Perfecting a grooming routine is like tailoring a suit: To see results, all it takes is one small change at a time. You need to hem the trousers, tuck in the waist, shorten the sleeves, take out the chest – the list goes on. None of these alone mean anything. Together, they create something beautiful and personalized.
None of us need every little product the beauty market has to offer. Instead, consider what catches your eye in the mirror, in photos, or in the middle of a long day. These may include a shiny forehead, stubborn breathing, long-lasting acne scars, thinning hair on the temples. Each on its own is hardly anything, but taken together it’s more difficult to ignore.
And it takes a village. That’s why we consulted a dozen sages from the worlds of dermatology, dentistry, hair restoration and more to answer some of the most common questions in the fields of hair, skin and hygiene.
“My face gets shiny by noon, no matter what cleanser or moisturizer I use. How can I really manage that without drying out oily skin?”
Many men treat oil as if it’s the enemy, scrubbing it away with harsh cleansers or skipping moisturizer altogether. London plastic surgeon Dr Yannis Alexandrides, founder of 111 Harley Street And luxe skincare label 111Skin says this strategy could make things worse. “Shiny skin by noon usually means your skin is overproducing oil to compensate for dehydration or ineffective cleansing,” he explains.
In other words, despite the excess oil, your skin may actually be thirsty. Aggressive cleansing can lead to over-oil production, so Dr. Alexandrides urges you to be conservative: “The goal is not to strip the skin,” he says.
When the skin is properly hydrated and the pores remain open, oil production is automatically controlled. The glow doesn’t fade because you’ve removed it, but because your skin no longer needs to compensate.
Alexandrides recommends salicylic acid-based products to dissolve excess sebum and keep pores clear. Specifically, a gentle cleanser can remove build-up without damaging the skin barrier, followed by a light moisturizer that provides hydration without heaviness.
“I only want to shower once a day. Is it better to do so in the morning or at night—and why?”
There is no universal “right” time to shower. It depends on what you do with your days and nights. New York based cosmetic dermatologist Michelle Green She reminds us of the direct purpose of showering: “It’s essential for hygiene, as it removes dead skin cells, dirt, sweat, oil, pollutants and other impurities,” she says.
From a skin-health perspective, bathing at night has obvious benefits. “Bathing at night removes impurities accumulated throughout the day and prevents them from transferring to the sheets and pillowcases,” she says. It may also reduce microbial growth while you sleep, as bacteria and yeast feed on skin oil.
