Beauty Within / GQ FALL PARNERSHIP ISSUE 2015

SKIN REPORT
> Winter Saviors
Skin SOS
BY ALY WALANSKY
survival skills
WHEN THE WEATHER GETS
COOLER, WE OFTEN FEEL
LASTING EFFECTS ON OUR SKIN.
COLD CLIMATES WILL WREAK
HAVOC ON A FACE THAT IS OFTEN
ALREADY IRRITATED BY SHAVING
AND OTHER HABITS THAT GUYS
MAY PRACTICE EVERY DAY.
THE IMPORTANCE
OF A ROUTINE
If you don’t already have a skincare
routine, start by thinking
about what your skin is like and
what you put it through. Do you
shave every day? Do you know
your skin type? “If you don’t know
what your skin type is, look at it
in the afternoon and see what
areas may be glistening with oil
and what areas may look dry
and patchy,” says cosmetology
educator Stephanie Johnson
(www.hairfacephoto.com).
Awareness is key to coming up
with a plan. Once you have a
plan, it’s important to execute.
8 • FALL/WINTER
Men, historically, have assumed
that beauty or skin care routines
should be left to the ladies. That’s
far from the truth: Skin is skin,
and it needs care. So get over
that dated notion and be willing to
try new things. If you feel that an
entire step-by-step plan may be
too cumbersome to take on right
away, start with the essentials and
grow from there.
HEED THE CHANGING
SEASONS
“Your skin care routine should
change as the seasons change,”
says Dr. Steven Davis, boardcertified
plastic surgeon at Davis
Cosmetic Plastic Surgery (www.
daviscps.com) in Cherry Hill, N.J.
“You’ll want to use moisturizing
products in the winter to combat or
prevent dry, itchy skin. Ingredients
to look out for include hyaluronic
acid, which helps lock in moisture;
glycerin, which draws moisture
to the skin and locks it in; and
urea, which causes cells to retain
moisture. Although men may
not think it’s manly, they should
develop a regular skin care routine.
Keeping skin clean, moisturized
and protected will help prevent
unsightly and uncomfortable skin
ailments caused by the harsh
winter elements.”