Skin Care

[AZN MAN]

To the ladies:

I have dry facial skin although I perspire quickly when I work out or during warm weather. I have been using skin care products from S. Korea (Charmzone) and Australia (Nature's Care). I've also used some products from Japan such as Shiseido.

What type(s) of products are some of you using and do any of you have some suggestions/recommendations?

Disclaimer: I'm well aware that a lot of men use skin care products and are not willing to admit it.

Thanks in advance ladies!

[blockthebox]

Cleanser: Nokdu Pure Foaming Cleanser (Korean), AM and PM
Exfoliator: Chanel Gommage Microperle Purete Exfoliating Mousse, 3 times per week in the AM and Fresh Sugar Face Polish, once/twice per week in the PM
Toner: Clinique Clarifying Lotion 1, AM and PM
Moisturizer: Shiseido Bio-Performance Advanced Super Revitalizer, PM except for T-zone
Hydration: Chanel Hydramax + Serum Intense Moisture Boost, PM except in the summer
Antioxidant: Skinceuticals C E Ferulic, AM
Sunscreen: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock (SPF 45), AM (no need for a separate moisturizer since it's greasy enough and will sink into dry skin)

I like 'em all, but the only ones I'd really recommend are the Fresh Sugar Face Polish, Skinceuticals CE Ferulic and the sunscreen. Those are the things I'd want if stranded on an island.

There are also one-step products out there designed specifically for men. I think you can find most of the stuff you need at Sephora. Ask for free samples of anything you want to try.

[da13371ama]

try cetaphil

[Le Sheng Liu]

I don't know if this applies to dry skin. My problem has always been ezcema. For years I tried all kinds of treatment (western and eastern) but I gave up on most of them as they were mostly doing more harm than good. Now I use sunscreen every day and it seems to be working. Neutrogena brand does the job for me without causing irritation or allergic reactions. Cattygurl gave me a lot of advice and support through all this. Thanx schweety!!!!

[averagejoette]

Baby oil or mineral oil.

i had this period of time where the medicine my dermotologist gave me made my skin so dry, and irritated that it hurt to smile. So i asked my nurse auntie, and she gave me Aquaphor which is basically a solidified form of mineral oil. Just apply it in the night, and go to sleep. When you wash your face in the morning, try not to scrub too hard.

[AZN MAN]

Thanks for the replies/suggestions; I'll conduct some research and will welcome any additional feedback.

[Vahz]

Anyone know if that Proactive stuff actually works?

[averagejoette]

Proactiv worked well for me, but its a bit expensive. Their main ingredients is Benzoyl Peroxide. So i went to the drug store and bought generic brands of face wash and creams that had 2.5% benzoyl peroxide as its active ingredient. It really depends on your sensitivity to it. Some people prefer other types of medications, like Salicylic acid (not used in the Proativ face wash or lotions).

[Vahz]

I'm actually thinking of going to a dermatologist for 2-3 scars I have. Anyone ever visit one and have suggestions?

[averagejoette]

dermtologist visits were painful experiences for me. First he would squeeze out all the white heads, then give a chemical peel(which is ok, but burns like hell), and then he gave me some pills. Maybe I just had a bad experience.
I suggest you see them, and just ask them what they can do for you.

[Vahz]

I have some weird red bumps on the back of my arms near the triceps and upper back. Also, I have 3 stab wounds that I want to see if there is anyway to get rid of them or "mask" them. I think the latter is harder or impossible to get rid of.

[cattygurl]

You can't get rid of them through skin care, but depending on the scarring, you may be able to reduce their appearance through plastic surgery.

As for red bumps, are there lots of them (kinda looks like chicken skin)? You probably have keratosis pilaris. I know people that use weekly acid peels to help reduce the appearance of that, although results vary.

[blockthebox]

Also, I have 3 stab wounds that I want to see if there is anyway to get rid of them or "mask" them.

That's just crazy talk. Stab wound scars should be proudly displayed for the world to admire. There should be a chapter in the PUA handbook about knife/bullet wound scars.

[zhangfei]

I have a scar/gap on my eyebrow. A girl whom i dated wanted to fix it for me. She worked in cosmetic industry and thought it could be fixed with eyebrow tattoo. I never let her. two years ago i went to see a chinese fortune teller and she told me to get the eyebrow fixed. maybe i will get it fixed someday.

[Lum]

I have a scar/gap on my eyebrow. A girl whom i dated wanted to fix it for me. She worked in cosmetic industry and thought it could be fixed with eyebrow tattoo. I never let her. two years ago i went to see a chinese fortune teller and she told me to get the eyebrow fixed. maybe i will get it fixed someday.

What?! Nothing screams, "we are the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the universe" like an eyebrow scar.

[Vahz]

Thanks, Catty. That seems to be it. Like Wikipedia says, it's not bothersome but it does look ugly. Yes, I'm vain.

[JadeDragon]

I have a scar/gap on my eyebrow. A girl whom i dated wanted to fix it for me. She worked in cosmetic industry and thought it could be fixed with eyebrow tattoo. I never let her. two years ago i went to see a chinese fortune teller and she told me to get the eyebrow fixed. maybe i will get it fixed someday.


