Beauty tips for men only

"It's time you did something about that,'' said my colleague.

What? I asked. "That,'' she said, pointing to my nose. What about it? I asked feeling my nose and wanting to tell her that it was like that for as long as I could remember. "Well,'' she said, "the blackheads. Don't you use any creams? Blackhead removers?'' Oh, I responded with a shrug.

"Think about it," she egged me on. "What is the first thing people notice about you? It's your face." For the next few minutes, I received a short lecture on the importance of having healthy, glowing skin. The essence of her advice was that healthy skin is the most important element of a great looking face. "It is not only easy to achieve; it is something you can do for yourself," she urged me earnestly.

"Put your best face forward!" was her parting shot. At the time I was not inclined to. But now considerably mellowed, I am willing to consider that she had a point. The same point that Jacqui McCumiskey, general manager of MAN/Age Luxury Men's Spa in Dubai, made for this article.

"Yeah you've heard it all before from your wife, partner or friends," she concedes, "So, why aren't you taking care of yourself more?"

Maybe because men are not sure of what, how, or even when to take care of their face and body, I said. Of course, I was speaking for myself, but I could be saying that for many guys out there. Wipe the slate, fellas. McCumiskey has created a set of tips that promise to be the guide for men.

Keep it clean

It's a fact that's accepted in grooming circles - men's skin is approximately 15 per cent oilier than women's. They also have significantly larger pores than women do. The result: men's skin gets dirtier. While men's and women's skin are basically the same, "Men's skin is slightly thicker in texture and is generally more sensitive thanks to the harsh treatment it has to experience - daily shaving,'' says McCumiskey.

Then there's also the fact that very few men use protective creams and moisturisers. "It's not the face alone that endures neglect. Poor diet, a lack of exercise, eating junk food and smoking takes a heavy toll on the entire body as well."

A reason men are reluctant to adopt a skin cleansing-caring routine is because they don't think it's worth wasting their time on it, McCumiskey says. "I've heard many men say ‘we don't have the time and are not interested in all that girly stuff'. My answer to them is: you don't have to spend a long time.

"Making just a few changes to your lifestyle will make a huge difference to your skin and that will make you look and feel great."

McCumiskey believes in keeping it simple. She's designed a daily routine for men that can be followed even by the most impatient of them.

"A daily routine should not take more than three minutes in the morning and three minutes in the evening before sleep," says the expert.

"You will see a huge difference in how your skin looks and feels if you cleanse and moisturise your skin before sleeping.

"When we sleep, our skin and body regenerates and the absorption level increases allowing the creams we apply to penetrate deeper and thus be more effective."

In your 20s

McCumiskey believes that men should start taking care of their skin even during their prime - the 20s. "This is the time you should start taking care of it. The earlier you start the sooner you will slow down the signs of ageing." At this stage there are certain essentials - ‘positives steps', as McCumiskey is fond of saying - you should take:

"Cleanse your skin every morning and evening to remove the dirt, and slough off dead skin, excess oil and bacteria," she says.

She also advises starting a basic routine and using an alternative to regular soap which can strip your skin and make it dry. "Washing with a soap-free cleanser is better," she says.

Protecting your skin from dehydration and harmful sun rays with a protective face cream is another must in her book, as is drinking at least 1.5 litres of water a day.

The negatives - what you should avoid - include smoking. "Smoking kills thousands of skin cells with every puff and speeds up the ageing process of your skin. "Also, refrain from eating junk food. Your skin needs vitamins and nutrients to be healthy."

Another absolute no-no is squeezing spots or acne. "You can cause long-term scars on your face. What's important is keeping your skin clean," she advises.

In your 30s

"If you haven't already committed yourself to a good skincare, diet and exercise routine, you'd better start it now," says McCumiskey. Make sure you get adequate sleep at night. "Include a weekly skincare routine, and treat yourself to a spa treatment a couple of times a month."

Avoid excessive or unnecessary hours in the sun and late night-early morning combinations.

The 40s and above

McCumiskey turns serious at this juncture. "It's advisable to include anti-ageing booster serums into your daily routine. There are quite a few available in the market," she says. Consult an expert who will be able to prescribe the right ones for you.

"Start exfoliating on a daily basis with a gentle exfoliant," she advises. "You may need to use a firming cream or richer daily face cream as your skin naturally loses its elasticity. The creams will also help if you have dry skin."

The most important thing to avoid at this stage is stress. "Stress has a huge effect on skin. Ensure that you have a healthy life-work balance - that's just about the only way to avoid stress." Make exercising part of your lifestyle. Yoga, aerobics or a light to moderate workout in a gym can help destress.

As the skin ages, McCumiskey advises staying away from ‘harsh' products such as those that include alcohol. These products can strip away natural oils from the skin and leave it dry and prematurely aged.

Health conditions can have an effect on the skin too. "Boost your immune system with a healthy diet of fresh fruit, vegetables, pulses, fish and protein.'' Always be in a positive frame of mind, and your skin and body will feel great and look younger."

Cleansing tips

Cleansing products should be as chemical-free as possible. Deodorant soaps shouldn't be used on your face. They cleanse with harsh ingredients and leave a detergent film behind. This may irritate your skin and will clog your pores. Go natural. A good scrub is essential for healthy, clean skin. It will remove dead cells and smoothen the surface of your face. The scrub should be strong without being damaging. A good scrub will invigorate you, not hurt you.

Moisturising is a necessity. Again, the product with the least amount of chemical additives is the best. Always use a light moisturiser on your face after cleansing and shaving, and don't forget your neck.

For an intensive moisture treatment, use pure vitamin E or aloe vera oil. Apply the oil directly to the skin. This is a great under-eye treatment.

Daily routine

Jacqui McCumiskey's five-step guide to younger skin for men:

Step 1 Cleanse (essential) Using gentle upward circular movements, use a men's gentle cleansing foam or gel mousse when washing your face. Then pat dry with a clean towel. Drying your face with a dirty towel will increase the possibility of spreading bacteria and cause infection as your pores will be open after cleansing.

Step 2 Tone (optional ) Gone are the days when men's toners felt almost like paint strippers. Most men's products these days have a gentle toning effect. So a toner is not an essential part of men's daily routine. If you do wish to add a separate toner make sure it is alcohol-free. Such toners are gentle and won't upset the natural pH balance of the skin.

Step 3 Moisturise (essential) Apply a thin layer of a hydrating, anti-ageing or anti-oxidant facial cream, preferably with an SPF, on your face and neck. This will not only give vital nutrients to your skin but slow down the ageing process and protect your skin from harmful oxidants and sunrays.

Step 4 Eyes (essential) Apply a pea-size amount of men's eye gel to the area above and below the eye socket, tapping gently, to take away dark circles and hydrate the area.

Step 5 Aftershave (optional) As a final step a quick splash of after shave lotion will tighten the pores and keep all that goodness sealed in.

Weekly routine

Step 1 Exfoliate (essential) After cleansing your skin apply a small amount of scrub mousse or exfoliant with small circular upward movements, to remove the dirt and grime. Stay away from scrubs that contain crushed fruit stones as these are quite abrasive on a sensitive skin.

Step 2 Mask (optional) To boost your skin and help it regain its natural balance, add a weekly application of men's booster gel mask after your exfoliation.Keep it on for 10 to 15 minutes and wash off with tepid water. Then apply your face cream.