Men’s shirts have buttons on the right; women’s blouses have buttons on the left. So there’s a difference, but the significance escapes me.
And the difference between men’s skincare products and women’s?? There’s a difference, I suppose, but the significance escapes me.
Skin doesn’t recognize differences in gender. So men’s skincare products and women’s skincare products are basically the same. The only differences between a men’s line and a women’s line are:
(1) Packaging. Packaging that appeals to men is generally more virile—with bold type and dark colors. It assures men of their masculinity.
(2) Fragrances. Men like outdoorsy scents (like wood and leather), and women like floral notes and fruity fragrances. Both men and women like citrus and spicey (cinnamon, vanilla, lavender, frankincense) scents.
(3) Simplicity. Men like just a few items—no complicated regimens. Until a few years ago, they stuck to just a cleanser/facewash, shampoo and aftershave. Now they’ve become more sensitive to lines and wrinkles and have added anti-aging products and sunscreen to their daily regimen.
Now, more than ever, men are looking at skincare products that prevent and repair lines and wrinkles. So for the holidays, you may want to give your man some anti-aging skincare products. (note, I’m not suggesting that women become cougars—and go after younger men. But if your man can at least look a few years younger, you’ll feel younger too.)
Here are some recommendations that he may enjoy:
- ZO Skin Health Offects™ Hydrating Cleanser hydrates, rejuvenates and includes panthenol (which soothes, repairs and restores skin) and allantoin (which cleans away dead skin cells and supports cellular renewal). Cleansing never felt so good
- ZO Skin Health Exfoliating Polish sloughs off dead skin cells, smooths pores, evens skin tone, and promotes the growth of healthy new skin. Vitamin A, C, C-Esters and E provide anti-oxidant protection and help boost collagen production.
- ZO Skin Health Ossential Daily Power Defense uses DNA repair enzymes to enhance skin’s recovery capabilities. These special enzymes attach directly to DNA molecules and repair oxidative damage caused by UV exposure. It works all day with time-release retinol, enzymes and anti-oxidants to repair damaged cells and protect against future damage.
Will ZO products appeal to the testosterone-inclined? Absolutely. Since the cartons are cobalt blue, many men think that ZO Skin Health is a men’s line. And as for the fragrance, ZO Skin Health products are lightly scented with citrus or grapefruit—so they appeal to both men and women.
Go ahead, enjoy the holidays and new year with a younger-looking man!
I am currently using your Nu-Derm kit and I am still in the peeling process. (Which of course is expected for the first couple of weeks!) I am at about week 4. I have some hyperpigmentation that I know it will help take care of, but I also have a lot of scars from previously having problems with acne. What is the difference between scars and hyperpigmentation? Will this skin care line also lighten my scars as well? Or is this something only microdermabrasion or laser treatments help fix? I was just curious to hear your thoughts on it. Thank you for your time Dr. Obagi and thank you for such wonderful treatment/skincare lines!
Hello Lunstad,
I hope that you are following a more aggressive program with your Obagi® Nu-Derm system. You should be using 1-gram of the Retin-A® Cream 0.1% (Tretinoin Cream) every night, mixed with ½ gram of Blender. You should also be using 1 gram of Clear morning and night. One gram is equivalent to the amount of toothpaste on a toothbrush in thickness and length; ½ gram would be half that amount. The rest of the products such as the Exfoderm, Pro-C,. Cleanser, Toner, or Sunscreen are more flexible and depend on the program that your medical practitioner placed you on.
Hyperpigmentation is the medical term for brown spots, or any sort of discoloration whether it is related to scars (acne “stains”), hormones (melasma), photo-damage (sun damage) or post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH – trauma). It is related to the over-active and or unevenly distributed color cells (melanocytes). Acne can lead to hyperpigmentation on the surface of skin, without the indentation that is usually present in conventional scarring.
Scars are a bit more difficult to treat and correct depending on their depth and length of time present. Scars can occur from surgery, trauma, or acne. To successfully correct scars, stimulation of new healthy skin cells including collagen cells and elastin fibers is necessary. Depending on the depth, a more leveling procedure such as, chemical peels or lasers maybe necessary (the right laser such as Fraxel®). Shallow scars respond well to aggressive topical treatment such as, the Obagi Nu-Derm system in the aggressive approach outlined above.
To help you in ensuring you can aggressively start the program, enhance correction and results, and minimize irritation, I suggest incorporating the following great ZO products into your Obagi Nu-Derm system. The ZO line, is specifically tailored by Dr. Obagi to work with your concerns and frequently utilized here at the Obagi Institute.
Exfoliating Polish: To promote enhanced stimulation of collagen cells and healthy skin cells, use once a day while you are in the shower. Wet skin, and gently massage for 1- minute PRIOR to washing your face. You do not need to apply pressure to the polish. The magnesium crystals are round and smooth and very gentle on skin with scars and hyperpigmentation. The fact that dead skin cells are shed safely causes additional healthy skin cells to be built at a faster rate.
Tepads: If you have acne scars and pigmentation related to acne, you should be ensuring that you are controlling the amount of oil on your skin. Oil can act as a barrier against the penetration and effectiveness of topical creams. Use the Tepads 2xs a day, after your TONER step.
