SKINCARE FOR MEN IS ESSENTIAL

Nourish magazine organised a progressive dinner for the downtown Tauranga area, and it was so much fun! Looking around, it dawned on me how many men were there, and I wondered, were they there on their own initiative or were they brought along by their wives or partners?

Perhaps it’s the same for men’s skincare. Would your husband or partner think to take good care of their skin beyond the odd slather of sunscreen and a bit of ointment slapped on their grazes?

Younger men are more conscious of skincare, but a lot of the older generations have a ‘she’ll be right’ attitude and may need a bit of encouragement to care for themselves, don’t you think?

So do the men in your life have a skincare regime at all? As women we invest in taking care of ourselves and men shouldn’t be left out of this youthfulness equation. This advice is for them if you want to wave Nourish magazine under their noses to read on from here.

Now for the science bit for those who need convincing. The skin is the largest organ of the human body, so we need to take care of it. There are certain physiological differences between men and women, where men tend to have oiler, thicker skin that ages differently due to the male hormone testosterone. Men’s skin has more active sebaceous (oil) glands, so it tends to be greasier overall. As a result, men are more prone to acne, especially in the early years. On average men's skin is 20% thicker and (on a positive note) contains more collagen that creates a finer overall appearance. Lucky for them, visible signs of aging appear a little later because collagen depletes with age.

Guys, if you haven't had a skin health routine before now, it’s easy. Just keep it simple: tranquillobeauty.co.nz

Clean your face with a face cleaner both morning and evening to remove the day's residue of pollutants and dirt. No, this can't be with a bar of soap or shower gel because these damage your skin and we want to protect and rejuvenate it.

• Moisturise both morning and evening to keep the skin balanced for hydration and to help with fine lines. It does feel quite nice, we promise. There’s a reason why we women like it so much.

• Apply sunscreen every morning (even in winter and on cloudy days) and reapply if you are outdoors for prolonged periods to prevent further damage. The days of getting a couple of good sunburns to settle down into a great summer tan is over now, lads. Melanoma will kill you.

At Tranquillo we can help you evaluate and understand the type of skin type you have and recommend the corresponding products and treatments that will be perfect for your skin. You can even sneak in a quick massage while you are visiting to deal with those tight muscles and stiff shoulders. We won’t tell!

Although we’re focusing on men this month, this consultation and advice applies to everyone – keep the soap bars and shower gels away from your face. One size does not fit all in this case, so any cleansers in the shower or moisturisers in the vanity will not necessarily suit your type of skin. Be kind to yourself and your skin! Everyone feels better with a glowing face, even the most macho of men. Contact Tranquillo now for further details.

Sue from Tranquillo Beauty in Tauranga has great advice each season to keep your skin beautiful and healthy.