Nivea Man

So guys ,it's the time to moisturize

Men are moisturizing,and I'm concerned. One of the things men have always done best is not waste money on personal grooming .Men wash their faces with soap,and then  -provided there is a towel or curtain hem handy - they dry it. This is the male skin-care regimen in its entirety .Now men are starting to question themselves . My own husband  recently said to me,"Should I be moisturizing my face ?" We were at The Body Shop ,which now has a  "For Men" line of skin care.This includes a moisturizer that they have named Face Protector ,no doubt an attempt to make male customers feel more comfortable by evoking a familiar sports -gear image.

 Ed worries about the lines bracketing his mouth

 Those aren't lines, i say they're grooves.

The concept of moisturizer is confusing to men, because the traditional male moisturizer has nothing to do with wrinkles .This is a substance that comes in plastic tubs ,like quick -drying plaster tubs,like quick-drying plaster or bait,and has mainly names like Mariner's Hand Healer. The idea is that you have been out in the elements ,doing rough,masculine things ,and your hands are calloused and chapped and cracked. Your hands,like your saddle or your rifle stock ,are simply practical objects that need oiling now and again .Nothing sissy about it.
Since few men repair diesel engines or build docks with their faces,the male had no need for a facial moisturizer.Indeed ,they are hazy on the concept .Ed asked me if he should use my Nivea Creme on his face,"That's hand lotion,"I said. To a women ,this is like ,shampooing with dish washing soap,which i have seen a man do ,yes i have .
"You can't use hand lotion on your face?"Ed looked flummoxed .I explained that while hand lotion is for dryness and chapping ,facial moisturize is for softening and reducing fine lines.He pointed to parentheses on either side of his mouth."Will it get rid of these ?"
Those aren't fine lines ,I told him ;those are deep grooves .There is fine line between explaining and insulting ,and i had just reduced it. Ed stomped from the room ,though the drama of his exit was marred somewhat by his having to rush about the paw through his affairs for his cell phone,wallet,car keys,sunglasses and lip balm .
Today's Men badly need handbags,but here they are resisting the urban trend towards girlification .Like many a modern male .Ed has taken to wearing his camera and phone on his belt, The belt has become a sort of contemporary holster ,blending  practicality and cow-boy masculinity  .Hold it right there, pardner , i have got a call coming in.Eventually ,Ed left the room .He walked out of the door with a wide ,confident stride , a mainly swagger that said , I'm gonna mend some barbed wire.May be fix a diesel engine with my face.And when i get back  ,woman,you better have my exfoliant  ready.

(Taken from Mary Roach's articles)