Ommerse Daily Renewal Crème: An excellent “functional” hydration crème to provide you with comfort yet will not slow your program down the way conventional moisturizers can. If you apply 1-2 pumps at night after your Tretinoin & Blender step, you will be far more comfortable and less irritated. Further, there are excellent anti-inflammatory and corrective qualities to the Ommerse. You can also use it as necessary in the morning before your sunscreen.
Remember, it will take 8 weeks minimum to begin obtaining correction at the cellular level. Any correction before then is limited to the top layer of skin. You will have to use the program for at least 18-weeks daily. Without seeing you, it is difficult to determine whether or not you will need additional procedures. However, you will certainly have significant improvement with correct use. Thank you.
Best,
Sandra Obagi, MBA
Medical Esthetician
Thank you so much! All of the information you provided was very informative and insightful!
I am being very aggressive with my Nu-Derm kit and have been taking the steps that you described above. I purchased a Clarisonic Pro-brush a while back and I have been using that with my cleanser. I would love to invest in the ZO products as well!
Thanks so much again for your time Sandra!
Hello Lunstad,
You are very welcome. Let me know if I can be of any more help.
Best,
Sandra Obagi
I’ve spent most of my life outdoors and at the beach. I”ve got some spots on my face and on my arms and legs that I’d like to have gone. The spots on my face have been there for approximately 5 years. They don’t appear to be darkening, as I now use a sunscreen all the time. What can I do to get rid of them? My face is not anywhere as seriously spotted as the young woman in the video.
Hello Beth,
Did you know that you (the general population) accumulate about 30% your life time sun before the age of 18? The effects on skin are not visible until the 30’s and 40’s, in the form of brown spots, pre-cancerous lesions, loss of elasticity, wrinkles, etc., to name a few. The brown spots you are seeing are a result of over-exposure to the sun, not enough protection (sunscreen), and most likely the lack of using products with sun damage reversing ingredients such as, Vitamin-C and Retinols.
The DNA kit (with the complimentary Hand-Care system- for your hands) is an excellent start to begin reversing and preventing sun damage on both your face and hands. The DNA kit contains the Daily Power Defense, a Vitamin-C (Esther-C and L-Ascorbic Acid), Retinol, and DNA repair enzymes, Oclipse, a broad spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen, with natural melanin, Growth Factor Serum, advanced lipopeptides and Retinol to promote the growth of healthy skin cells, reduce wrinkles, and tighten skin, and Exfoliating Cleanser, a Vitamin-E infused and lipopeptides based cleanser to effectively clean and stimulate skin.
The length of time (5 years)is irrelevant, as skin cells are one of the only cells are body can regenerate, and Retinols do just that.
However, for deeper or more extensive age spots you will need to seek medical practitioner for the stronger and more potent Obagi Nu-Derm system that you can use in conjunction with the above mentioned ZO Skin Health Products for maximum results.
Also, it is a good idea to see a medical practitioner to have your age spots properly evaluated, as you want to make sure that you are totally safe from any precancerous lesions. Only a qualified medical practitioner, such as a Dermatologist can do this. I can assure you that you will obtain improvement on your hands and face from the kits mentioned above, while protecting yourself from forming any new damage… However, I like to play it safe, especially after having a father as a Dermatologist.
Best,
Sandra Obagi
Medical Esthetician
HI
I AM USING NOW THE NUDERM FOR MY SECOND WEEK AND AROUND MY CHIN IT PEELS AND IT BURNS A LOT iI CAN’T EVEN TOUCH IT AND EVEN WATER HURTS.
WHAT CAN I DO TO CALM IT DOWN ?
THANKS
Hello Amal,
You should certainly contact the office that dispensed the program for you with your concerns and see what they suggest. I will go ahead and provide you with the same advice that I would provide to a patient in our office with a similar concern.
The skin around the mouth is quite sensitive and thinner than the skin located on the forehead and cheeks. It takes a lot less product to induce correction, thus a reaction as well. For now, back-off your Tretinoin and Blender step for a few days around your mouth. This is the step that causes 90% of the reaction with the Obagi Nu-Derm system.
If you have your Obagi Action, you can utilize that in the morning before the Sunscreen step and at night as your last step. During the time you are off the Tretinoin & Blender step for a few days, you can use it as a replacement to this step.
After a few days (3-4 days) you can resume your Tretinoin & Blender step around your mouth, making sure you only apply a very thin layer around your mouth. Make sure to stay away from corners of your mouth as well.
If you do NOT have the Action, I highly recommend the Ommerse Over-Night Recovery Crème. This is an excellent hydration crème (functional moisturizer) that will NOT slow down your correction process, but still provide you with hydration. It can be used EVERY night after the Tretinoin & Blender step, to reduce the irritation and reaction initially associated with the program. It is laced with excellent active ingredients such as, Retinol to enhance your results and keep it active. The Ommerse also has anti-inflammatory properties, to make skin less irritated from the program.
Best,
Sandra Obagi
Medical Esthetician