even witch hazel to tighten the pores. If you do these things out of that order, not only could these items possibly clog your skin’s pores, but they also have the ability to irritate the skin if they penetrate the skin too deeply.

One other benefit of tighter pores… a more even skin tone that brightens your overall appearance!

In this rapidly growing men’s grooming industry, it can get very overwhelming with the number of products that are on the market.  So here is a product that I found to stand out among many others in the After Shave category.

After Shave Balm by Baxter of California

I’m impressed! It has a very subtle fragrance that will never overpower your cologne; a light consistency, so it spreads easily without using too much; and, most importantly, as it heals, and hydrates the skin, it delivers an amazing cool that will instantly calm your skin.

Priced @ $15 for 4oz., Baxter of California has positioned a great product at a very affordable price.

Give it a try and tell me what you think!

*Baxter Finley Barber & Shop pics and Article… Click Here!

Hey we’ve all had the sniffles

Why? Because it works!

So since Vitamin C  fights the common cold so well, imagine my surprise when I found out it also fights the appearance of aging?!?

Vitamin C is a critical component for the production of collagen, an essential skin protein. If collagen is not produced, your skin will sag and appear dull. By increasing the production of collagen, vitamin C strengthens the structural support and resiliency of your skin.

So, in addition to a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables, a regimen of lotions and other products that contain vitamin C will enhance your skin’s health and appearance.

Here are a few:

• Vitamin C Serum by Mario Badescu
• Night Recovery Lotion by Lab Series
• Vitamin C Serum by Anthony Logistics
• Hydra Pure Vitamin C Brightening Serum by MD Skincare

Source: Skin Authority