Saturday, August 2, 2003
M A I N   F E A T U R E


Men over 35 need a facial too
Parvesh Handa

BEAUTY care is essential for men as it is for women. With grooming becoming a prerequisite in the corporate sector as well as for social dos, more and more Indian men are becoming conscious of their looks. The result is evident in the number of beauty parlours that have sprung up to cater to only men. Indian men today know about facial and can be recommended treatments for removing blackheads or tightening of the skin, head massage, manicure, pedicure, hair dressing, etc.

Men are more prone to skin problems than women. Male skin also shows up signs of ageing faster, perhaps because men spend more time in the sun and with less protection than women. Besides, men face problems such as pigmentation, dark circles and puffiness around the eyes, acne, baldness dry skin and obesity. A weekly facial can help men over the age of 35 to get rid of pigmentation problems.

 


Mix into a paste two tablespoons each of fuller’s earth (multani mitti) and milk to one tablespoon each of rose water and honey and add a pinch of soda bicarbonate. This mask tightens and bleaches the skin and leaves it feeling smooth and fresh. For another nutritious mask to keep skin smooth and wrinkle-free, mash and sieve a banana. Add honey to it. Apply for 15 to 20 minutes then rinse off. To counter acne, clean the skin thoroughly, avoid use of cosmetics and perfume, steam your face once a week to discourage blackheads, whiteheads, pustules and lumps. If the skin is very oily, use soap as many times as possible and massage your face and neck with a few drops of lime juice before sleeping at night.