For many years skincare has been the sole preserve of the ladies. After all, men don’t need it, do they?

As I came downstairs to breakfast the other day, my wife stroked my cheek lovingly.

‘Your skin is so soft!’ she said almost wonderingly. ‘I really don’t know how you manage it!’

Now my wife is a dear, dear woman but she thinks that a soft skin is only achievable by using amounts of night cream, day cream, anti-wrinkle cream (not that she has any anyway!), protein cream and just about any other cream that the cosmetic companies can dream up.

She, like many other ladies, is convinced that many men have made a pact with the Prince of Darkness in return for facial skin that is not only soft but free from spots and blemishes. I will probably be marked for use as a bridge support filler or receive a nice pair of concrete overshoes from the League For Excessively Scratchy Chins for revealing the truth but I can contain myself no longer: men really do use skincare products!

There. I’ve said it. What a relief to finally ‘come out’ (about men’s skin, that is). The thing that is different about men’s facial skincare and that used by women is that men don’t pay anywhere near as much for theirs – and that’s because men do something to their faces every day that women never, ever do. They shave.

Now I know women shave their legs and sometimes other unmentionable bits. All we men know that. But they don’t do it every day. So why does that make a difference?

Oh, well, the cat’s out of the bag now so I may as well tell you everything. The act of shaving, when done daily, is an excellent exfoliant. A razor doesn’t only take away the stubble from the chins and cheeks of the average male, it also removes quite a few of the old dermal cells. This tends to leave our homely pans soft and smooth – especially if you use (as an increasing number of today’s guys do) a straight razor.

That’s the reason why – when we’re freshly planed off – the facial skin of your everyday male is as soft as a woman’s that has had enough cream on it to make a raspberry pavlova. The only problem is that it doesn’t last. Hence the tendency in recent years for an increasing number of guys to reach for the bottle.

The skincare-for-men bottle, that is. I’m not convinced that I am the first to have uttered this truth as to the original method of skincare for men – shaving – and doubtless the cosmetic companies’ intelligence task force has been keeping their ear well and truly stuck to the floor over the years. So what do we have now? You got it in one – cream for men.

Oh, they don’t call it ‘cream’. Far too girly. It’s called ‘rejuvenating facial cream’ or something equally crafty – it simply wouldn’t do to call it ‘day cream’ or ‘cool night cream’, would it? It’s done like this. After we men have carefully eradicated all traces of stubble, in proper manly fashion with some horribly sharp steel, we are smiled at from some webpage by an incredible hunk with biceps like footballs and a six-pack made of very large ballbearings who suggests that it would be a good idea to – moisturise our skin!

And do you know what the worst thing about it is? Yep. It works. Guess what I got for Christmas last year? Worse still, guess what I bought recently? Resistance, as has been said, was futile.

The male skincare culture steamroller is gathering momentum. We poor males, hapless victims of our own primitive but effective skincare method, have been sucked into mainstream skincare by forces we can hardly comprehend. What happened to the good old days when the only perfume men wore was good, honest sweat and we all changed our socks once a week even if they were reasonably pong-free? When boxer shorts were things boxers wore and after-shave lotion was considered only fit for wearing on a hot date?

Don’t know about you but I sure thank my lucky stars they’re firmly in the past! Now where’s my anti-aging wrinkle-destroying masculine protein emollient?

Steve Dempster is a recent and happy convert to modern men’s skincare and doesn’t mind anymore who knows it. Learn more here about shaving and skincare products for men.

Individual style should be applauded. It takes guts, personality and confidence to pull off certain looks, and anyone who expresses their individual style with gusto should be proud. But there are a few fashion no-no’s that should really be avoided at all costs, because, let’s face it, they just don’t look good on anyone. Be a fashion do by following these fashion don’ts.

1. Socks And Sandals
Just don’t do it, it really doesn’t look good. I understand wanting to be comfortable, but if socks are truly necessary, put on a pair of cute tennies or slip ons. Better yet, find a pair of sandals that are comfortable enough to wear without socks. Oh, and don’t even think about wearing black socks up to your knees with shorts and any type of shoes. I won’t even get into my opinion on Crocs at this point, but let’s just say that unless you’re gardening, I wouldn’t recommend those either.

