Our skin is the largest organ of our body, yet the last one to get the nutrients from our food intake. Good skin is a combination of good genes, regular exercise, good diet, sufficient water intake, and choosing the right skincare products.

This guide has three categories:

Shaving Guide

Skincare Guide

Fragrance Usage Guide

SHAVING GUIDE:

1. Change the blade of your razors at least after 3-4 times of usage.

2. Use a shave cream or shave gel that is Aloe Vera based. Aloe Vera and human skin have similar ph therefore it heals the skin before even doing any damage to it.

3. Avoid using shave product with numbing ingredients as benzocaine.

-Numbing ingredients only get your skin in a lot of trouble by getting too close to your skin because you are unable to feel your razor while you shave.

-You can cut or scrape your skin without knowing it. It only makes your skin susceptible to infections such as folliculitis.

4. Use a shave product with combination of the following ingredients:

a.) Aloe-relieves irration

b.) Seaweed extract-pushes the hair out to the surface of the skin giving you a closer shave. It is also known to have at least 60 vitamins and minerals.

c.) Glycerin-known to prevent irritation

d.) Vitamin E-makes the skin fit and strong.

e.) Peppermint extract-soothes and cools the skin after shaving

f.) Soybean and avocado oil-provides moisture and skin conditioning.

5. If you suffer from ingrown hair, use a product with salicylic acid on a daily basis. The acid will break down the skin that traps the ingrown hair. It is also a natural antiseptic and antibacterial.

DO NOT BUY YOUR REGULAR SALICYLIC ACID FROM THE DRUGSTORE AS IT WILL BURN YOUR SKIN. Purchase one that has been "BUFFERED."

6. Use a post-shave healing solution to prevent your skin from getting infected should your razor got too close to your skin.

NOTE: When shaving, never shave against the direction of the hair growth.

SKINCARE GUIDE

*NOTE FOR MEN* A man's skin is 3 times thicker and oilier than a woman's skin. When buying a skincare for men, purchase one that is made specifically for a man's skin. There are brands out there that are extensions of a woman's skincare, meaning;the formulation is made for a woman, and was repackage to give it a masculine look.

1. WASH YOUR FACE THOROUGHLY PRIOR TO APPLYING A MOISTURIZER. NEVER USE SOAP ON YOUR SKIN. IT IS NOT PH BALANCED AND IT IS MADE OF DETERGENT. IT IS HARSH AND WILL STRIP THE NATURAL MOISTURE OF YOUR SKIN. USE A FACE WASH SPECIFICALLY MADE FOR FACIAL SKIN.

2. USE A VITAMIN SERUM SPECIFICALLY RICH IN ANTI-OXIDANTS SUCH AS PYCNOGENOL AS IT STRENGTHENS THE CAPILLARY WALLS AND ALSO EVENS OUT THE SKIN TONE CAUSED BY SUN DAMAGE AND AGING. VITAMINS A, E AND C ARE IDEAL FOR YOUR SKIN.

3. USE A MOISTURIZER WITH HYALURONIC ACID IN IT.

THIS PARTICULAR ACID IS NATURALLY FOUND IN YOUR SKIN, IT BINDS WITH COLLAGEN AND MAKES THE CELL HAVE THE ABILITY TO HOLD MOISTURE. LIKE COLLAGEN, IT IS ABUNDANT IN THE SKIN WHEN ONE IS YOUNG. IT IS DEPLETED AS WE GET OLDER. HYALURONIC ACID PLUMPS UP THE SKIN CELLS MAKING THE APPEARANCE OF WRINKLES LESS VISIBLE.

NOTE: WHEN YOU PULL A BABY'S SKIN, IT GOES RIGHT BACK LIKE A RUBBER BAND, BUT WHEN YOU PULL AN OLDER SKIN, IT TURNS INTO A WRINKLE. SO BE GENTLE IN HANDLING YOUR SKIN.

4. USE A FACIAL EXFOLIANT/SCRUB AT LEAST 2X A WEEK TO GET RID OF DEAD SKIN CELLS. YOUR MOISTURIZER WILL BE MORE EFFECTIVE IF IT DOES NOT HAVE TO SIT ON TOP OF DEAD SKIN CELLS. WITHOUT EXFOLIATION, ONE'S SKIN WILL LACK LUSTER.

