So you’re an absolute ace at deciphering the women’s skincare aisle… but how much do you know about looking after your partner? We’ve debunked the biggest men’s skincare myths – read on for more.
It’s ok to use body moisturiser on your face.
I, for one, locked heads with my partner when we first met about this topic. Here’s what our expert thought…
“Absolutely you can do that, but it truly depends on the formula,” says skincare expert Paula Begoun. “Most body products are not formulated as well as face products. The best face products are loaded with antioxidants, skin repairing ingredients, as well skin identical ingredients. Body products on the other hand, even the most expensive, come up short in comparison.” Try PC4Men Nighttime Repair, $38.01
A shampoo can be used for face, beard and body.
Sure, you can give the rest of your face and body a once-over with your shampoo, but there’s just one type of hair wash your partner should avoid.
“Volumizing ingredients can leave a somewhat sticky feeling on the body, especially in places like the groin or under the arms,” continues Begoun. “But other than that, one shampoo could do it all from head to toe.” Try Molton Brown Anti-Dandruff Shampoo with Fennel, $29
Acne scarring is untreatable.
Acne, scarring and pigmentation go hand in hand, and men are just as susceptible as women to show the after-effects of the aggressive skin condition. The truth is, men do have thicker facial skin than women, but skincare formulas actually work exactly the same for both sexes. Sharing is caring, so let him borrow what you’ve got! Thalgo’s new M-Ceutic range comes highly recommended – the active ingredients will address pigmentation, smooth skin and even out your complexion. Try Thalgo M-Ceutic Resurfacer Cream-Serum, $127
Shaving your face with a razor is worse than using an electric shaver.
Actually, both are fine to use to groom facial hair. However, nicks and cuts can be avoided if you use a high-quality razor, and follow some simple rules.
“For the closest and smoothest shave, use light, gentle strokes and shave first in the direction of the hair growth,” says Kristina Vanoosthuyze, Research & Development Expert for Gillette. “Then follow it up with upstrokes against the direction of hair growth.”
“You’ll know it’s time to switch to a new blade when the blades feel blunt, the coating on the blades start to wear, and the lubricants formulated in the ‘lubrastrip’ run out,” continues Vanoosthuyze. Try Gillette Fusion ProGlide with FlexBall Technology, $16.49
Body hair should never be shaved – it should be waxed or lasered off.
Mmm… sort of true. If your partner is someone that has lots of (unwanted) hair on their chest, and legs, then shaving just doesn’t make sense for such a large area. Instead, go for an IPL machine that you can use at home – and surprisingly, it’s quite low on the pain scale.
However, you’ll need to shave the area first before zapping it with the handheld device. It does take a bit of time to treat each area but it’s so worth it – you’ll see results in just a few weeks. Try Philips Lumea Precision Plus IPL, $899.95
