Maintenance 101, Part I: Skin Care

June 25, 2010 · 12 comments

in Grooming,How To,Maintenance 101

The following is part one of a three-part series written by Matthew Ruggieri, founder of The Motley, a men’s grooming site. I’m happy Matt is able to share this great information with us and I hope you gents will get plenty of use out of this series.

As always, please share your thoughts and questions in the comments section directly below this article! We love hearing from you.

If you read this blog, you most likely understand the importance of personal appearance. However, sometimes as men, the facts elude us. Here are the basic steps to skin, grooming and hair care in a series we are calling, “Maintenance 101.”

Part I: Skin Care

Face

  • Splash warm water on your face Heat opens the pores to let dirt out.
  • Apply a dime-sized amount of face wash Too much will clog the pores.
  • Lather up for 30 seconds to one minute.
  • Lightly rub in a circular motion Face wash itself is a natural exfoliant.
  • Rinse with cool water This will shrink your pores and seal out the dirt.
  • Pat dry Rubbing your face stretches the skin and encourages premature wrinkling.
  • Use toner formulated for your skin type (an astringent for oily skin and witch hazel for sensitive skin.) Toner removes soap residue undetectable to the eye.
  • Moisturize Often overlooked by men, moisturizer is vital! It hydrates for that healthy skin glow and prevents excess oil production. Add small dabs to the forehead, neck, chin and cheek bones and gently rub until fully absorbed.
  • Sun protection Use a moisturizer with SPF or a sun screen designed for the face to protect skin from sun damage.

Tips

  • Bar soap is great for use on the body, but the chemicals may be too harsh for the face. Check the label. All-natural products are best.
  • Avoid washing your face more than twice a day.
  • Use an exfoliant twice a week to remove dead skin cells and get a deeper cleaning.

Body

  • Shower in warm water Again this allows your pores to open, so dirt is easily removed.
  • Wait two or three minutes before applying body wash This allows your pores time to open up.
  • Apply a half-dollar-sized amount of body wash to your applicator of choice… wash towel, loofah, gloves etc.
  • Scrub up! A great lather is important (especially to moisturizing body wash) because your natural oils and the conditioning polymers need to interact in order to deposit in your skin.
  • Rinse off with cool water Your pores will close and your skin will feel softer.

Tips

  • Clean your applicator of choice once a week in the dish washer or washing machine. When wet items hang to dry, bacteria will spawn.
  • Use an exfoliating body scrub once a week or when skin looks dull.

Stay tuned for part II, where Matt discusses the essentials of good hair care. We’d love to hear what you think! Let us know in the comments below.

Matt RuggieriTalented LA-based filmmaker and photographer Matt Ruggieri has launched a new grooming site called TheMotley.com. Matt wanted to share with his customers quality grooming products that were superior to drugstore brands but shied away from the $100 eye creams and $150 anti-aging serums. Brands on his site include Billy Jealousy, Cremo, Propoline and Philip B.

Get FREE updates from EG
  • http://www.fifthandbrannan.com Katie

    Great article! Women could take a lot from this as well. I realized after reading this that I am doing just about everything wrong! I rub my face dry instead of patting, I never use cold water to close up the pores, and I never thought about washing my shower pouf!

    Thanks for the tips! I look forward to trying these out.

  • Andrew Snavely

    Great post Matt! The cold water post-face wash is a good tip.

  • http://twitter.com/themotley The Motley

    Glad I could be of help. Let us know if we can do anything for you. Thanks Andrew!

  • http://twitter.com/themotley The Motley

    Hi Katie, stay tuned for the other two parts. The next, on shaving and hair, is just as relevant for females. Our Cremo Cream is a favorite among women! Check it out!

  • Pingback: Maintenance 101 on The Effortless Gent: Skin Care – The Motley Blog

  • Pingback: Maintenance 101, part III: Shaving « The Effortless Gent

  • Pingback: Maintenance 101 on Effortless Gent: Shaving – The Motley Blog

  • Pingback: The Motley Redesign, The Study Series, Plus A Giveaway! « The Effortless Gent

  • JST Books

    use essential oil for skin care product. Essential oil is best than creams and lotions. 
    Thieves Essential Oil

  • Kettyflora

    A good quantity of water everyday helps in retaining the moisture of
    your skin and keeping skin disorders away. Fruits and vegetables in your
    daily diet release a lot of water into your system. Lime and hot water
    every morning detoxifies your body, purifies your blood and leaves your
    skin looking healthy.  

  • http://twitter.com/YoungSinatra559 Young $inatra

    Yea, you forgot one VERY important thing. Guys MUST learn to exfoliate there face two or three times a week.

  • http://effortlessgent.com Barron

    Good point, though it may depend on one’s skin type. i know if I exfoliated too much, my skin really dries out. I use an exfoliating face wash once a week or so.

Previous post:

Next post: