One positive thing we can say about the COVID-19 pandemic is that it’s forcing a lot of stressed-out people to slow down and re-think their priorities. If you’ve been postponing essentials activities and projects before COVID, you’ve got no excuse to delay things any further. For busy dads, life before self-isolation could have been too hectic to take the time for self-care. Ultimately, if you’re working full-time or juggling tight deadlines, you might find yourself neglecting your appearance as a result of stress pressure. That’s where life under lockdown can give you the opportunity to shift your focus and transform your self-care routine once and for all. Are you ready to come out of self-isolation as a different man?
Most people tend to postpone major aesthetic improvements indefinitely.
I don’t have time for that.
People will notice.
It’s a long process.
However, you can use your time at home to finally focus on issues that have been affecting your self-esteem. A crooked smile, for instance, is one of the most complaint tooth complaints in America. Straightening your teeth is an involved process. Many adults are reluctant to wear braces to achieve the perfect smile of their dreams. However, not all braces are created equal. Fastbraces, for instance, can allow you to transform your teeth in under 120 days. You could come out of self-isolation with a brand new smile!
Start a skincare routine
Stress, lack of time, and hectic routines make it tricky to manage your skincare regime. However, looking after your skin is not just for women. On the contrary, men’s skin requires just as much attention to tackle common issues and slow down signs of aging. You can make the most of your time at home to look after your skin and invest in the right products. A cleanser can help to reduce oily build-ups – which are prone to happen when you stay indoors. Additionally, investing in an exfoliant and a face mask can help improve your complexion.
No gym? No problem
Can you lose weight under lockdown? The answer is yes. More importantly, you can look after your body and build muscle. You can find plenty of home workouts to help you stay toned and active when the gym is shut. Ideally, you should exercise at least 4 to 5 times a day to strengthen not only your muscles but also your immune system. If you’ve been struggling with an unwanted bulge around your midriff – unfortunately, a common issue for desk jobs –, seize the opportunity to melt it down!
Try out new styles
When was your last barber’s appointment? Chances are that the time for a haircut has come. But, with barbers’ shops being shut, you need to be creative. Why not experiment with your look while you can. Let your hair grow. Grow a beard. Try out new shaving styles. You might find it fun to discover new looks that work on you. Besides, daily shavers can also give their skin a rest.
A self-care routine is going to see you through the pandemic self-isolation. For a lot of people, improving your appearance can be detrimental to your mental focus. Not only does it give you something to be excited about, but it also gives new meaning to your life under lockdown. So what are you doing today to change your look?
Your body is amazing, but to keep it amazing we need to make sure we keep it healthy and give it a check over every now and again. This can especially difficult if you happen to be a parent. From making sure the children get to school on time. Making sure their homework is completed, to bath time and feeding them, and all the other things that come by default when you are a parent. It can seem impossible to have some me time, but it doesn’t have to be! This article helps show you how and what you can do to keep yourself healthy and give yourself that much needed me time, a survival kit for new dads, and mothers out there!
A key element to health is your diet. Being a parent, it can be difficult to make sure you eat healthily whilst also trying to regulate what the children are eating! Some people opt for highly regimented diets, which may not work around your family life. This is not the only way you can diet, maybe you just want to remove the snacks from your life. The food on the go. Studies have shown that regimented times of eating, having the three main meals of the day at the same time every day really helps with weight loss. Combine that with removing the on the move food and snacks in between, and replacing them with nuts, fruit, and salad, will make you into a health and diet ninja!
Try to use Natural Products
This is a must. Many products out on the market are actually quite harsh and harmful to your skin. Some products use alcohol and other chemicals as a base ingredient, and in time these chemicals will actually dry and age your skin, so they are not the best. Products that have a natural base of ingredients are far better for your skin, and due to the rise in popularity and the demand high for natural products they no longer need to break your bank!
Adapt an exercise plan for you
When looking at exercise routines to follow, either through an app or TV or at the gym through classes, everyone has their ‘top routine’ or ‘best routine’ that is bound to work every time. Well, this is not the case for everyone. A highly regimented exercise routine may not suit a working or single mother or a mother in the first place who needs to care for the children. It may not take into account personal conditions or situations which do not affect the person recommending the routine. Why not try a gym?
Don’t forget to Nourish the Entire Body
This point links with the above, never forget the rest of your body! Many people have their focus set on face creams, eye primers, face masks and more, and never really think twice about products that could help the skin on the rest of their body. The face is just a small part of the skin that covers your body, and there are many amazing products out there for the body as well as the face! As well as body butter that is amazing, you can buy affordable body oils which are also great for adding moisture to the skin. Also, natural body soaps are great for the bath or shower, so when you are washing the day away, at the same time giving your skin much-needed refreshment and leaving you feeling happier and more relaxed!
Using Your Senses as you Exercise
This is another great tip to get the most of the workout you do already, but adding another element of mindfulness into the mix. An example of how you could use this method in your normal routine is your morning run in the park. Are you playing music through your headphones? Are you just focused on the end goal of when you finish or where the next bench is? That is perfectly normal, as we all have those same thoughts. But, image that same run, but you really turn into the noises around you. The morning birds tweeting in the trees. The wind blowing through the hanging branches of the trees around you, and the noise of the rhythmic thud and gravel noise when your feet touch the ground every couple seconds. Although it sounds really basic and simple, firstly, it is! But at the same time, you will find again like the breathing techniques, you will slow down and really take in your environment, and get so much more satisfaction from your workout.
So, those are some quick tips on keeping healthy whilst being a parent! Do what is best for you, and keep doing a great job!
Think skincare is just for women? Think again! Having a skincare routine is important no matter what your gender. From tackling common issues such as dry skin, to bigger issues like dealing with TSW, to helping to slow the signs of aging, the right skincare will make a big difference to your skin and could even help you grow in confidence.
While soap and water might have been your go to in the past, it’s time to change things up and make sure you use the right products to help you see a big improvement in your skin. Get ready for a whole new you with these essential skincare tips for men.
Cleansing your skin is important to help wash away dirt, sweat and grime as well as help boost your unique complexion. Also known as ‘face wash’, there are some excellent cleansers for men on the market.
Cleansers have different properties. If you have oily skin, make sure you choose one that’s designed to keep oil at bay, and likewise for dry skin. Your skin should feel fresh and clean after cleansing, and can even help to wake you up in the morning. If your skin feels too tight or feels uncomfortable, then your cleanser might not be right for you.
Regular cleansing will help prevent blemishes, so if you go to the gym or workout, remember to cleanse afterward to stop sweat from clogging your pores, causing those nasty breakouts.
Do it when you shower
If your skin is something you tend to neglect, why not incorporate your skincare routine into your regular shower? Keep your products within easy reach, and you’ll save a lot of time. Warm water also helps to open up your pores, which is great for helping to clear them properly.
You should also think about shaving in the shower. If you have sensitive skin, then shaving in the shower can help make the process smoother, meaning you’ll be less likely to be irritated. Give it a try and see if it makes a difference the next time you shave!
Start exfoliating
Exfoliating is the process of removing dead skin cells, helping to leave skin smooth and adds another level of cleansing.
There are two kinds of exfoliators: manual and chemical. A manual exfoliator features some kind of scrubbing agent that helps to remove skin cells, and could also apply to an exfoliating sponge or face cloth. These types of exfoliants can be harsh, especially for sensitive skin, and are only recommended for use once or twice a week.
One of the benefits of exfoliating is that it can help give you a closer, smoother shave as your skin will be smoother for a razor to glide on. It can also help to remove some of the build-up caused by shaving that can lead to blemishes, bumps and of course, the dreaded ingrown hair.
Meanwhile, a chemical exfoliant works using different ingredients, such as lactic and glycolic acid, which can help to loosen dead skin cells with no scrubbing involved. Chemical exfoliants often come as toners or serums that you apply overnight.
There is a lot of choice when it comes to exfoliators for men, you just need to find the right one for your skin type.
Put a stop to spots
If you suffer from pimples, whether frequently or infrequently, you’ll know how embarrassing and unwelcome they can be. Women have the benefit of being able to cover them with makeup (something you could try too!), but there are things you can do to get rid of them fast.
Cleansing and exfoliating are good ways to start, but you can also invest in spot treatments to help tackle blemishes. There are many types of products you can apply before bed to help reduce spots, ease the redness and make them less sore to touch. After a day or two, your blemish will be gone and you’ll feel much more confident again.
