Five Steps a Man Should Take for a Perfect Face

Every good-looking man realizes the importance of a clean, smooth face. No matter his race, shape or size, a man needs to employ certain steps and techniques to ensure he is looking (and feeling!) his best when it comes to facial care. These five steps are his key to just that:

Step number 1: exfoliate

This is such an important step in facial care, especially so for men who have much facial hair. Exfoliating not only removes dead skin, but it can also pull hairs out and away from the skin to prevent ingrowth that results from shaving. There are various ways to exfoliate, and they can include using a specially made facial scrub that will contain scrubbing beads (check out men's facial care on Drugstore.com for great deals on products built just for men), or you can make your own simply by combining sugar and a little olive oil. Or try a little oatmeal. Use your scrub in a circular motion very gently on the skin, and then wash off.

Step number 2: cleanse

There are some really great cleansers that are built just for men, or you can really use any type of facial cleanser. Please stay away from bar soaps and other soaps that are meant for your body, as these can be harsh on the unique and more delicate facial skin.

Step number 3: tone

This is another very underrated step that is so necessary. The purpose of a toner, which can be purchased at places like Wal-Mart and online on websites like Drugstore.com, is to remove any dirt that is still left on the skin after cleansing. One natural, effective toner that my husband loves is from the Burt's Bees line called "Garden Tomato", and can again be purchased at discount on Drugstore.com or on their own website BurtsBees.com. Simply pour a little of the toner onto a cotton ball and dab on face, and see how much dirt you remove!

Step number 4: shave

A man who is desiring a smooth, clean face needs to shave all that hair off! The trick to shaving, including the above 3 steps, is to shave with the growth of hair. On the face, shaving against the growth can produce lots of bumps and ingrown hair.

Step number 5: aftershave/lotion

The real purpose of aftershave or a facial lotion after shaving is not to smell good or to soothe the skin, but it really is to fill the pores to prevent ingrown hair! That is why it is such a vital step in facial care for men. For years, my husband would skip this step and would end up with ingrown hairs. But when he followed up all of the last four steps along with this one, things greatly improved!