Whats The Latest Trend In Mens Skin Care

One of the most common questions I hear every where I go is "what's new in men's skin care?" While kind of a vague question (as this could mean anything from the newest, most effective ingredients to what new products are available), the beauty of men's skin care is that it really doesn't matter "what's new" if you just want to do what is right for your skin ... as what's really important comes down to what I call "the basic five":

1. Nourish Your Skin - What I mean by this is, that like any living thing, your skin needs certain nutrients to maintain its health. Eat right, use a moisturizer that contains antioxidants and other ingredients known for their support of your outer layer, and you'll be well on the way to healthy, great looking skin.
2. Clean Your Skin - Let your skin "breathe" by removing environmental pollutants, dirt, and oil (maybe that's what mom had in mind when she told you to wash your face!).
3. Protect Your Skin - The key to younger, healthier skin is avoiding damage in the first place. A few preventive measures can be much more effective than corrective ones. Needless to say, using a moisturizer with at least an SPF of 25 is one of your strongest "weapons" against damage from skin's biggest enemy ... UV rays. Keep in mind too that dry skin is an enemy to your overall "derm well-being"... but the good news is that it is fairly easy to overcome in most cases.
4. Be "Cognoscente" Of Your Skin - No one knows your skin the way you do. Be on the look out for sudden changes to its appearance and the way that it feels. If you feel or see something that is worrisome or you aren't familiar with (and/or have a question about), see a doctor immediately. Dealing with an issue in the early stages is usually easier to address.
5.  Rest Your Skin - I'm a big believer that the right amount of "good" sleep is one of the best ways to insure that your skin will look and feel its best (experts recommend at least 7 hours a night)... and it's a benefit that's free! Sometimes the simplest things in life are indeed the most effective.

Sure, when someone asks me "what's the latest in men's skin care?," I can go into a diatribe about all of the newest products on the market or the latest ingredient research I've seen, but for me it always comes back to the "basic five" when it comes to "news" that matters (and you can thank me later for sparing you from info like  "Ryan Seacrest is launching his own men's skin care line").