One piece of very useful advice is never to pop the spot. Doing this can cause your skin to rupture and bruise, leading to infection. As the broken skin tries to heal itself, that’s when things will start to become crusty and difficult to hide. It’s best to apply a spot treatment and leave it the hell alone.
Try a toner
Toners are fantastic for providing an extra cleansing boost, as well as delivering a dose of nourishment, especially if you have oily skin. Applied after cleansing, toners can help ease different skincare concerns, and can leave your skin looking brighter. Toners aren’t a necessary part of your skincare routine, but they can provide you with additional benefits if you’ve got the time to add in another step to your morning routine.
Use a face mask now and then
While you might think a face mask is taking things too far, there are actually a number of benefits you could experience from treating your skin now and then. Face masks can provide a more intensive dose of your required ingredients and could help tackle anything from dry skin to dulling skin. Used once or twice a week, a face mask will leave your skin feeling renewed and refreshed, making it look younger and glowing
Choose the right moisturizer
If you do nothing else, make sure you moisturize. The importance of a good moisturizer can’t be stressed enough – it’s important to feed your skin and keep it hydrated. There are all kinds of moisturizers out there, from ones designed to help men with aging, to those that will ease sensitive skin, particularly after a shave.
Moisturize twice a day to see the benefits. It could be a case of trial and error to help you find the right one for your skin type, so try to use samples in the first instance where possible. With your skin left looking clean and hydrated, instead of oily or dirty, you can start your day knowing your skin looks great.
You can ditch the aftershave
Do you know the history of aftershave? It was actually designed to help prevent infection following a shave, with the alcohol designed to fight bacteria (hence the sting!). Razors have changed a lot over the years, making cuts rarer. Traditional aftershaves are starting to lose their place, but you could always choose a hydrating variety to help give you a smoother post-shave result.
Hydrate
Skincare isn’t just about the products you use; it’s also about the things you do to keep your skin looking great. Staying hydrated is one of them. Drinking your recommended daily amount of water will help to keep your skin from drying out, and stopping it from looking tight and wrinkled. There are some great tips to rehydrate that will ensure you’re always hydrated.
If you work out a lot, it’s hot or you’re particularly sweaty, then remember to increase your water intake, it will help.
Protect your skin from the sun
Protecting your skin against the sun is one of the most important skincare tips there is. Not only are you protecting yourself against skin cancer, but you’ll also help to prevent the signs of aging caused by UV and UVAs.
But applying your typical sunblock isn’t enough. You need to make sure you’re applying the right kind of sunscreen to stay protected. Look out for formulas that contain the right ingredients, and avoid those with nano-zinc ingredients. What is non nano zinc sunscreen, you ask? Well, a sunscreen without nano-zinc could be safer for your body and the environment, reducing the amount of artificial chemicals applied to your skin. Choose a product with a high SPF, this will give you the best protection from the sun.
Don’t forget your lips
In addition to caring for your skin, you also need to care for your lips. Keeping your lips soft and hydrated will help to prevent painful cracks and splits that can make it look like you’ve been in a fistfight!
There are some cool lip balms for men that will help soften your lips in no time. Apply before bed for an extra shot of hydration, and remember to use throughout the day as well to keep your lips smooth throughout the day.
As well as establishing a facial skincare routine, it is also crucial to show the rest of your body the same level of care and attention. Visits to the gym for intense workouts, hot summer days, and even everyday life can take their toll on the skin on your body. Keeping your body feeling clean and hydrated is essential to avoid issues caused by sweat, such as back acne and irritation in intimate areas. Using ball-wash, which is specially formulated for use in private areas, is essential to keep you feeling fresh and protect your skin from irritation.
Caring for your skin is an important part of self-care. When your skin looks great and you feel comfortable in it, you’ll be a much more confident person. Caring for your skin will boost your appearance but it’s not all about looks – it’s important for your hygiene too. Starting a new skincare routine can encourage you to develop some healthy new habits, and you’ll soon get used to your twice-daily routine. Adopting daily habits can bring order and structure to your life, helping you feel more in control than ever.
If your skin has been looking a bit dull and tired lately, then it’s time to overhaul your skincare. Get started today and watch your skin transform in just a matter of days!
An at-home dad on a mission to keep it real when it comes to food, fun, and raising a healthy, happy family.
