From acne to razor-blade irritation, men face a handful of bumps in the road toward having healthy skin. We asked a number of local experts to weigh in on their favorite products and treatments for all skin types.
Gentleman’s Facial: The Spa at the Ritz-Carlton in White Plains uses ESPA products for a facial that includes a consultation and skin analysis, exfoliation, a steam extraction that uses special pressure points for lymphatic drainage, and a massage. The Angelface Day Spa in Yorktown Heights offers a similar facial geared toward men called the power cleanse, which features steam with deep brush cleansing, a massage, and a hot towel.
OM4 Products: Christie Lavigne, the director of skin care at Oasis Day Spa—which has a Dobbs Ferry location—suggests that men should seek skin-care products with salicylic acid that can treat ingrown hairs from shaving, as well as acne, because men’s skin tends to be oilier. She says OM4, a line geared specifically toward men, provides only four products, making skin care a simpler process. Oasis also offers its own gentleman’s facial, which includes a seaweed mask.
HydraFacial: The HydraFacial, a trendy treatment developed by Edge Systems and offered at Emmary Day Spa in Chappaqua, is ideal for getting rid of ingrown hairs, according to owner Nancy Toland. The treatment exfoliates and removes dead skin cells while simultaneously moisturizing fresh skin.
Dermalogica Skin Care: When it comes to skin-care products, Toland favors the Dermalogica line, her favorite release being the clean-scrub exfoliant for men. “I actually recommend it to women too, because it’s a really great exfoliant,” she says, adding that the beads are small enough to get deep into the dead cells and treat ingrown hairs, as well as prep the skin prior to shaving.
Back Treatments: “A lot of men have blemishes on their back that go unchecked, especially when they’re so exposed in the summertime,” says Elizabeth Dempsey, marketing manager at CLAY Health Club + Spa in Port Chester. The back treatments at CLAY exfoliate, extract with a special scrub, hydrate, and “leave your skin glowing,” assures Dempsey.
SkinCeuticals: For men who want to get rid of oily skin or post-shave dryness without overloading on heavy skin creams, Carmela Carfagno, an esthetician at Richard Scott Salon and Day Spa in Mount Kisco, uses the SkinCeuticals line. She explains that their products like the Hydrating B5 Serum can be applied with only three drops and aren’t too fragrant. “There’s not this perfumey or florally scent,” she explains. “Men just don’t want any of that.”
