MEN'S GROOMING
By Suzanna Bain (July 2004)

It used to be women who spent hours in the bathroom on pampering sprees. But these days, men just as keen to buff, tweeze, exfoliate, moisturise and wax their way to a body beautiful. "There's no longer a stigma about spending money on looking good," says Hilary Andrews of www.mankind.co.uk "Men are interested trying new products and finding out how to look their best."

Between the ages of 30 and 50 years, men's skin loses 25 per cent of its firmness and the daily irritating effects of shaving mean it is more fragile than women's. Shaving creams are better than foams as they are less drying and aftershave balms, available from the internet and high street stores such as the Body Shop and Boots, can help soothe and repair your skin.

Men's skin is also 20 per cent oilier than women's and more prone to dehydration so an effective skincare routine is essential to keep it in tip top condition.

Start by working out which skin type you are and finding a deep pore facial cleanser which can be used every day.

Exfoliating is good too because not only does it slough off dead skin cells, it also prepares the skin's surface for shaving by smoothing it down and easing out ingrown hairs. Try Clinique's Face Scrub (£13.50, www.clinique.com)

"Most men these days moisturise, and there are lots of oil-free products on the market which tend to be light lotions rather than cream," says Hilary.

Steer clear of heavy fragrances and anything with alcohol in it, because these can sting, dry and irritate the skin. Try Clinique's non-greasy Moisture Surge Extra gel (£27.00).

According to Hilary, mud masks are very popular with men at the moment. Zirh's Clay Mask (£14.00, available from mankind and Boots) is a good choice to rejuvenate and detoxify the skin's surface.

If your skin is showing the first signs of ageing, liven up your complexion with Lancome's Complete Revitalising Treatment which refines, firms, smoothes and strengthens to improve texture.

"We've seen a tremendous increase in the number of eye products sold over the past few years." Says Hilary. "Between them they target fine lines, puffiness, circles and shadows."

Pamper yourself with the incredibly popular Molton Brown Amino-Therapy Eye Treatment, £23.00, available from mankind.

"Men are starting to perk up their appearance with a bit of colour," says Hilary. "Bronzers have really taken off and give you an instant, healthy-looking lift."

Try Clinique's transparent, oil-free Non-Streak Bronzer (£13.00) for sheer cover in an instant, or Clarins' Self-Tan Gel (£16.00), for a longer-lasting yet subtle effect.

On skin that has a tendency to become shiny during the day, use a blotting paper product to absorb excess oil and leave behind an undetectable, light powder to give a natural, flawless finish.

You could even invest in a Manaji concealer (£14.95) or their anti-shine tinted face compact (£19.95), both available from mankind.

Carry a lipsalve or moisturiser round with you too to avoid cracked, dry lips and protect them from harsh environmental effects. Opt for a balm with at least SPF 15, or splash out £37.00 on the N.V. Perricone ALA Lip Plumper (available from mankind) to restore a youthful fullness to your lip area.

And if your hands and cuticles are rough or chapped, get a professional manicure for a buffed and natural look.

Eyebrows that meet in the middle, or are wild and untamed, need plucking. We're not talking major thinning, just using tweezers to remove stray hairs that don't form part of the main eyebrow shape.

A steamy shower or bath helps open up pores to make the whole thing more bearable and afterwards, slap on some soothing moisturiser to calm the skin and reduce redness.

For those with a lot of body hair, waxing is the answer. Again, not the most pain-free experience, but you do get used to it. Give a few health and beauty spas a call to see what treatments they offer -- then just grin and bear it!

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