2. Your Underwear Peeking Out Of Your Pants
Ok, So Brittany Spears did it, and so did various other teen stars and it was cool for a while. Let me give you a hint: unless you actually look like Brittany Spears, you probably can’t pull it off. Even if you can pull it off, there’s a difference between letting your thong hang out on stage in front of thousands of fans an paparazzi, and showing it off at the grocery store or in line at the movie theater. Trust me, no one wants to see it, and people are probably making fun of you as soon as you’re out of earshot.

3. Wearing The Baggiest Clothes You Can Find
No matter what size you are, you are going to look better in clothes that actually fit you, rather than big, baggy clothes meant to hide your figure. Beauty is not size dependent, and most people will tell you that a person of any size who looks fashionable and put together always looks better than someone in baggy clothes that looks like they are wearing a tent. Find a style that works for your body type, and that you like and be proud of it. The more confident you are in your own body and style, the more people will be drawn to you and appreciate you for who you are and your individual style. Sit on a bench at the mall for a couple of hours watching people go by. Who looks great, and who looks like a slob? Find a role model and try to emulate them. If all else fails, watch a few dozen episodes of What Not To Wear, and see resistant fashion disasters morph into beautiful, put together people.

4. Over-accessorizing, or Not Accessorizing at All
Even the best outfit can benefit from a few well placed accessories. A great handbag, and nice necklace and some simple earrings can easily take an outfit from ok to fabulous. They don’t have to match, they just have to be in the same or a complimentary color family. But a word of warning: don’t overdo it. Great big dangly earrings, 4 necklaces, 3 inches of arm bangles and a huge, sparkly handbag is going just a bit overboard. Keep it simple, but interesting, and make sure that your accessories compliment your outfit, not overpower it.

5. Being Self Conscious About Your Style
Above all, find a style that you love (and of course that follows all of the above mentioned rules). Wear colors that make you happy, and styles that make you feel beautiful. The absolute worst thing you can do is wear clothes that make you feel uncomfortable, or that you don’t love. Clothes and accessories are meant to be fun, that’s why there are so many choices. Don’t buy something just because it’s on sale, all of those meaningless purchases could be traded for one fantastic piece that you adore, and will last a long time. Buy pieces that are classic, as well as a few trendier items that can be mixed and matched. You will never regret spending a little more on a great pair of black pants that will last for years, and you can update them every season with a new top or some jewelry.

Find your inner diva, and express your style for the world to admire by following these simple rules. A Little fashion knowledge can go a long way in allowing you to express yourself to the world in a positive, confident way.

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Accessories help create your look, it doesn’t matter how simple or extravagant it may already be by itself. Some of the most popular accessories are sunglasses, bags, socks, jewelry, hair accessories, flowers and scarves. Others not so popular, but as fashionable are gloves and hats. There are no rules for choosing your accessories, but here we offer some tips to help you complement your look.

Think of your body size before choosing your accessories, in general, big accessories are for big people and vice versa, but this is not a rule, some sunglasses are more glamorous when used in a big proportion compared to the size of your face. Accessories are for everyone, if you know how to rock them. Don’t be scared about using a lot of them at once but always manage to not appear overcharged since people may loose you and concentrate on your big necklace and earrings. Accessories are for complementing your clothes, not competing with them; if your dress is very elaborate with beading or print, try to use small and simple accessories like stud earrings and a simple bracelet. If your dress is plain or solid, then you can go all the way with outstanding accessories to be the highlight of the night.

If you are on a budget and can’t afford the ultimate fashion trends, accessories are the easiest way to boom your style, just change them up with simple tops and include some sunglasses, scarves or hats for that chic look. Accessories change your outfit making it look glamorous, casual, and sporty or sophisticate. Before leaving your house, always look in the mirror and ask yourself what you can take off, what you can add, and then evaluate which way your look is better and exactly how you want it to be.

One of the most preferred and fashionable items is the bracelet because of it versatility and thousands of designs. The history of bracelets goes way back to 2.500 AC but bracelets were later popularized by the Romans. At the beginning, they were used by men as well as women.

