Ask an Esthetician #1

“I’ve noticed that as I’m getting older, my pores seem more prominent. What can I do?”

Keeping skin clean and exfoliating regularly allows the pores to remain tight and appear smaller and more refined. But the best thing you can do for your pores is keep your skin hydrated. The more moisture your skin holds, the healthier the skin’s cellular structure is, and the more minimized your pores will appear. Try our Skin Perfecting Lotion for deep, healthy hydration overnight—Rita G.

How Hormonal Aging Affects Your Skin

Estrogen has such a dramatic effect on the body, we often forget how much it does for our skin. This essential hormone keeps skin soft, supple and firm by encouraging collagen production. Along with its connective partner elastin, collagen makes up our skin’s structural support system. Together, they’re responsible for the skin’s youthful resiliency.

During the years leading up to menopause (late 30s to mid-40s) the body continues to produce skin-enhancing estrogen–but in increasingly limited quantities. Studies show that skin loses up to 30% of its collagen in the first five years after menopause. The skin can become more fragile and thin with increased wrinkling, sagging and the possibility of facial hair and acne breakouts.

Menopause begins when your ovaries start to make significantly less estrogen and progesterone, typically between the ages of 45 and 55. Since the face has a high concentration of estrogen receptors, menopause may be at its most visible there–in the form of deep creases, dull tone and crepe-like texture.

Learn More About Hormonal Aging Skincare and Resurgence®.

Murad Man
Co-Created by Jeff Murad

Depending on personal style and work situation, almost all men have to shave with some frequency— generally more often than we’d like. For men with thin beards, this is just one of life’s many minor nuisances which can leave behind redness and irritation. For those of us with thick and/or curly beards, it can come down to a choice between a tedious, painstaking operation or a bumpy and even bloody mess.

Most of us have learned the basic shaving tips for dealing with this by now such as shaving in the direction of the hair and changing blades regularly. The one very effective step in the shaving process that we all too often ignore is the pre-shave preparation. This does not necessarily have to add much extra time or effort on your part, and it will make an enormous difference on the quality of your shave and your skin.

When we wake up in the morning, our faces have built up a layer of dead skin that is holding the facial hair to our skin. This makes us have to work harder to shave them off, which increases the chances of irritating the skin in the process. This is why the pre-shave preparation is so important.

To help entice you to give this step a try, I have four great recommendations for incorporating the preparation phase into your shaving regimen:

• Shower before you shave. The steam will help to open your pores and soften the hairs. This doesn’t have to take any extra time. We’ve got to shower anyway, right?
• Wash your face with an exfoliating cleanser before you shave to uncover and prepare your beard - this is especially effective when done in the shower. Murad Man’s Cleansing Shave makes this option even easier by combining the cleanser and shave cream into one step.
• Try using a gentle exfoliating mask for 10 minutes before your shave. This doesn’t have to take any extra time. Just leave it on while you drink your coffee or read the paper. This is sort of a modern day version of lounging back in an old-school barber shop with a soothing hot towel wrapped around your face before a professional expertly goes to work on you with a straight blade. Not only will this give you one of the smoothest, easiest shaves of your life, your skin will glow all day (which may even have the added benefit of countering the ill effects on your complexion from last night’s festivities).
• Finally, if your gym has a sauna, and you have the time to stop by before you to to work, a few minutes soaking in that heat will do wonders to open your pores and soften your beard. Plus it is a great way to start your day calm and focused.

Employee Profile: Katherine LaFranchise

Katherine LaFranchise, Senior Director, Web Marketing