Now I know that there are those guys out there who see this article and are thinking.... Why is something like this on a Do It Yourself site like DiY Bum. The answer is simple. Whether or not guys want to admit it, they care about skin care too. Does your wife / girlfriend complain that her favorite moisturizer isn't lasting long? Does she come back from the nail salon oohing and aahing about how great her hands feel? Do you sneak her face wash or moisturizer to soften your skin after a shave? Well, you've come to the right place. Here are some things that you can do.

The first and most important thing to remember is that men and women's skin types ARE NOT alike.

Men's skin has more sebum glands. This means that their skin is going to be more oily so they will need to use products that combat a large amount of oil production. Guys need to keep this in check. Products that include astringents such as witch hazel and aloe vera are good ones.

But, oily skin is not the only difference. Guys need to shave, and shaving is very hard on one's skin. It can wreak havoc on the face, because with each shave, the outermost layer of dead skin cells are scraped away. Because of this, men need to use thicker more nourishing creams than what women use. Men should look for products that contain humectants like glycerine and sorbitol. This will help the skin to retain its moisture and soothe it after the shave. Those of you who sneak the wife's or girlfriend's products are not going to experience any side effects, but you will not be getting all of the necessary benefits you need either. A botanical extract, allanatoin, will help calm irritation. Vitamin E and Pro-Vitamin B5 will aide in skin regeneration.

It used to be that the only skincare product you could find for men's skin was aftershave balm. Today, things are different. There are many products available today that are able to moisturize, soothe, exfoliate and enhance the appearance of male skin. According to one article, the men’s grooming market is growing at around 20 per cent each year. That's Impressive. With that, it's no surprise that now there are new categories for men that include anti-aging creams, serums and even skin peels. There are products priced for almost any budget. L’Oreal Men Expert and Nivea for Men are two mainstream brands with skin-saving solutions that are readily available on supermarket shelves.

How can I save my skin?

Cleansing our skin is something that we do daily. You can do this in the shower to save time. Get rid of that old bar of soap. Instead, use a foaming soap. Not only will it help to get rid of that dirt and grime, but it will also help to maintain skins pH balance. It will also help prevent your skin from drying out by stripping away its natural oils. You can also use an exfoliating cleanser like LAB Series Multi-Action Face Wash. It will also cut down on the build up of dead skin cells.

Next, be kind to your skin before you shave. You can decrease the amount of nicks and cuts you receive by utilizing a pre-shave oil. These work by helping the razor glide across even the toughest beards. One such product on the market today is called M Shave Aloe Gel by Clinique which can be used on all skin types. It's oil fee so you don't have to worry about it contributing to more blemishes. L'Occitane Cade Oil is another great choice. Use them anytime your shave for soothing comfort.

Get a Good Razor! This is probably one of the most important things you can do. A dull razor can cause more damage to your skin than you would like to admit to. If you are a disposable razor guy, the Gillette Mach3 will do the job in just a few strokes. Not only does it help eliminate skin irritation, but it also has a vibrating mechanism to massage the skin. If you like electric razors, try the Remington R7 Diamond Series shaver. These work great, especially if you are one of those guys who need to shave twice a day. It uses two settings: close shave and comfort. Use the "close shave" setting for the super smooth look and feel and "comfort" if you are wanting to avoid irritation. Its super-strong steel blades offer long lasting sharpness. Remember, if you use an electric razor, you won't need to use skin prep before the shave. Do use a soothing cream when complete.

Like I said before, use a soothing skin cream when your shave is complete. Creams like L'Oreal Paris Men Expert Vita Lift Complete Anti-Ageing Moisturizing Cream and Clarin's Men Moisture Balm are both great choices. The L'Oreal Paris product also helps to protect skin from pollution and internal toxins to help keep it looking younger. Clarin's product not only soothes your skin post shave by calming razor burn and chaffing, but it also hydrates it and helps combat the signs of aging.

Now Don't Forget Those Nails!
Yes, Guys Need Manicures Too

Let me start off by saying, no, I don't expect guys to run off to the closest nail salon. Although, there are many guys out there who already do. I know the thought of this sends chills down some spines as well as the thought of others questioning their sexuality if they dared consider it. Don't worry. You can do this at home behind closed doors and I will walk you through it in a few simple steps. All you need is about an hour a week.

Short and square is the most fashionable shape as well as the easiest to maintain.

Guys CAN use neutral colored polish. There are simple clear and opaque polishes available to use. I am not suggesting any elaborate colors. A clear polish will give nails a shine and protect them at the same time. You can also choose a professional topcoat such as Dr LeWinn's Revitagloss which will treat your nails and also provide a hard, glossy finish.

Treat your nails with repect. Give them a nourishing cuticle treatment while the nails are free of polish. Don't do things with your nails like trying to use them as a screwdriver or scrape off old labels and stickers. (There are obviously better tools out there)

Start by removing any old polish with an acetone free or mild remover. If your nails happen to be getting longer than a couple of millimeters over the top of your fingertips, you will need to clip them straight across the top of the nail. Once clipped, you will need to file them into shape with an emery board. Use the finer side of the board to file the underside of he nails and shape them into a softly rounded square shape.

Next, use a q-tip or small brush ( I like to use model paint brushes) and apply a small amount of cuticle remover over the entire nail bed. Then rinse off. Now we need to push the cuticles back. The cuticle is the soft skin at the bottom of your fingernail. Pushing it back will help to promote nail growth and health. Start by soaking your hands in a small bowl of warm water with a few drops of mild liquid soap for about five minutes. Make sure that you set up your area so you can relax and rest your hands comfortably. Your cuticles will soften in the water and will be easier to push back.

Once the cuticles are softened, apply a cuticle cream or oil. Work the cream in well and push the cuticles back with a cuticle tool or a good old-fashioned orange stick wrapped in a small piece of a cotton ball.

Now it's time to moisturize the hands. Apply a rich hand cream and massage your hands and wrists. I recommend Bath and Body Works healing hand cream with shea butter or Aveeno Intense Relief Hand Cream with contains natural oatmeal to soothe and moisturize the skin. To remove the lotion from the nails, apply a small amount of nail polish remover on a cottonball and wipe away the excess cream away from the nails. Now you can decide on which topcoat you will use.

The trickiest part of the manicure is getting the polish right. Use a base coat. This will help to prevent splitting and helps the polish adhere to your nails. Once the basecoat is applied, two other coats can be applied. Start by painting a stripe down the center of each nail. Then draw c shapes on either side of the stripe to complete. Use a q-tip with a small amount of fingernail polish remover to remove smudges. Once dry, apply a top coat.

Tips

Don't shake the bottle of polish before painting. Shaking creates bubbles. Roll it between your hands instead. To get the right amount of polish on the brush, dip it into the bottle and drag it up along the side of the bottle’s opening. The side of the brush with the polish still on it will have enough to cover one nail.

After applying colour, swipe excess polish from across the tip of the nail to protect the edge.