Ask Afrobella – For Men

So I got a rare (possibly the first and only) question from a male reader recently. That made me happy, realizing that Afrobella is being read and enjoyed by men and women alike. I’ll try to be more inclusive from now on. Guys, feel free to ask me whatever hair or skin care questions you’ve got and I will try my best to answer. Whether it’s by doing research or asking an expert, I will try to find a solution.

Thaddeus responded to my Island Remede post about the magical powers of aloe vera with the following question: Would this work for men with extremely oily skin? Hit me back with an email. As a matter of fact, any skin care for men (with oily skin and constant breakouts)?

Thaddeus, you are definitely not alone with skin care issues. Just ask Diddy.

He used Proactiv for seven years! Just goes to show you that no matter how rich or famous you are, it’s always smart to preserve your sexy and moisturize your situation.

Putting your dirty hands on your face and squeezing a zit without properly cleaning your face or hands will most likely lead to more breakouts. Ideally, to prevent breakouts and reduce oil, you need to keep your face as clean as possible, and use some kind of oil-control serum or lotion. Most dudes balk at the serum part and slack on the cleansing,
too. This site is great for skin care advice for the acne-prone.

My husband went through many breakout issues well into his twenties, but finally, at 26 he’s got it under control. Possibly some of the change is hormonal, but I also like to think it’s because of my surreptitious skin care assistance. You see, for some reason my man doesn’t take good care of his skin. He seems to see skin care as prissy. Then he wants to get mad and maul his face when he breaks out. He doesn’t even acknowledge the vicious cycle of his regimen.

I used to try to talk him into using a clay mask to remove impurities. He refused, muttering “masks are for girls.” So, I noticed that he would always try my bath products when he was taking a shower, and I bought a special product that made the world of difference. Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser/Mask to the rescue!

I love this stuff! It made a truly noticeable difference to the texture of his skin, and it seems my nagging might almost have had a positive effect. He now makes a real effort to at least pop his pimples the right way. (And please read that link all the way through before you start busting out needles and candles. That’s only for the most dire of circumstances in my opinion.)

He uses the face wash/mask in the shower, and he occasionally switches it up with Clean & Clear Deep Action Cream Cleanser. He prefers the creamy face washes to foaming washes or scrubs for some reason. Whenever he’s got a really out-of-control breakout, he uses Clean & Clear Persa-Gel 10 at night.

My husband also tried Proactiv. It worked well for him, but the price made him not want to buy more of it. This University Medical AcneFree Clear Skin Treatment kit is currently on sale for $17.99 at Drugstore.com and seems comparable to Proactiv according to the reviewers.

If you have really serious acne, a dermatologist could give you a perscription for Accutane. However – call me crazy – I would steer clear of a skin-care medicine that could potentially cause rectal bleeding. Nobody needs that.

To control oily skin during the day, take my two cents of advice and try an oil-control serum. I just purchased Iman’s Under Cover Agent, which she raved over when I interviewed her. Iman actually went so far as to say that’s her favorite product in the line. I’ll do a review sometime soon and let you know how it works for me. And nobody will think you’re wearing foundation or makeup, it goes on clear and keeps your skin matte.

If your oil situation is embarrassing during the day, there is absolutely nothing wrong with using blotting linens. I know quite a few guys who do. I did a post on them (click here) comparing some of my faves. For guys, I would recommend the Boscia or the Clean & Clear, so as to avoid looking powdery. Also, these Biore Shine Control Sheets seem to work well and don’t use mineral oil as an ingredient like the Clean & Clear.

Good luck, Thaddeus! Thanks for writing!