 Image Source: Pexels As seasons change, our skin does too. So it’s important to use the right skincare products to suit the time of year. There are so many skincare brands for men on the market that cater for different skin types. In fact, picking out products can feel a bit daunting. Skincare specialist, Stephen Thomas gives his skincare tips on how men can take better care of their skin in the autumn and winter.
 We know that it’s important to wear a face mask at the moment as it helps to keep ourselves and others safe. I noticed after a few weeks of wearing my face mask that it was causing my skin to breakout. Regular face mask wearing and acne has become an annoyance for some people I’ve been talking to over the last few months. Someone even gave it a name, ‘maskne’. I’m aware it’s a minor issue as a result of the pandemic and I’m not undermining doctors and nurses who are doing a stellar job, while wearing full PPE. I’m curious to know how we can wear our face masks while keeping other people and our skin safe. “Choosing the correct fabric for your mask is important. You want to go for a breathable fabric like cotton,” says Stephen McEvoy, owner and sole therapist of Stephen Thomas Male Grooming and Skin Clinic. “Breakouts are happening to people with all skin types because the bacteria from our breath is landing on the mask and face. The bacteria makes its way into the pores where they multiply and can infect them. Polycotton, nylon and polyester face masks can cause the covered area to sweat, compounding the problem because synthetic materials are not breathable. Those with sensitive skin especially should opt for breathable fabrics as they’re more prone to breakouts.” McEvoy advises that a reusable mask should be washed daily and to dispose of a single-use mask after four hours of continuous use.
 jacson13 on Pixabay Not only can double-edged (DE) safety razor blades give you a great shave, but they can also save you money too and are more environmentally friendly than other shaving options. The fact you’re using just a single blade, means that it’s less harsh on your skin compared to disposable and electric razors with multiple blades. You’re less likely to get shaving bumps, irritation and in-growing hairs as a result of shaving with a single, DE blade. You can pick up a pack of Tesco 10 DE safety razor blades for around €2.85, which means one razor is around 29c and you get four to six shaves out of one DE blade. You get a nice, clean shave from these blades and I’d recommend them. I discovered that you can be paying up to €35 for an eight pack of cartridge blades in the same supermarket for an electric razor by a well-known shaving brand. That’s €4.38 per blade cartridges!  DE razor blade and a face cloth  Moisturiser is something you should be using all year round - whether you’re protecting your skin from the winter winds or the summer sun. Sun damage can add years on to your skin and can also cause skin cancer, so it’s best to protect yourself and not take any chances. Moisturisers with added SPF (sun protection factor) have become popular over the years. The idea of keeping our skin hydrated and protected at the same time makes life much easier.
Recent research from the University of Liverpool has found that SPF moisturisers don’t provide as much sun protection as same strength sun creams. The research found that people were more likely to miss parts of their face when applying an SPF moisturiser (16%), compared to sun cream (11%). It also found that SPF moisturiser wasn’t applied as thick on the skin compared to sun cream, resulting in weaker sun protection. It concludes by saying that it wouldn’t recommend SPF moisturiser for adequate sun protection. So, you may want to stick to your usual moisturiser and good ol’ sun cream...or spray for sun protection. I’d recommend these sun body sprays. |
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