Purses are a key part of the style since other than glamorous; they also have a function. There are millions of models, sizes and colors for your bag. Usually, the size should be accordingly in proportion to your body size as well; a tall woman should not wear a really small bag since it can make them look even taller. Colors and styles are a personal predilection; don’t be afraid of using bright colors even if they aren’t the exact same ones as your outfit, they add a feminine and fun touch to your aspect.

Even if shoes are part of your ensemble, the type of model you choose to wear can point out the pros and cons of your legs. Your shoes become an extension of your legs so it is extremely important to choose correctly depending on the length of your dress or skirt.

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The following are travel packing tips based on experience. I have gone to other countries for a month or more with nothing but a carry-on bag that weighed ten pounds. In fact, my number one travel tip is to go light whenever you can. The simplify of traveling light makes almost any trip more enjoyable.

Unfortunately, going with only carry-on luggage is getting more difficult due to the newest rules about what you can actually carry on a plane. If you do want to keep it to just one bag that goes with you on the plane, check the latest regulations and leave behind anything that isn’t allowed. It doesn’t add that much expense to a trip to just buy these things at your destination.

In fact, buying things as you go is a great way to simplify packing. Why bring twenty things just in case you need them, and then have to lug them around for the sake of the six you actually use? If it is a vacation in particular, why not plan just a little extra expense, and buy necessities as you travel? Many have found that this is more practical and relaxing than over-planning a trip and over-weighting the luggage.

Some Other Travel Packing Tips

- Jewelry and other valuables are usually not covered by the luggage insurance the airline provides. Pack these items in your carry-on bag.

- Silk shirts can be rolled carefully so they will wrinkle less in soft-sided luggage.

- To conserve space, buy low-bulk items for travel. A down coat, for example, will compress to a fourth of the size of other coats, and keep you just as warm.

- Lightweight travel pants, made of soft nylon derivatives are very light, tough, and pack small. They are often found where they sell outdoor gear, but some styles are dressy enough for use almost anywhere.

- To bring more in less space, set aside your thinnest socks, lightest clothes and smallest items for travel. A small hairbrush may work just as well as a large one, for example. You might get to bring many more potentially useful items, and still have a smaller bag in this way.

- If you buy a bulky gift for a family member or friend back home, you may want to send it to them instead of carrying it around for weeks while traveling.

- Don’t overstuff your luggage. remember that it may be opened and inspected, and the security officials may not know how to fit it all back in.

- Don’t pack important documents, like passports and identification, in your luggage. Carry these on your person, preferably in a security pouch or interior pocket.

- Be careful when packing shampoo, perfume, skin cream and other liquids. Plane cargo areas are often not pressurized fully, so the tops can pop off of bottles and other containers. For added safety, pack such items in a sealed ziplock bag.

- Carry a list of what is in your luggage, in case you need to file a claim for lost bags.

In addition to using the travel packing tips above, have a good packing routine. For example, start by considering every circumstance you may be in during your trip, and making a list of items you’ll need. Then, after packing, consider each item, and remove anything that really isn’t likely to be used – especially if it can be easily obtained at your destination.

Copyright Steve Gillman. For travel stories, tips and a free Travel Secrets Ebook, visit http://www.everythingabouttravel.com

If you are wondering how you can save cash when trying to choose and avail clothes famous yourself or for someone else like your kids and family members, here are some tips where you can follow to be able to do the task.

Find some dispatch shop for they contain clothes which have quality standards and the inventory must shoes the brand specifications. You may see items which already came from the past batch and the costs are certainly less with retails. The factory and retail stores are great in choosing for clothes, but rest assure that you check on the fabric well for some flaws and the size must fit you. If you visit these outlets, try to buy bunch of clothes for the coming season such as white shirts and socks.

Buy clothes during off season. Buy a classic cloth that will never run out of style, in that way the outfit will last for some years. Be sure that the fabric fits you well, and you are capable of buying high standard materials and your closet is also able to store your clothes for long time and not be the reason for the destruction of the fabric.

Try to register for newsletters, to be updated for the latest designs or sales of your local boutiques. Be aware for the sales on designer clothes and some warehouse events. Most areas hold a single day dedicated for selling designer items and bargains wherein you can pick fashionable designs and costs of clothes.

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