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Oh, the good old days! It used to be that guys could be scruffy, unkempt and unpolished, and a touch on the heavyset side, and women thought they were sexy.

These days, in the Age of Pretty, men have to look polished, strategically scruffy at worst, AND sport eight pack abs. You Green Guys may scoff at the trend, but even if your eco-friendliness extends to your personal care, being green these days doesn’t mean going all shaggy and scaley (unless you’re into hairy cave-women ... or hair cavemen).

With that in mind, it’s time for a crash course in Men’s Skin 101!

First step – keep it clean! Guys, we’re talking skin here. Think you’re okay to roll out of bed, throw on some clothes and start your day? Think again! Yeah, you may get looks from people, but not because you smell like a flower in bloom --- more like an overripe piece of … uhm, fruit. Properly washing your skin isn’t just about odor – a daily cleansing regimen keeps your pores unclogged and minimizes pimples.

Not into all the scrubbing? A light wash in the morning and a more thorough bath after a day’s activities (including your sweat time at the gym) will keep your skin healthy and happy.

Not into all the scrubbing? A light wash in the morning and a more thorough bath after a day’s activities (including your sweat time at the gym) will keep your skin healthy and happy.

Shaving

In this Era of Epilation, shaving has taken on a whole new meaning for guys. Clean-shaven? Stubble? Goatee? Men have so many choices these days!

Two weapons are must-haves in the taming of the facial hair – the razor and the mirror. If you think you can get that clean-shaven look without a mirror, think again. You’d be surprised at what you miss when you shave without one. Pre-shave prep is also important. With an electric shaver, use a product containing natural oils for best results. Also, if you’re sporting a beard or goatee longer than ¼”, treat the hair with a little shampoo and conditioner every few days to keep it shiny and silky. Also, shaving tends to dry out the skin. A good after-shave lotion goes a long way in keeping that jaw-line smooth and sexy.

Then there’s Manscaping! It’s not enough just to shave your face these days, guys. Excess body hair is so ‘80s – smooth is the new sexy. If you’re wondering exactly where to start (or stop) shaving, here are a few areas you should definitely buzz over with a razor or trimmer:

MANSCAPING - Nose and Ear Hair Come on, not trimming that forest in your nostrils just gross! You may also need to get those ears every now and then, too.

MANSCAPING - Back/Shoulder Hair Only fashionable for the surliest of bouncers (YOU NEED MORE HERE).

MANSCAPING - Chest and Stomach There’s no reason for your body to cause rug burn. In fact, conventional manscaping wisdom recommends that you give some razor-love to three key areas – chest, armpits and yes, below the belt.

MANSCAPING - Pits It’s personal preference, but some guys do need to trim their pits to keep that situation from getting out of control. Some guys even prefer to be hairless there. But whether it’s with a razor or electric shaver, exercise caution. A knick or cut can be painful and a bit messy.

MANSCAPING - Pubes Just be careful when you’re wielding a razor down there. You don’t want to have to make a trip to urgent care to explain how you got THAT cut.

Tats

These days, THE accessory for guys is the tattoo. Sporting ink definitely ups your cool factor! Of course, you should be as kind to your body as you are to the planet. As cool a dude as you may be with a tat, there are some health issues to consider. Before you get a tattoo, do your homework.

Getting a tattoo is basically having ink sewn into your skin. Being inked at the wrong parlor can lead to blood-born diseases, skin disorders ranging from bumps to keloids, bacterial infections in the skin, allergic reactions, even complications with MRI scans.

Tattoo inks are considered cosmetics; they aren’t regulated by Federal agencies. Translation: buyer beware. Some inks are mineral salts, vegetable dyes and even plastic. So you dudes who want to flash those tats need to do your research before getting inked. States do regulate tattoo parlors – choose a reputable one that’s clean, has experienced personnel, and has their equipment freshly put away in sealed packaging.

For some, tattoos are body art – an expression of who you are. That’s cool, but just know when to say NO. Body art that covers from the neck down to the ankles can be true artistry. But if no one is ever going to see all that ink you may want to ask why you’re doing it. If you’re a male model, it may make sense. If you’re a suit-wearing corporate exec, well … doubtful. Knowing why you’re getting tatted is as important as knowing when to say when.

Loving the skin you’re in is a life-long journey, so just remember to give some love to your epidermis on a regular basis … both inside and out.