There is nothing sexy about an oily face that has pores that are more clogged than a dirty nightclub toilet. When skin reaches this level of neglect, the shine that it emits is even likely to attract greedy magpies. But, fear not. Thre is a simple solution – it is time to invest in a face scrub.

Skin is the body’s largest organ and takes a battering every day from environmental pressures such as air pollution and ultraviolet light. Add to that the stresses of long days in the office, sweaty gym workouts, and general wear and tear, and this organ has undoubtedly earned itself a pampering session.

The humble face scrub is an all-giving product that is often omitted from a man’s grooming routine – with moisturizing creams and more tenuous cleansers taking center stage, instead. But in truth, the exfoliating powers it possesses deserve to sit upon an honorary podium. Its chief purpose is to remove hard-to-reach dirt and grime from deep inside the skin’s pores, while gently eliminating dead skin cells. But, it also does so much more.

REGENERATION

Skin is constantly regenerating new cells as old, dead layers are shed. For younger gentleman, this process takes roughly 30 days. But, as men grow older, their skin cells begin to revolt at the thought of shedding so efficiently and can require some encouragement – much like their libido.

Any good face scrub features a finely-kibbled ingredient that offers just the right amount of abrasion to effectively buff away any dead skin cells. In practice, this will reveal a fresh complexion and limit the chances of flaky skin. For environmental purposes, clients should avoid anything with plastic micro-beads – they cause real pollution issues for the world’s water sources.

CONTROLLING SPOTTY OUTBREAKS

The body naturally produces sebum – the oil that waterproofs and lubricates the skin to protect it from the elements. However, when this oil builds up, it clogs the pores and causes spotty outbreaks and acne. Just as beaded ingredients help to remove dead skin cells, they also help to penetrate dirt trapped deep inside pores.

If clients are looking for an invigorating boost to complexion, encourage them to try using a face scrub with a spicy ingredient, such as ginger. The ginger root extract is known for its antiseptic and moisturizing effects, which make it perfect for sealing in valuable hydration after exfoliation. Its spicy nature is also said to increase the circulation of blood under the skin, meaning men can expect to receive lots of positive comments on their new, luminous complexion.

TAKE SHAVING TO THE NEXT LEVEL

When it comes to shaving, it is important for men to create as little resistance between the skin and razor as possible. The exfoliating properties of a face scrub means there is less grime left on a man’s jaw to clog up his razor and this means a lesser chance of razor rash, ingrown hairs, and irritation. A thorough scrub before a shave will also help to lift stubborn hairs away from the face to further reduce friction for a closer shave. In fact, facial scrubs are becoming so popular among men that many barbershops are now incorporating them into their traditional wet shave treatments.

HOW AND WHEN TO USE A FACE SCRUB

The benefits of an exfoliator are useless unless a man understands when and how to use them. There is no one routine suits all here, but here are some tips:

For those who struggle with particularly oily skin or for active gents that work a busy day where dirt and grime are more likely to attack, it should come as no great surprise that they may need to reach for their face scrub a little more often than someone who sits in an office all day.

Advise men to use a face scrub no more than two or three times a week (three is even pushing it a little). Over-exfoliating can cause serious stress to skin cells that are not ready to be shed. Sometimes, this can even undo the results a client is trying to achieve and can cause irritation, inflammation, and acne breakouts.

Men sometimes feel a need to be overly aggressive when exfoliating. In reality, no added pressure needs to be placed on the face. The natural ingredients present will provide all the clout needed – so remind clients to relax!

Men should apply a face scrub in the same way they would any other cleanser, starting by wetting the skin with warm water to encourage the pores to open a little. The warm water will also help to lather the scrub a little to unlock all of its potential. Then, the face scrub can be worked into the skin in small, circular motions with the client, paying particular interest to any problem areas.

The Shaving Shack is an online traditional shaving shop. As one of Europe’s leading online shaving retailers, they pride themselves in bringing the best in double-edge shaving, as well as men’s skin care and men’s grooming products. shaving-shack.com