If you’re like most men, you probably have no idea what a skin tonic (a.k.a. "skin toner”) actually does, nor have you ever considered using one. A skin tonic is a great way to remove deep-down organic residue and oil, while rebalancing your skin’s moisture levels and softening it at the same time. Use it to cleanse the skin. Think of it as secret tool that you can use to get rid of any residues or grime possibly left behind by daily washing. Use a tonic that doesn’t contain alcohol or harsh ingredients, and refines the skin without any irritation.

Another critical function of a toner is that it helps balance the pH of your skin. The initials "pH" stands for "potential of hydrogen" -- pH is the measure of acidity / alkalinity of your skin. Your skin is naturally acidic, which is the body’s way of keeping bacteria and contaminants in check. With increasing age the skin’s pH becomes more and more neutral, and thus more susceptible to bacterial growth and other imbalances that can affect the appearance and health of the skin. Reduced acidity kills fewer bacteria than before, leaving the skin susceptible to bacterial growth, infections and other skin conditions. The skin weakens as a result and begins developing problems as well as losing its natural, fresh appearance. The aging process of the skin causes changes in collagen and elastin, which is the connective tissues underlying the skin that gives the skin its firmness (collagen) and elasticity (elastin). The rate of loss of skin firmness and elasticity differs from individual to individual, depending on their genetic makeup, general health, sun exposure, and skin care regime.

Soaps and detergents are two ways that skin pH is altered. Both are highly alkaline (pH range 9-11) and can raise the skin’s pH to be unnaturally alkaline. This can be adjusted by using a skin toner designed especially for men’s skin. A tonic will restore the normal pH of the skin and thus provide an environment not conducive to the growth of bacteria and less prone to other attacks. Menscience Advanced Tonic is a refreshing way to keep your skin looking and feeling fresh, clean and healthy.

If you have troubled skin, you might be left asking yourself, “How many times a day should I be washing my face to avoid skin problems like pimples and outbreaks?” Read our article called “Five Things You Should Know About Acne” to learn more about skin tonics and keeping your skin clean.

If you are seriously trying to lose weight, you may want to consider removing certain foods from your daily diet in order to be successful. Problem foods can instantly sabotage your dieting efforts and zap all the good that you’ve done all day. Spring clean your diet by looking closely at what you are eating, and wiping out the problem foods that are on the list below:

Problem 1: White Bread
While white bread is a staple of the American diet for some, it’s also a refined carb, which basically means your body handles it like sugar. White bread is typically ‘enriched’. This means that the ingredients are processed, and during this processing natural nutrients are stripped away and artificial additives are added. White bread doesn't pack the nutritional punch of whole grains.

“Lite" or diet versions of white bread aren't such a good idea either, even though they contain fewer calories than regular white bread they don’t have the nutritional value you need when losing weight. And brown bread doesn’t mean it is whole grain. Read our article “MenScience Dispels More Nutritional Myths” for more information.

Need another reason to opt for whole grains? White bread digests much more quickly than whole grain varieties and therefore leaves you feeling hungry again much sooner. Add to that the fact that whole grains have a much higher percentage of dietary fiber which is a critical nutrient to keep your digestive and cardiovascular system in good shape. Dropping white bread is a no brainer.

Problem 2: Sugary Sports Drinks
Many sports drinks are loaded with sugar and empty calories. The sugar makes them addicting which means more damage to your diet. Just one serving of some sports drinks contains more than 100 calories, so if you run 3 miles and gulp one bottle of a sports drink, you probably washed away your entire workout. The sugars alone can add up to thousands of liquid calories--not to mention the effect on your teeth and blood sugar levels.

Many sports drink manufacturers market their beverages as exercise performance enhancers, but the energy boost is only temporary and is usually followed by a blood sugar crash. Follow your workout with plenty of plain water, and consider an enhancement supplement like 24Fit System to help support your exercise plan by helping you to burn more calories and metabolize fat.

Problem 3: Sugary Fruit Juices
Fruit Juice = Healthy? Wrong! Sure, it sounds like it is always the healthy choice, but fruit juice can contain as many calories as soda. One small glass of orange juice packs in just over 100 calories. So, if you drink several glasses throughout the day, you could once again be downing thousands of liquid calories. Of course, all-natural juice is preferable to artificial drinks, thanks to their vitamin content. But if you're really looking for a better caloric bargain that will benefit your health, choose whole fruit instead of juice. You'll take in fewer calories, more vitamins, and more fiber which will keep you feeling fuller longer and will help you metabolize calories more efficiently.

Problem 4: Fattening Frozen Dinners
Read every label, even if the meal sounds healthy. Each frozen dinner has its own caloric and nutritional content. Even though packages labeled with wording such as “lean” and ‘healthy’ may be lower in fat and calories than traditional frozen meals, they can vary significantly even if they are made by the same company. A good rule of thumb is to choose meals with 300 calories or less and always supplement them with a veggie-filled side salad, which will leave you feeling satisfied.

Problem 5: Full-Fat Dairy
Dairy is essential in a healthy diet. Calcium has also been found to actually help with weight loss efforts. But full-fat dairy products are filled with fat, which wipes away the waistline benefits. Foods like whole milk and regular cheese can wreak havoc on your dieting efforts. A small glass of regular milk actually packs in as much fat as a small hamburger patty. Adjust your tastes to reduced fat or fat free dairy products, and you can still enjoy cheeses, milk, yogurt, and even ice cream without noticing much of a difference.