 |
Memorial Day is right around the corner, and with it comes the traditional start of the summer season. Ahh, three months of barbeques and time spent outside in the warm sunshine. Many of us wait for the summertime all winter long – and now that it's here, it's time to get the skin and body all set for the season.
Whether you choose to spend your time at the beach, lake, pool, or on the deck or patio, a little prep time for your body now will ensure that you are ready to soak up every last moment of summer's lazy days. |
|
| |
|
Wishing you a fun summer!
Christine Cabral,
Editor
|
|
|
| |
PS: Please email us at experts@menscience.com with comments about this month's topic. Want to stay up-to-date on the latest MenScience articles? Subscribe to our RSS feed today. |
|
 |
| |
|
|
|
You should change your skincare regime when the weather changes to account for the temperature and moisture variations in the environment and to keep your skin looking refreshed. Follow these simple, yet not-always-obvious, summer skin tips:
DO:
- Do get rid of pore-clogging build up. Advanced Face Tonic is a great way to quickly get rid of the grime and excessive oiliness that summer brings to us all. A quick swipe as needed daily can help clear pores and keep your face break-out free.
- Do continue to moisturize. Just because the cold and dehydrating weather of winter has passed, it doesn't mean you don't need to use moisturizing lotion. Lightweight and oil-free, Advanced Body Lotion is perfect for softening the skin and adding moisture during the summer season. Make sure you apply it right after you dry off from the shower. It will seal in the moisture.
- Do use sufficient sunscreen. A teaspoon for the face and a tablespoon for each arm and leg (which should total a shot glass full for the whole body) are needed each time you apply. Make sure to get the spots that are commonly missed, like the backs of the knees, tops of feet, and nose. A lip balm with a sunscreen in it, like MenScience's Advanced Lip Protection, protects lips with a 30 SPF formula. Continue to reapply throughout the day to be sure you are being protected.
- Do opt for fresh sunscreen. Sunscreen is only designed to last a season or two, so to be on the safe side, it's best to start fresh. Toss out those old bottles and pick up a fresh tube of TiO2 Sunblock SPF 30.
DON'T
- Don't over scrub. By over-exfoliating, you can dry out your skin and wash away some of the important oils that naturally keep the skin balanced. Even though it's important to exfoliate the dead skin cells from your face, you have to be careful not to cause harm. How can you tell if you are exfoliating too often? Look for skin imperfections like whitehead cysts and excessive dryness. To be safe, don't exfoliate with a scrub more than every other day. For more exfoliation information, read our MenScience article called “How To: Exfoliate Your Skin.”
- Don't pick on acne. Messing with pimples will not only aggravate your skin, but the sun rays will also permanently darken inflamed acne scars. Avoid damage by using the MenScience Acne Treatment System instead of picking at acne. Apply sunscreen over breakouts if you'll be spending time under the sun.
- Don't forget the facial treatment. During the summertime, your face gets more exposure to the sun than it is used to, so you'll need to pamper yourself with a special facial treatment to keep it looking revitalized and fresh. Once or twice a week, gently smooth a dollop of the Facial Cleansing Mask over the face (avoiding the eyes and lips), allow it to dry, and then wash it away using lukewarm water. After using a green Matcha tea and clay mask, your skin will feel and look smoother and softer.
- Don't ignore your ears and feet. The tops of your ears and feet don't get much sun in the winter. Hats often don't do the job when it comes to ear sun protection, so remember to apply sunscreen on the tops of your ears. Research shows the ears are one of the most common places for skin cancer to appear. And now that it's sandal season, don't forget the tops of your feet, too!
- Don't skimp on the scalp. Ever forget to apply sunscreen to the scalp before a day at the beach, only to find a few days later what looks like dandruff on your shirt? It's quite possible that your scalp area (especially the part or exposed bald spot) was burned and is now peeling. Avoid this yucky mess by planning ahead – either wear a hat or rub a dime-sized amount of sunscreen between your finger tips then gently massaging into the scalp.
|
|
 |
| |
|
|
|
The term SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. It is a rating system approved by the US FDA that was designed to rate how much protection a sunscreen provides. Many skincare experts agree that SPF 30 gives you all the protection you need, as long as you reapply throughout the day.
The maximum time for full 30 SPF protection from a waterproof sunscreen, such as MenScience TiO2 Sunblock, is about 80 minutes in the water.
Always reapply throughout the day to prevent getting burned. How do you know if you are still getting coverage from your sunscreen? To figure out the length of time your SPF protects you from UVB rays per application, simply follow this formula:
Multiply the SPF by 10. This number is the total minutes that you will be getting the perfect maximum protection from your sunscreen.
