Yes, men deserve beauty tips, too! They deserve to be as beautiful as us women so I wanted to share with you my hubby's mini regiment. Shhhh...
My man likes to keep things simple. He doesn't have the patience to keep up a disciplined regiment like I do so, I have set him up with a simple regiment with the help of Clarins, Clinique & Nickel for Men.
Wash: Active Face Wash. Got to keep it light and quick, this wash lathers up fast and smells very manly (very important to most men).
Moisturize: Moisture Balm . Again, keep it simple this is a two in one product, moisturizing and shave soother. Since most guys shave everyday (J does!) they need to pay attention to over irritation and stripping of the natural moisture balance of their skin.
Exfoliate: A separate exfoliator may be too much for your guy. I know at first it was tough for J to get used to the idea and he actually didn't appreciate gentle exfoliators. He wanted to feel it working. His favorite is Clinique's Men's Supply Face Scrub. It's a menthol infused frenzy for your face and just so you know they have the exact same product for women just packaged in the classic Clinique green tube.
Packaging is everything when it comes to most men. In J's case, the more manly it was the more he was willing to buy it. And that brings us to Nickel for men...
It was time for J to start using an eye cream. I started him out slowly on the products, product overdose can turn one off completely... so one day while we were at Sephora, J declares that he'd like to buy an eye cream! Imagine my excitement of hearing my man utter those words. Hee hee! So, head over to the men's section and I let him wander. I keep my watchful eye on him just in case he has any questions. He approached Clarins, as he knows this brand but then looks to me and says he would like to try something new and asks me to suggest. I pointed to Shiseido Men but he was rather not interested in their very minimal white packaging and immediately headed over to Nickel for men. <-- click this link! He really loved their packaging and I have to admit it's absolutely genius. And really enjoy their products. On a whim, a girlfriend of my suggested their eye contour lift creme, so I tried it(though it was for men) and really loved it. And that's the product that J went home with. He only needs a basic cream for the eyes, no major anti-aging cream just yet... no need to bring out the big guns yet. :)
So, if you're trying to get your guys started on something, lead them by example it worked for this guy. J is now trying to compete with me and get equal shelf space in the bathroom. Have I created a monster?
that stuff seems incredibly expensive
Posted by: mike | August 09, 2005 at 18:31
My guy will say exactly what Mike just said. I will have make a strong appeal to his vanity on this one.
Posted by: jean | August 09, 2005 at 20:44
Thanks for the tips and information. I'll have to slowly build up to product for that price so that my wife doesn't think I'm having an affair. LOL
Posted by: Bob | August 09, 2005 at 21:01
Great tips, Flare. I will have to seriously mull some possible changes to my current regimen. And we have a new Sephora just a few miles from where I live.
Posted by: DDJ | August 10, 2005 at 04:23
anyone ever tell u that you should be on queer eye? you are a wealth of info!!
Posted by: tracey | August 10, 2005 at 04:57
The guy, having room in the bathroom? No. That's just not possible!
Posted by: Gloria | August 10, 2005 at 05:36
Mike, Jean- my hubby too was a bothered by the price, so that's why I started him out on one product and let him see from there. Actaully, I let him use some of my products to see if he liked it. I started him out on my that Clinique exfoliator I mentioned above and really liked the feel of that and was intrested in getting some for himself. Honestly, most products for women work on men, like eye creams, skin exfoliators and some moisturizers. Some of the moisturizers aimed for men have added ingredients that work as an after shave/moisturizer. I'll put together a budget conscious astuce for men very soon... ^^
Posted by: Flare | August 10, 2005 at 10:04
Tracey- Wouldn't that be a dream, I could sit around and talk about skin care & makeup all day long! Wheee!
Posted by: Flare | August 10, 2005 at 10:04
What a helpful post! I'm trying to create a starter-kit of a beauty regimen for my bf too. Luckily, he isn't resistant at all (me: "When's the last time you used moisturizer?"; him: "...??...").
Love all your beauty posts and blog in general. Keep up the good work, Flare! :o)
Posted by: Le Bazaar | August 10, 2005 at 14:38
Wonderful! All duly noted.
Posted by: Katia | August 10, 2005 at 17:57
Wonderful! All duly noted.
Posted by: Katia | August 10, 2005 at 18:00
You have indeed created a monster. I will always get more shelf space in the bathroom. That is just the natural order of things. Perhaps this just means you need more storage space in the bathroom.
Posted by: Dagny | August 11, 2005 at 06:09
my husband is a skincare geek but he won't admit it, however his beauty secret is...organic olive oil. As a moisturizer. He looks good, so it works...
Posted by: cncz | August 13, 2005 at 21:22
My skincare regimen is much more simple than your man's. I'm a firm believer that if you drink enough fluids and eat properly, you really shouldn't do more to your skin than wash it with water and moisturize.
I smoke and drink alcohol too. My skin still looks great.
Moral: Don't use product! They ruin your skin!
Posted by: nardac | August 13, 2005 at 22:42
You 'll know he has turned into a monster when he ll start looking at football games with cucumber slices on the eyes...
Posted by: Negrito | August 14, 2005 at 18:54
My friends are scattered about the country, so I often have guests staying with me. So many guys have used/stolen my St. Ives Apricot scrub that I now buy it whenever it is on sale so I'm sure to have a tube in the house.
Posted by: leokandres | August 14, 2005 at 23:02
i have to admit... i use clinique for men stuff.
Posted by: glenn | August 16, 2005 at 23:48
St. Ives Apricot scrub is so great. Last time i was insan fran i brought 5 of them!
Anyway As I sadly don't go there very often i'll try clinique.
Great tips, Flare.
Posted by: Alex | August 19, 2005 at 20:58
Hello :) Actually, I am not trying to get my guy interested in these things, it's ME who needs it. And I don't know how you're supposed to do these things really (why aren't there instructions on the bottles? :P). When do you exfoliate and what do you do afterwards? I have cleanser, toner, exfoliator and moisturizer. HELP! ;D
Posted by: Rebecka | March 30, 2006 at 21:51
Bonjour MamaFlare,
I'm Sébastien, a french guy living in Montlaur-en-Diois in south of France.
I've set up my compagny Biotissime, a internet web site where I sell only organic cosmetics.
on www.biotissime.fr you will find makeup, face care and body care, baby care, a complete men line from Florame in Saint Remy de Provence and also essential oil from Ladrôme provençale.
I would like to have your point of view on my web site! and also maybe you can help me to translate it into english?!!!
cu
Sébastien.
Posted by: Biotissime | August 06, 2007 at 16:18