Man Make Up
Make up has a magical quality to it. It can hide imperfections, cover up blemishes, boost the self-confidence, and enhance the natural beauty of the face. And these days its use is not reserved for women. Many men are now using make up to achieve the same results that women so often seek. In fact, there are complete lines of cosmetics made just for men that cater to the cosmetic needs and skin types of men.
The History of Men and Make Up
Although it may seem like a new idea, men have actually worn make-up for centuries. In ancient times, the Celts used a cosmetic product called woad. White face powder was the trend of the times, during the 18th century. And blusher and beauty marks were all the rage in the late 70s and early 80s. Yet, even though men have been wearing make up for hundreds of years, it may seem taboo in today’s society for a man to use make up. But all of that may be changing with the advent of the metrosexual, and the notion that men can and should try to look their very best too.
A Man’s Skin
OK, so most men know that they need to wash their face, but there really is more to it than that. Even though the skin on a man’s face is much less sensitive than that of a woman, men still need to take a little extra time each day to make sure their skin is adequately cleansed, moisturized, and protected. There is plenty of skin care lines that offer gentle facial cleansers created exclusively for a man’s skin. Unless the facial skin is exceptionally oily, men should also use a natural, chemical free moisturizer and sunscreen with ultraviolet protection of 15 or higher. You can find many products that combine these two functions into one lotion, saving you precious time in you’re grooming routine.
To even out the skin tone and texture, a man can also use a light application of natural foundation. Choose a shade of foundation that matches your neck, to avoid the appearance of wearing a mask. Apply a small dot of foundation to the nose, cheeks, chin and forehead. Blend each area into the next, paying careful attention to the blending around the jaw line and hair line.
Cover Up
Men have just as many blemishes on their facial skin as women do. And they are just as prone to dark circles under the eyes and splotchy breakouts as well (especially after a rough night out!) So why shouldn’t a man be allowed to use a little help to hide those imperfections? Covering-up blemishes, under eye circles, broken veins and redness is essential, whether you’re a man or a woman. Apply cover up by dotting the product directly onto the areas that need coverage and then gently blend it into the surrounding area.
For Kissable Lips
Most men might cringe at the thought of wearing lipstick. But even though men may not need lip color, they still need to protect this highly sensitive part of the body. Environmental factors like wind, sun, heat, and cold can be very damaging to the lips. And whether you’re a man or a woman, there is nothing more annoying or unattractive than chapped lips. A simple organic lip balm with ultraviolet protection can remedy this situation and keeps your lips ready for action.
It’s In His Eyes
Even a man, who chooses to wear no make up at all, should still give some extra attention to his eyebrows. Eyebrows are completely neglected, even though a man’s eyebrow often needs even more attention than a woman’s. You can maintain the natural shape of your eyebrow by using tweezers to remove stray or extra hairs (get rid of that uni-brow!) And if you want to add a little polish and definition to your eyes without having them look “made-up,” try applying a little colorless gel or colorless mascara to your eyelashes. It will make your eyes appear more vibrant and awake.