Let’s face it.  The average guy doesn’t pay much attention to his skin unless he’s got a glaring problem like ingrown hairs, excessive oiliness, or dry, sensitive skin.  The advent of skin care and bath/body products for men is a relatively new phenomenon, and most men aren't equipped to decipher the array of product choices and uses to understand how they can actually benefit from a regular skin care routine.  To complicate matters, many of the commercial products for men are made with ingredients that can aggravate their skin issues and even make them worse!

     Men’s skin is actually 20%-30% thicker than women’s due to excess collagen and elastin, and their facial hair glands produce more oil, so a lot of men suffer from oily skin.  The key difference is that a man’s skincare needs revolve around a daily shaving routine which poses its own set of unique requirements.  The act of shaving alone can be abrasive to the skin because it removes the top layers of dead skin cells, leaving the skin very sensitive (razor burn).  Add to that oil-clogged pores and coarse hairs that create bumps when instead of growing straight out of the follicle they curl around and re-enter the skin, and you have a challenging situation that can only be prevented or effectively dealt with if you a good daily grooming regimen.

     Here are a few of my favorite plant and environmental online resources.  Many herbalists, aromatherapists, ethnobotanists, natural skin care crafters, and botanists/biologists are environmentalists who support the conservation of plants ☺

     The ANB (all natural beauty) websites have many articles on natural cosmetics, including information on ingredients, herbalism and aromatherapy, crafting and formulating, recipes, and links to natural vendors.  All of the articles are written by herbalists, aromatherapists, natural skin care vendors, crafters, and authors.

Link to ANB website: http://www.allnaturalbeauty.us/
Link to ANB portal: http://anbportal.com/
Link to ANB mall: http://www.allnaturalbeauty.com/

Aromaweb is one of my favorite online aromatherapy resources.  This site contains aromatherapy articles, basic essential oil profiles, carrier oil profiles, book reviews, links to vendors, and links to schools.

Link to aromaweb: http://www.aromaweb.com/

     I get a lot of questions from clients.  They range anywhere from “How to get shiny hair?” to “ So, you’re telling me that soda is BAD for my skin?  Even diet?”   One of the questions I am asked most frequently is how to treat oily skin.  My first response is always to ask “What are you washing with and how often?”   Clients always feel very confident in their answer that they are using a very strong cleanser and wash 3-4 times a day.   This is the first mistake.  First, a cleanser that is too harsh will strip the skin of its natural oils therefore causing your skin to product more oil.  Great, exactly what you DON’T want.  The same goes for cleansing.  Cleansing the skin too much also strips the skin of natural oil and increases oil production.   So, my first advice is to STOP!  Use a soap-free cleanser and cleanse only twice a day, once when you get up and once before you go to bed.  That’s it.  Put the sponge down and walk away slowly.

Herbs for Facial Steaming

     Herbal facial steaming loosens debris, softens skin and unclogs pores, releasing toxins and impurities.  Steaming hydrates by adding moisture, increases circulation and relieves tension.  Your skin will look more vibrant and alive, naturally.

     When I buy herbs, I always purchase Certified Organic, but I also use a lot of herbs from my garden that are grown without the use of chemicals, insecticides and pesticides.

     Following are suggestions for various blends, feel free to adjust, eliminate, or add your favorite herbs, the combinations are endless.   I don’t really measure, basically, I use a pinch of each herb, some more than others.  

Acne Blend

Dandelion Root, Comfrey Root, Licorice Root and White Willow Bark.

Astringent Blend

Comfrey Root, Sage Leaf, Stinging Nettle Leaf, Yarrow flower and Lemongrass. 

Dry Skin Blend 

Linden Leaf, Peppermint Leaf, Comfrey Root, Chamomile flower and Red Rose Petals & Buds. 

Eczema Blend 

Violet Leaf & Flowers, Comfrey Root, White Willow Bark and Lemongrass.

Oily Skin Blend

Yarrow flower, Peppermint Leaf, Lemongrass, Witch Hazel Leaf and Red Rose Petals & Buds.

Toning Blend

Thyme Leaf, Lavender Flower, Yarrow Flower, Peppermint Leaf, Chamomile flower.