I have a scar on my left eyebrow too. My mom insists that I tattoo it, but I don't want to. And traditional Chinese fortune-telling prefers eyebrows to be full, but modern variations say that tattooing it over won't make any difference, unless it's really bad. You can use eyebrow pencil if you like, which I do for certain occasions, but I usually leave it as it is.

[Vahz]

I've been looking for a water based skin moisturizer. Anyone have one they would recommend?

Currently, I've been using my cousin's Olay Body stuff and I'm starting to smell like a girl. :(

[maogirl]

I have a scar on my left eyebrow too. My mom insists that I tattoo it, but I don't want to. And traditional Chinese fortune-telling prefers eyebrows to be full, but modern variations say that tattooing it over won't make any difference, unless it's really bad. You can use eyebrow pencil if you like, which I do for certain occasions, but I usually leave it as it is.

okay, at risk of sounding like a superstitious granny...

GET THAT FIXED!

even eyebrow pencil is cool, but it freaks my poor superstitious heart out knowing that you guys are walking around with scars on your eyebrows. it is NOT GOOD.

[awong]

my dad's cousin got the eyebrow tattoo. I always remember my mom mention about it

[Lum]

I'm not familiar with this superstition...can someone explain please?

[maogirl]

well, basically, it's considered good luck to have "full" eyebrows. not necessarily bushy (too bushy or thick isnt' always good, either) but in mando it's called "nong mei."

to have sparse eyebrows or missing hair, it means that your health or lifespan won't be good. i used to have eyebrow piercings and my mom was deathly scared that i'd scar my eyebrow permanently and damage my health.

i dunno, maybe i'm just superstitious, but someone ripped those piercings from my face once and after they healed and the hair grew back on my eyebrow, my health actually improved.

eyebrow shape is also really important. i have what are called "sword eyebrows" which means that i'm very forthright and fair. also means that i'm not afraid of conflict.

gee, really?! :P

[Lum]

i dunno, maybe i'm just superstitious, but someone ripped those piercings from my face once and after they healed and the hair grew back on my eyebrow, my health actually improved.

Yikes gnarly.

Okay I just spent like wayyy too long looking at my brows in the mirror. They look like...eyebrows.

I like this new avatar you got going btw.

[Vahz]

So, is it ok if one plucks their eyebrows?

[awong]

well, basically, it's considered good luck to have "full" eyebrows. not necessarily bushy (too bushy or thick isnt' always good, either) but in mando it's called "nong mei."

to have sparse eyebrows or missing hair, it means that your health or lifespan won't be good. i used to have eyebrow piercings and my mom was deathly scared that i'd scar my eyebrow permanently and damage my health.

i dunno, maybe i'm just superstitious, but someone ripped those piercings from my face once and after they healed and the hair grew back on my eyebrow, my health actually improved.

eyebrow shape is also really important. i have what are called "sword eyebrows" which means that i'm very forthright and fair. also means that i'm not afraid of conflict.

gee, really?! :P

So its bad luck to have really bushy or thick too? crap...

[Dirac]

Stop, you're scaring me! I've got a scar on my left eyebrow too.....if the general shape is good does that cancel out the bad luck?

[Scowl]

Why is it always the left eyebrow? I've got two scars on my left eyebrow, so I guess that means I'm fucked, huh? I guess that would explain my luck, though.

[maogirl]

oh for cheebye's sake, people.

(yes, i'm cranky because i got rained on, so much for being too badass for an umbrella)

first of all, thick or bushy eyebrows don't mean negative things right off. it's actually considered lucky and attractive for men to have thick eyebrows (see: aaron kwok, louis koo, takeshi kaneshiro, the boy who is driving me mad right now), however, the thicker/bushier your eyebrows are, the most aggressive you're supposed to be, so some feng shui masters advice plucking.

yes, you can shape your eyebrows to "change" your luck. for example, women are advised to pluck overly-thick brows or fill in with a pencil overly-skinny brows.

as for scars on the eyebrows, it doesn't matter how lucky the shape is, the interruption of hair supposedly corresponds to an interruption to your health and lifespan, so you're advised to always fill it in with a pencil or have it tattooed.

and really, if your life sucks, you might want to consider that you've been makign stupid decisions rather than blaming it on a fucking eyebrow.

[lopan]

You'd think Chinese people should be the luckiest people on the planet. I mean hell, we've got all our red and gold on the doors, lucky money, adhering to supersition -- we should be on top of the world by now!

[MiNiBoiE]

huh..

what brand of sun screen does everybody use? What's a good brand that isn't too fragrant? I don't want my face to wrinkle up from sun damage! :O

[maogirl]

kiehl's makes pretty decent sunscreen, and it's light on your skin so you don't get that greasy sunscreen feeling

[Dirac]

and really, if your life sucks, you might want to consider that you've been makign stupid decisions rather than blaming it on a fucking eyebrow.

Nope, it's definitely the eyebrow's fault, not mine

[maogirl]

you kids...

[DONKEY]

only recently began using sunscreen. always laughed at the idea "pfft yeah right, ive never been sunburned before" but later i figured out it was actually harmful.
my favorite is this obagi brand because it doesnt feel greasy or anything. i forget that its even there.