A Man's Personal Care Guide

“Men are more aware of what they put in and on their bodies, of the specific benefits that natural personal care products can provide, and that these products contribute to overall health, wellness, and youth,” says Angella Green of Jason Natural Products.

“Men today are getting more sophisticated with their product requests and choices, realizing that natural really is better,” she adds.

“Natural ingredients benefit the overall condition of the skin,” says Karen Ress of Aubrey Organics. “Skin recognizes ingredients like plant oils and can absorb and utilize them to improve skin tone and texture. This is in contrast to synthetic ingredients that skin may not recognize or be able to utilize effectively.”

Men’s Specific Needs

“A man’s skin is quite different from a woman’s, and it should be treated accordingly,” she notes. “Men have higher levels of testosterone, which makes their skin more oily and acne prone. Most men also shave regularly, and this can be irritating. Men’s skin care products are designed specifically to address these concerns, and when men use products designed for their skin, they will notice a difference.”

Men have a high concentration of collagen and elastin fibers in their skin, making it firmer and more flexible than women’s. But this also means that wrinkling tends to be more pronounced.

“Whether you’re looking for shaving creams, cleansers, moisturizers, or aftershaves, it’s wise to choose products formulated to support the specific needs of a man’s skin,” Ress adds. To help prevent irritation from shaving, creams and aftershaves with healing oat protein and aloe help prevent bumps and soothe skin. Aftershaves are important because they help prevent dryness that can occur with shaving, and ingredients like witch hazel and extracts of horsetail and coneflower (echinacea) also help diminish the size of pores.

Although men’s skin tends to be oilier than women’s, it may still need hydration. Using lightweight moisturizers and cleansers with ingredients like jojoba, aloe, and vegetable glycerin can help keep skin moist without clogging pores.

“Flaxseed oil is rich in essential fatty acids, natural oils that our bodies do not produce but that are necessary for the health of the cellular structure of the skin. Flax is also beneficial because it helps balance oil production in the skin and can help moisturize skin without making it too oily,” Ress explains.

Flaxseed oil, liposomes, and oat proteins are just the beginning of what lies in store for masculine personal care. “As the popularity of men’s products grows, the number of categories and products will also grow,” explains Green. “Men not only want shaving aids, they also want products that moisturize, prevent wrinkles, and protect from the sun.”

As a Special Treat

Indulge your guy with a hair and scalp massage. Massaging hair follicles promotes healthy hair by increasing circulation and bringing nutrients to the roots of the hair. It also helps distribute natural oils, making hair soft and shiny.

“Massaging the scalp regularly with certain oils is a time-proven method to combat hair loss,” adds Dakshina Vanzetti, president of Auromere Ayurvedic Imports. “It stimulates the capillary vessels in the hair papillae and helps activate the cells responsible for new hair growth. It also helps strengthen the root, so that hair is less prone to breakage.”

For best results follow a few easy steps when giving a scalp massage:

• Use your thumbs and fingers to massage the entire scalp in a circular motion.
   
• Squeeze the temples with the palms of your hands, making large circular movements.
   
• Gently grasp the hair at the roots and pull carefully upward.
   
• Squeeze up and down the back of the neck, as well as the shoulder muscles from the base of the neck outward. 

To get the most from a massage, use vegetable-based massage oils like almond, jojoba, or sesame that can nourish the scalp. Herbs and essential oils (sandalwood, rosemary, and henna that promote thick, healthy hair) are also beneficial.

For a hot oil treatment, simply place the bottle of oil in a bowl of hot water for several minutes. Avoid the temptation to use the microwave, as this could cause the bottle to explode.