Skin care is an essential aspect of personal care and grooming, be it for women or men. Many men tend to ignore healthy skin and grooming as “unmanly, ” but healthy skin is important not only from a cosmetic perspective but also from a hygiene and health perspective. Men must put in the effort to groom themselves with necessary and basic skincare elements that will
Here are some important guidelines when it comes to skin health and care.
Skin health is not simply about washing with soap and water. As we age, the quality of skin changes and so the kind of soap or cleanser you use on your skin can make a big difference to whether you have healthy skin or not.
Most experts on skin care recommend a regular moisturizing ritual using a moisturizing gel or cream that is fortified with vitamin A and C. Moisturizers that are boosted with antioxidants, peptides, and other essential fatty acids are considered to be very effective in hydrating the skin and giving it a healthy glow.
When using a moisturizer, gently massage a small quantity into the pores of the skin, taking care to go in circles.
Another often ignored aspect of personal care is shaving. When shaving, do remember to use a sharp razor that gives you a clean shave. Using a razor with a blunted edge can cause skin irritation. As a pre-shaving routine wash your face with a mild soap and warm water. Using a shaving cream applied by a good shaving brush will help to raise the hairs and affords a close shave without cuts. Post shaving, one could wash with cold water and gently dab the skin dry. Many men also prefer to use an aftershave lotion to soothe the skin. The aftershave lotion also helps to enhance the glow of the face.
A healthy skin routine necessarily includes cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. This is especially important as our skin is constantly exposed to dirt and grime when we live in large cities and these can clog the pores of the skin. There are a variety of chemical and herbal skin care products that contribute to skin health.
Gentle exfoliation is recommended but over exfoliation can chafe the skin.
Given the intensity of the sun’s heat, a mild sunscreen is recommended by cosmetic specialists especially when one is outdoors but choose a sunscreen with a moderate SPF and which suits your skin type.
Another important tip when it comes to healthy skin is to avoid picking at pimples or acne spots on the face, as this will only cause infection or scarring. In most cases. It is recommended that the skin is left alone.
A nutritious mineral rich diet and adequate sleep are also essential for developing and maintaining healthy skin.
Like a good watch or a pair of dark-washed jeans, the right pair of sunglasses can complement any look. Immediately practical and indulgent, a new pair of shades is just the right purchase to prepare you for warmer weather and longer days. If you want your sunglasses to last, skip the drug-store glasses and Ray-Ban Facebook knockoffs and invest in real quality.
This season’s trends have brought a re-emergence of classic styles along with some bold departures for the more daring gentlemen. Below are five of our favorites:
1. AO Eyewear Original Pilots
A favorite of US Air Force pilots, these classic glasses are fit just about any face shape. Engineered to military specifications, they’re durable enough to stand up to a good bit of abuse. The American Optical website offers customization options for the pair you choose, including size, frame finish and lens color. Any brand used by the military is a safe bet in terms of quality and durability; these glasses have the additional benefit of looking great.
2. Persol PO3019S
These classic shades are timeless and versatile enough to be worn in any season. Known for their high quality and perfect fit, Persol’s glasses are made with crystal-tempered lenses that create no vision distortion. Persol manages to be classy with being pretentious, a hard middle ground to maintain.
3. Ray-Ban Clubmaster Classic
Ray-Bans became a bit of a trend in the earlier 2000’s, but they’ve always been an American classic. The Clubmaster design is a great option for men as its boxy design adds great structure and angularity to the face. The Clubmaster is at once youthful, fun and intellectual. Ray-Ban is the classic American symbol of the refined bad boy; these shades are a great way to celebrate summer in a refined way.
4. Randolph Engineering Concordes
One of the pricier options on the list, the Concordes are a great option to splurge on. These shades are named after the famous Concorde airliner, the jet that could fly between London and New York in record time. Designed with an air of international flavor and class, these glasses are built to military spec in a classic Aviator style. Including 23 karat gold options as well as a lifetime warranty, these glasses can last for a lifetime if cared for properly. If you’ve always liked the class and style of private pilots, these glasses are a great fit for you.
5. Oakley Holbrook
Oakleys have a reputation among snowboarder bros and Monster Energy-drinkers, but they live beyond the stereotype. The Holbrook is a great, conservative design with a boxy frame that makes most guy’s faces look great. As Oakley is a brand known for its technology, these glasses include the signature Oakley HDO optics which promise to give distortion-free vision.
There’s just something about a classic pick up truck. As far as stature and power, the following trucks led the way as far as impressive styling, engine power, hauling and off road capabilities that, no doubt, inspired the design of many pickups on the road today.
Here’s our list of the six most tried and true pickup trucks in history:
When I was a kid, all the cool teens had a Ford Bronco, but those with a limited edition Baja Bronco were king of the road. Why? As far as off-roading capabilities, the Baja offered a powerful 302-cid V8 paired with a C4 automatic, plus drivers got a impressive boost due to the high cut rear wheel wells and flares, which left ample room for huge tires. The Baja screamed daring adventure roll cage and special enhancements made to offer heavy-duty suspension.
Ford longed to take their classic F150 off-road, but it took until 2009 for them to create the Raptor, a pick up that offered smooth driving and handling and four-wheeling on even the most extreme desert terrain. Not to mention, this truck could haul an 8000-pound trailer. No problem! Offered in a SuperCrew cab and SuperCab configuration, the Raptor also featured a 4WD system based on the standard F-150, plus urethane bump stops and internal-bypass Fox Racing shocks, which allowed for smooth-riding suspension over the roughest roads and highest jumps.
