summer skin care

SUMMER SKIN CARE
OVERCOMING OILY SKIN
OVERCOMING OILY SKIN
S
ummer marks the warmest time of year with the
longest days. Because of this, skin problems for
healthy men are generally due to a number of
environmental factors. During the summer the
skin secretes more oils and has larger pores,
leaving behind a greasy build-up. The climate can
also affect the health of your skin: heat can cause
dehydration, while pollution can make the skin look
grimy, giving it an unhealthy appearance. You also
have to factor in the extra sun exposure during the
summer months. The radiation from the sun is the
110 | summer 2009
most common cause of prematurely aging skin.
Oily skin is caused by over-active glands, resulting
in an all-over shine and greasy looking appearance.
Excess oil tends to pick up dirt more readily, and
can produce white heads, black heads, and acne.
If these oils are not brought under control and the
skin balanced, the acne can result in large pores
and scarred skin. The best way to treat this skin
type is to look for skin products that are oil free,
and if they do not control your skin concerns, to
consult with a dermatologist.
By Dolly Gill
Black olive with leaves Photo: Imagestock
Every summer millions of men across Canada engage in a longstanding ritual
of breaking free from the shackles of winter. This usually involves some
combination of packing away winter parkas and pulling out the Birkenstocks, getting a new haircut and shaving off the winter beard, pulling out
volleyballs and frisbees and hitting the beach. But with the longer days and
warmer weather, men often forget about their body’s largest organ: their
skin. A little bit of planning now can go a long way towards enjoying a summer of acne-free and sunburn-free, healthy looking skin.
Guy in Water Photo: Brainsil
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grooming ★
HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO KEEP OIL
UNDER CONTROL:
1. Stay clean at all times by washing your
face at least twice daily. If you’re not at
home, even stopping by a washroom to
splash some water on your face can go a
long way towards healthy looking skin.
CLINIQUE LIQUID FACE WASH
EXTRA-STRENGTH $16.50
LAB SERIES FOR MEN – MULTI ACTION
FACE WASH $32
2. Using a Toner helps remove excess
dirt and oils after you wash your face, and
brings your skin back to a healthy balance.
MURAD CLARIFYING TONER $22
THE BODY SHOP - SEAWEED CLARIFYING TONER $15
3. Carry oil-absorbing wipes with you. If
you don’t have any, pat a tissue against
your skin. Avoid rubbing your skin, as this
can lead to scratches if you have any dirt or
sand on your face.
THE BODY SHOP TEA TREE OIL FACIAL
BLOTTING WIPES $10
SHISEIDO PURENESS OIL-BLOTTING
WIPES $18
4. Carry a mineral based spray with you, the
cool mist will help hydrate and reinvigorate
your skin.
EVIAN SPRAY $15
EAU THERMALE AVENE WATER SPRAY $20
5. Use an oil-free moisturizer to help fight
the effects of sun exposure and premature
aging. Daily-use moisturizers for men are
generally thin but strong enough to tell your
skin it doesn’t need to produce extra oil to
stay hydrated!
6. Scrubs are your best friend in the summer months; they remove dirt and oil and
help you feel squeaky clean.
CLINQUE FACE SCRUB FOR MEN $16
ZIRH SCRUB $20
7. Have a spot treatment to handle the
occasional breakout.
PETER THOMAS ACNE SPOT AND AREA
TREATMENT $32
LAB SERIES FOR MEN
ANTI-ACNE GEL $15
All prices above are approximate; products
are available at Shoppers Drug Mart, The Bay,
Sears, and Sephora.
CLINIQUE M GEL LOTION $24.50
LAB SERIES FOR MEN OIL CONTROL
DAILY HYDRATOR $27
OILY SKIN PRODUCTS
summer 2009 |
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For example, a product with an SPF of 15 can
filter about 92% of UVB rays. If you normally
start to get sunburn after 10 minutes, wearing a
product with SPF 15 lets you stay in the sun 15
times longer, or 150 minutes (SPF 15 x 10min =
150min).
If you know you are going to be in the sun even
longer (or are awful at math) then use a product
with a higher SPF, such as SPF 40. Keep in mind
that sweat and aquatic activities will cause some
of the product to wear off early, so it becomes
important to re-apply or to use a sport-themed
product that is water-resistant.
To understand how the sun can
damage your skin, it’s important to
understand the difference between
UVA and UVB (ultraviolet) sun rays,
and how they relate to SPF, sunscreens, and sunblocks.