So, for example, a SPF 30 x 10 = 300 minutes of sun protection.
Perfect protection doesn't account for reality – sweating or getting wet reduces the amount of time that you are covered. Plus, sometimes sunscreen can rub off on lawn chairs, towels, and clothing. Reapply every 1-2 hours, no matter what the SPF to be cautious.
|
|
 |
| |
| |
|
Like it or not, you will get to show your skin and body this summer, so start getting ready for some fun in the sun with a few of the latest fitness trends that we've found at MenScience.
- A New iPod Fitness App
Try FitDeck Mobile App. It's an iPhone application called FitDeck Bodyweight, and is based on the FitDeck card game. If you don't know what FitDeck is, you should - it's a deck of playing cards displaying different exercises that work. FitDeck is a great motivational tool you can use so you never get bored working out. The iPhone app is well worth the download. Some of the basic features include a timer for many of the exercises, the ability to rearrange your workouts at will, and an exercise log to track your workouts.
- A New Training Program
Zumba® training program mixes dance routines with hypnotic Latin rhythms. It's easy to follow and creates a real workout that is actually fun. The sessions are one hour, during which time you'll burn lots of fat calories with cardio, work muscles in resistance training, tone, sculpt, and achieve all of the long-term benefits of exercise.
- A New Nutritional Supplement
Start on the inside when getting in shape. Get fit the natural way by supplementing with MenScience 24 Fit System. It's a proprietary combination of natural health supplements that supports weight loss processes around the clock and is ideal to complement any exercise program. By helping to lower body fat content, increasing calorie burning, and supporting lean muscle gains, the 24 Fit System incorporates the natural health benefits of green tea and CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) to support weight loss processes naturally. The best way to make sure that this system becomes a successful part of your summer is to maintain consistency and permanence by enrolling in the 24Fit System auto ship option. To learn more tips about achieving lean muscle mass, read our article “Building a Better Body: How to Take Your First Steps towards Achieving Lean Muscle Mass.”
- A New Exercise Tool
Kettlebells are round cast iron weights with a contoured handle. They are typically coated like dumbbells. Once used by Russian athletes and soldiers to develop endurance and improve strength, kettlebells are the hottest new-old thing in portable, inexpensive exercise aids. They are increasingly popular because they require the use of the entire body to maintain stability and balance which strengthens the core muscles. Kettlebells give an overall body workout that engages several muscle groups, giving you more results for less workout time. To help you best metabolize fat and build more muscle, use a supplement like MenScience's CLA Formula.
| |
|
 |
 |
Customer Testimonial: "I took the TiO2 sunscreen with me to Hawaii in November and used it every day. This could very well be my favorite sunscreen..." - Daniel, NY
MenScience's dermatological -grade TiO2 Sunblock SPF30 offers long-lasting, broad spectrum coverage with a sun protection factor of 30. It's the ideal sunscreen for men—not greasy or pasty white – and because it is waterproof and ultra light it's great for all physical activities and sports.
If having a grease- and shine-free formula wasn't enough, the TiO2 Sunblock SPF 30 is also infused with such nourishing ingredients as Allantoin, Aloe, Green Tea and Vitamin E, so it moisturizes to promote healthy skin while protecting. Better still – it's non-comedogenic (so you won't breakout) and scent-free (you know, without the overripe cantaloupe smell?). For more about how the wrong kind of sunblock can create breakouts, read “Comedogenic vs. Non-Comedogenic: How Does it Relate to Acne and Men's Skin Care?”
TiO2 Sunblock SPF 30 is ideal sun protection because it:
- Deflects and absorbs UVA/UVB rays for the broadest protection available
- Immediately absorbs into the skin and won't run into eyes
- Moisturizes, nurtures and softens
- Helps combat the aging process caused by the damaging effects of the sun
|
Titanium dioxide (also known as TiO2) is a FDA-approved ingredient that deflects UV rays from the skin's surface and complements other sunscreen ingredients for maximum sun blockage. Titanium Dioxide provides a physical layer of protection, causing harmful rays to be deflected or absorbed. The solid white appearance of Titanium Dioxide makes it useful as a pigment to color a variety of things from correction fluid and paint to toothpaste and cosmetics. At MenScience we use a proprietary clear, non-greasy, and micronized variety to ensure that the formula goes on matte and is invisible.
|
|
 |
*Disclaimer: The information provided in these materials has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products featured in these materials are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Any information originating from MenScience is provided for informational purposes only and it is not meant to substitute for the advice of a doctor or health care professional. In no event shall MenScience be liable for any direct or indirect damages whatsoever in connection with the use, inability to use, or performance of the information, services, products and materials available from MenScience. |