REMEMBER, OVER SCRUBBING WILL CAUSE YOUR SKIN TO PRODUCE MORE OIL IN YOUR SEBACEOUS GLAND INVITING FOR BACTERIA TO HARBOR CAUSING YOUR SKIN TO BREAKOUT.

5. USE A GOOD CLAY MASK ONCE A WEEK TO DETOXIFY THE SKIN FROM THE DAILY ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS.

6. A FRAGRANCE-FREE SKINCARE IS BEST FOR YOUR FACIAL SKIN. PERFUMED SKINCARE PRODUCTS ARE NOT BENEFICIAL FOR YOUR FACIAL SKIN. IT WILL ONLY CAUSE IRRITATION LEADING TO SKIN INFECTIONS AND BREAK OUTS.

7. AN EYECREAM WITH CAFFEINNE EXTRACT REGULATES THE BLOOD CIRCULATION ON THE EYE AREA AND WILL REDUCE DARK CIRCLES.

ANOTHER KEY INGREDIENTS TO EYE CREAMS ARE HYALURONIC ACID, CUCUMBER EXTRACT, CELANDULA EXTRACT AND CHAMOMILE EXTRACT. THESE EXTRACTS WILL REDUCE PUFFINESS DUE TO WATER RETENTION CAUSED BY ALCOHOL, TOO MUCH SODIUM IN YOUR DIET AND ALLERGY.

NOTE: ONLY AN EYECREAM SHOULD BE USED ON THE EYE AREA. THE SKIN AROUND THE EYES ARE DELICATE. IF YOU USE YOUR REGULAR FACE MOISTURIZER ON THE EYE AREA, YOU ARE BOUND TO CREATE MILIA ON THAT AREA AS IT WILL BE TOO RICH.

*MILIA IS A SMALL WHITISH LUMP IN THE SKIN DUE TO RETENTION OF KERATIN IN AN OIL GLAND DUCT. IT LOOKS LIKE A WHITEHEAD THAT CAN ONLY BE EXTRACTED THROUGH MINI INCISION BY YOUR DERMATOLOGIST. IT IS HARD AND FEELS LIKE A BEAD OF RICE WHEN REMOVED.

IDEAL INGREDIENTS FOR A POST-SHAVE HEALING SOLUTION OR AFTER SHAVE BALM:

Aloe-relieves irritation

Ginseng-soothes and revitalizes the skin

Irish Moss Extract-an anti-oxidant that helps heal skin

Acacia-an herb with significant anti-inflamatory properties

Seaweed extract-firms the skin. Rich in 60 vitamins and minerals.

FRAGRANCE GUIDE:

1. Keep it in a cool dark place. Fragrances go rancid under bright and warm temperatures.

2. Do not rub it on your skin, just let it air out. Rubbing it will change the mingling of your body oil with the essence of the fragrance.

In other words, it will alter the chemistry. Just try rubbing your skin without a perfume and smell it. Your skin will smell burnt from the friction.

3. Do not apply your fragrance on the chest because heat rises. Your scent will be overwhelming to the person who comes close to you.

4. Your fragrance should not make an announcement that you just arrived.

Apply it on the pulse points only--the ankles, behind the knees and behind the ears. Better yet, spray it on the air, and walk through it.

The only time someone should be able to smell your scent is when they get close to you or if someone gives you a hug.

5. Never buy a fragrance without trying it on your skin first.

NOTE:

THIS IS A RULE OF THUMB. SPRAY IT ON YOUR SKIN AND LET IT SETTLE FOR AT LEAST 5-10 MINUTES. THAT'S HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE FOR THE BASE NOTE OF THE FRAGRANCE TO MINGLE WITH YOUR BODY OIL.

6. A fragrance may smell good on somebody else, but it will not have the same result on another.

Always try it on your skin and walk around for at least 10 minutes until it dries down and you experience the base note of the fragrance. You will know if it goes with your body oils.

7. For ladies: touch up your fragrance as often as you would touch up your lipstick.

8. If you layer your fragrance with the lotion, your fragrance will last longer. Fragrance like to cling to a moist skin.

9. If you are unable to purchase the lotion or cream that goes with your scent, any non-scented lotion will do the work in layering it with your cologne or perfume.

10. Do not use a scented lotion that will contradict the scent of your fragrance.