UVA refers to ultraviolet sun rays that easily penetrate through clouds and reach the surface of
the Earth – these are the rays that cause the skin
to age. UVB refers to rays that tend to get filtered
by the protective ozone layer, although 1% still
end up reaching the Earth’s surface. UVB rays
cause sunburns and overexposure to UVB
can lead to skin cancer. Bearing this in mind, it
becomes clear that proper sun protection is an
essential part of a summer skincare regimen.
As far as your skin is concerned, UVA and
UVB rays are the problem, and products with
a high SPF are the solution. SPF stands for
“Sun Protection Factor” and can range from
2 to 45 and up. SPF refers to a product’s
ability to block out the sun’s harmful UVB rays
and tells you how long you can stay in the sun.
There are two types of products that block UVA
and UVB rays: sunblocks (which block sun rays)
and sunscreens (which absorb sun rays).
Sunblocks sit on the surface of the skin and
form a barrier that scatters and deflects UVA
and UVB rays. The two key ingredients to look
for in a sunblock are Dioxide and Zinc Oxide.
Sunscreens contain chemicals that penetrate
the skin and work by absorbing most of the
UVB rays and deactivating them. They rely on
Methoxycinnamte, Octyl Salicyate, Benzophenone and/or Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic
Acid to help protect you.
When selecting a product, look for one that is
‘Broad Spectrum’ and contains Parsol 1780
(avobenzone). Broad Spectrum products do
a better job at protecting against both UVA
and UVB equally when compared to single
spectrum products, which tend to focus more
on UVB. Some Broad Spectrum Sunscreen
products currently on the market include:
PHILOSOPHY SHELTER BROAD SPECTRUM SUNSCREEN FOR FACE AND BODY,
SPF 30 $25
If the unfortunate happens and you do end
up with sunburn, there are a number of ‘after
sun’ products on the market (as well as home
remedies) that can help. After overexposure
to the sun, your skin needs time to repair and
calm the discomfort of a burn.
STEPS TO TAKE AFTER A BURN:
You can spray the area with Mineral water like
Evian or apply a cold compress.
Take a shower with cool water, but be sure to pat
yourself dry (don’t rub).
Stay hydrated! Your body needs extra water
when recovering from a sunburn.
Put on a cooling product to ease the pain,
such as:
KORRES YOGURT COOLING GEL $24
BANANA BOAT ALOE AFTER SUN LOTION $7
Home Remedies
Lemon Lotion: 2tbsp lemon juice, and one
egg white, blend and apply (refrigerate before
applying).
Rose Lotion: 2tbsp olive oil, 2tbsp glycerin,
2tbsp rosewater and 2tbsp witch-hazel, blend
and apply (refrigerate before applying).
For additional home remedies, check out
‘Indian Beauty Secrets - Pamper Your Body
and Soul’ by Monisha Bharadwaj.
CLINIQUE SUN SPF 15 FACE AND BODY
CREAM $24
TEMPORARY TANS
TEMPORARY TANS
Having tanned skin can help showcase your muscles and the body you
have worked hard for all year. But
if you’re worried about the harmful
cancer-inducing and premature aging
effects of the sun, there are alternatives that can help you achieve a
bronzed look. The following self tanning products can give you a tanned
look in as little as an hour (or less!):
CLARINS INSTANT SELF-TANNING GEL
$35
JEAN PAUL GAULTIER MONSIEUR
SELF-TANNING GEL LIGHT AND MEDIUM
COMPLEXION $29
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THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND BEFORE
APPLYING A SELF TANNER:
Take a warm shower
Exfoliate your skin
Moisturize your body
Apply self tanner
HERE ARE SOME SUN PROTECTION
TIPS FOR THE SUMMER:
Apply a Sunscreen before you Moisturize
(even if you have sunscreen in your moisturizer). Make sure you check the dates on the
sunscreen products you have at home, you
don’t want to be using an expired product.
Make sure you apply sunscreen everywhere,
including your nose, toes, earlobes, and
back of hands. Plan ahead by listening to
the weather report to find out when the UVA
index is going to be at its highest. Either
avoid being outside at those times, or make
sure you are protected (sunscreen, hat,
sunglasses). If you see a new mole, freckle
or any other changes to your skin, consult
a doctor.
So go ahead and pick up a new pair of
Birkenstocks, and while you’re at it be sure
to stock up on sunscreen and the right skin
products for oily skin. After a long winter,
you will be ready for a Hot Summer!