Face it gentlemen. We’re as susceptible as the ladies are. The sun and sand and weather beaten look was great on the Marlboro man. The rest of us arent going to feature on a poster, smoking a ciggie and sitting on a horse with all the cowboy paraphernalia on.
Hair and skin care wasnt important in the early years. But after facing the elements for many a year, they started losing their texture and their quality.
I’m no expert in this subject but I’m going to share a handful of practices that have helped a great deal in that quest to AGE GRACEFULLY!
My review is devoid of scientific facts as I am not qualified to write about that. These are just little facts learnt over a period of time that I share with you:
Skin
The skin is the largest organ in your body(its all over the place). Its a triple duty organ that
PROTECTS you from the wild world and elements
Regulates your body temperature
Makes you look good(the saying’OOOOOOH. WHAT GREAT SKIN’ testifies)
Being the part of your body that is EXPOSED to the outside world, the skin is prone to CUTS, BRUISES, and a host of ailments that can range from mild allergic rashes to even that legendary killer - cancer.
Hair
If you think about it, the only place where hair seems useful is in the nose where it helps filter out dust particles and other foreign elements. Hair does add to the overall aesthetic appearance of the human being but then again. there are some people who look awesome without a strand of hair. Its all in the eye and in the confidence of the person.
From the Inside
The great thing about skin is its quality to regenerate and repair itself. Cuts and wounds heal. Rashes disappear. The epidermis(top layer of skin) is constantly regenerating itself(dead skin cells fall off and give way to new cells). To do this, you need a diet thats packed with nutrients. Your daily dose of fruit and vegetable has to be good. And you need PLENTY of water to flush out toxins from within.
Without
We’re made up of water. Our body contains a reservoir of the substance. The skin uses it to regulate the body’s temperature. We sweat to cool down, but in the process we lose a lot of moisture. A lot of moisture escapes through the skin and causes the skin to look dry. In addition to drinking plenty of fluids to supplement this loss, pamper your skin once in a while. A moisturising cream might sound sissy but it works(I borrow my baby’s cream once in a while. when she grows up she might yell at me but atleast I’ll have great skin)
Men dont believe all that much in sunscreen/sunblock lotions and stuff but these do a great job in slowing down the aging process. A high TPF one is great for people who live in hotter climes.
Soaps can do a lot of damage. I’ve given up on almost all soaps except one that a dermatologist once advised me to use - DEWDERMA - a moisturising soap with jojoba. DOVE is a decent soap. Baby soaps and shampoos are good as they are mild.
Hair Care
Natural stuff works best. Oils, yoghurt etc. I got no thoughts on this one but I do know that dandruff is a pain in the head. so if you see white flakes, use a good shampoo that gets rid of them or consult a dermatologist(wiser move).
A drop of Tea Tree oil in your regular shampoo can help too. Or if you dont like all that mixing and stuff, get a tea tree oil based shampoo and conditioner.
The Wonder Vitamin - E
This is the greatest weapon in the anti-aging war. It can increase your skins ability to block harmful Ultra Violet rays and also help regenerate skin cells. Its also essential for healthy hair.
Get your daily required dose of Vitamin E by munching on Olives(I told you olives were good), Almonds, Papaya, Spinach etc. Sunflower seeds contain a high dose of Vitamin E(cooking food in sunflower oil might be the key). If you arent getting your required dose through diet, talk to a dermatologist and consider taking supplements in tablet format.
I had a bad case of sun allergy once and Vitamin E supplements took care of my skin and healed it completely in a weeks time.
Confidence is the key
I wrote in a review on exercising that you should fall in love with the mirror. Its because we exude what we feel within. Start loving life and loving yourself(not in an uber vain way. in a pleasant happening way). And love your body. It will automatically respond to you.
Conclusion
A little care goes a long way! Aging is inevitable. Aging GRACEFULLY is completely possible.
~finis~