In The Zone

This week's In the Zone will focus on grooming, a very important part of our day-to-day lives.

FACEWASH

Every man needs to start his day by cleansing his face. Cleansers are designed to rid the skin of dirt, grime and pollutants. Men who clean their skin regularly can expect less outbreaks and a generally fresher appearance. Make sure you don't exceed washing for more than twice a day.

My suggestion is L’Oreal Men’s Expert Power Clean Anti-Dullness Face Wash (wow, that's a mouthful). This product revitalizes, soothes, and invigorates your skin. It's a foaming gel that deeply cleans and prepares the skin for an excellent shave. Use it in the morning or at night, and you will have smoother skin and less irritation from shaving.

TONING

Toners are important because they clean and tighten your pores, making it harder for irritants, dirt and stress to take a toll on your complexion. These products act like a seal for your pores after cleansing and lessen the chances of blackheads and breakouts. Toners leave your skin looking brighter and feeling fresher. If you have dry skin, use a toner designed specifically for your skin type. Some toners contain alcohol and are better for men with oily skin. I suggest the L'Oreal Expert Comfort Max Anti-Irritation After Shave. This will keep your skin toned all day.


MOISTURIZING

Moisturizers are very important in maintaining smooth, youthful-looking skin. All skin types can benefit from moisturizers as regular use will lessen the chance of fine lines. If you have oily skin, go for a nongreasy formula. Even younger skin can benefit to avoid wrinkles. Make sure you apply your moisturizer after cleansing and toning. However, use them only in the morning. Try L’Oreal Men’s Expert Oil Controller Anti-Oiliness Moisturizer. This product is great for oily skin because it absorbs oil. However, it won’t dry out your skin, instead, it will hydrate your face.

EXFOLIATING

Exfoliating products clean the face either with a gentle chemical peel or with scrubbing "beads" to cleanse the skin of loose, tired cells and dirt. The peel type of exfoliator works on the topmost layer of your skin, removing old cells. Most exfoliators are used two to three times a week so as not to overwork the skin and irritate it. If you find your skin is too sensitive, use it less often. These products will leave you with glowing skin. Try L’Oreal Men’s Expert Power Buff Anti-Roughness Exfoliator for best results.

BODY HAIR

Body hair tends to be a pretty big issue with some guys. Some opt for shaving it all off, others prefer to just trim it to lessen the appearance. Grooming unsightly hair is part of being a well-kempt man. However I am not talking about going bald here (unless you absolutely want to). Some women tend not to like a man with less hair and smoother skin than them. I am merely suggesting that you groom any grizzly-like hair that’s unnecessarily poking and prodding in unusual areas.

The chest is a common area most people shave or trim. Some like to go for the smooth look to show off their build. Other just trim to control the unwieldly growth. If you’re getting rid of it all, try waxing or using the Philips Norelco Bodygroom. Shaving is a quick and convenient option for removing your chest hair. If you’re solely interested in cleaning up your natural look, you can (carefully) use a pair of small scissors. Or if you’re natural look is a little shaggier than most men, use a pair of clippers or, the Bodygroom trim function.

A hairy back is never okay (luckily, I avoided this problem). This is one place that should be bald always. It’s a non-negotiable grooming tip. T his rule also extends to the shoulder area. Unless you have someone to shave your back every few days, you’re going to have to turn to waxing for this problem. If you have the cash to invest in eliminating your back hair forever, electrolysis is the ultimate choice.

What to do with hair in the groin region is a personal call. While there’s no set rule on how you should be maintaining the hair here, I advised that you keep it nice and neat, if you want to keep it at all. However, I strongly suggest you at just trim and maintain it, the bald look does not look good. Trust me, your significant other will notice and appreciate the effort you’ve put into grooming yourself. In order to get rid of it, shave it. You could also use a groomer like the Bodygroom that gives you the option of going hairless or just giving the area a little clean-up. This is an area you’re going to have to maintain on a regular basis since the hair will grow back almost immediately.

Grooming armpits will improve personal hygiene as bushy underarms can generate extra heat and will most often result in heavier perspiration. Many athletes remove underarm hair completely, something else I don't suggest. However with a little trimming, your armpits will breathe easier and less anti-perspirant or deodorant is required. A simple way to rid of excess hair is to use scissors or clippers and cut the length as well as the density of underarm hair. It takes approximately 5 minutes. It also emits a very fresh and maintained image.