More of a conversion kit than a model truck, Napco (otherwise known as the Northwest Auto Parts Company) made up for the fact that 1950s pickups didn’t come in 4WD (opposed from Dodge). So Napco designed a 4WD offered a conversion kit that let Chevy, Fords, and GMC owners get the 4WD power they longed for. By the year 1957, pick up manufacturers finally caught on and began installing Napco Power-Pak 4WD conversions on their assembly line pick ups.
While GM and Ford enthusiasts may have issue with this truck, one can hardly match the ruggedness of the Dodge Ram of the early 90’s with it’s Cummins diesel engine. In fact, you can still witness the impact of this redesigned Ram on many GM and Ford trucks to this day, with it’s “big rig” styling.
Prior to the Ford F-150, the Highboy was king of the Ford pick up empire. A tough-as-nails truck renowned for it’s ultra-rugged driving capabilities on any terrain, the Highboy was named for its sky-high frame and 35-inch tall tires that was inches taller than any Jeep, Dodge, or GM on the market. After 1977, the Highboy was considered a “Lowboy” as it was constructed at least 2-inches lower, which is why the original pre-1977 model is now considered a collector’s item.
When a celebrity race car driver pairs up with an auto manufacturer, sometimes the results can be disappointing, which was sort of the case when Rod Hall collaborated with Chrysler to birth the Rod Hall Signature Edition Dodge pick up truck. Only 33 of these beauties were made, and despite the Dodge Ram 150 base design, bed-mount light bar and driving lights, and slick pre-runner front and rear bumpers, for some reason Dodge plopped in a whimpy 318-cid V8 with only 170 hp. Despite the fact, this truck continues to be a collector’s item among pick up truck buffs.
The pickup truck is synonymous with America. It’s tough. It works hard. And it has no problem getting dirty to get the job done. This is likely why the pickup truck continues to be among the best selling vehicle in North America. Regardless of if you’re part of team Dodge, Ford, or Chevy, you know that owning a truck offers a truly unique driving experience compared to any sedan, small compact, or even an SUV.
Here are our top reasons to super-size your driving experience to a pickup truck:
If it’s room you desire, ignore any desires to buy a sleek, compact car and turn to a pickup instead. Seriously, a recent Chevy Silverado offers ample legroom and cargo space for a comfortable daily commute or road trip because who wants a leg cramp to start the work day. Passengers can literally stretch their legs out in a roomy four full pickup truck with ample room for tools and everything you need.
Perhaps power and hauling capabilities are your biggest concern when thinking about pickup truck ownership. However, believe it or not safety is a huge benefit of pickup truck ownership. positive! Think about the safety features built in to most full-size trucks—you get a caged cab, vehicle stability, safety seatbelt systems, side impact protection, and even trailer sway control already built into your vehicle.
Sure, if you own a pickup truck you kind of open yourself up to helping every single person you know move house. However, when it comes to hauling your own stuff, you can’t go wrong with a pickup truck. Take a truck like the Chevy Silverado for example, you can suddenly haul up to 12,000 pounds no problem thanks to the impressive torque and horsepower. Suddenly your vehicle can easily transition from work truck to off road camping vehicle of your dreams.
If it’s a boost you want, a pickup is your best bet when it comes to the best visibility on the road. The height of a standard pickup truck cabin permits a view over most other vehicles on the highway. Is that a traffic jam 6 blocks ahead? Luckily, you’ll be able to see it and take a quick detour if you drive a pickup. Not to mention, the cab of a pick up offers the driver and all passengers all-round visibility, front, back and side thanks to huge rear and side-view mirrors.
Leading us into the next reason why trucks are such great vehicles.
Putting aside all jokes about overcompensating, there is little doubt that many individuals choose to drive a pickup for the sheer power it offers. While Ford, Chevy, and GM differ as far as horses under the hood, most current trucks offer between 350- to 440-horsepower (hp) if you consider a Ford F-250 or a Dodge Ram.
Pickup trucks represent the American dream. And while car buyers have vered from SUV to sports coupe over the past few years, pickup truck buffs tend to harken to the past when it comes to sticking with their love of the classic pickup truck. Many of the following classic trucks in good condition sell for a pretty steep price among collectors.
Here are four of the most coveted collectible pickup trucks:
Considered neither a car nor a truck, the Bronco was unique as far a broaching the needs of both a car and a truck driver, which explains it’s motto “the best of both worlds”. This cube shaped truck debuted for 1966 in rudimentary form for a mere $2400 (base model). However, it was the impressively wide (at 92-inches) wheelbase that offered serious off roading, smooth highway driving, and extreme towing capabilities in a single vehicle. Touted literally as a sports car with 4-wheel drive, the Bronco was mounted on coil springs and outfitted with a V8 engine that could literally take drivers from camping to off roading while offering the style and comfort of a family wagon. Today, this year range of Ford Bronco retails for $25k plus.
Behold the inaugural Ford F-series pickup. Think of it as the crown of America’s trucking obsession. Considering this Ford series has ranked in the best-selling for decades, many pickup truck owners are still firmly planted in the Ford camp thanks to this very vehicle. If you’re lucky enough to find a 1948 Ford F1 for sale, you can expect to pay upwards of $30K depending on condition and customizations.
Looking at this truck, there’s little wonder that it was originally designed in the early 1940’s for military purposes. However, the Dodge Power Wagon caught on in the mainstream market due to its ability to travel virtually anywhere. The impressive 4×4 capabilities of this truck was so good that it there were no revisions until it was discontinued in 1968. If you spot one, expect to pay $45k or more!
It was called the “Super” for good reason. This high-option, everyday use pickup truck boosted unique interior design with a/c, tach dash, power brakes and steering, headliners, and tilt columns. Plus, the exterior could be costoumize with special paint and trim. Find one and expect to pay up to $30k for a model in good condition with lots of options.
