Vacation-Time Skincare

Screened and ready to gallop in the Shenandoah Valley.

I get it. You're on vacation. You want to eat the local delicacies. You want to drink all the pina coladas—virgin if necessary—your stomach can handle. You want to bum on the beach and snooze in a hammock. The last thing you're thinking about is your epidermis. But as something of a globe-trotter myself—ok, country-trotter this summer—I've learned the importance of carrying your skin routine along with your passport and your Dramamine.

To be perfectly honest, when my boyfriend and I drove down Route 1 to Key West at the end of May, my bag was bulging with bikini tops and snorkel gear—not with facial cleansers and non-comedogenic moisturizers.  Sure, I brought some good ol' SPF 30 Screen. Unfortunately, after our seven-day sojourn was over, I had realized my mistake. My face was peeling from the salt water and sun exposure—and was in desperate need of some Hydrate, GR8/SKN's dermatological superfood. Despite the dryness, I was also breaking out along my jaw-line, which made the already-miserable 6 am flight back to Philadelphia even worse. I should have brought my products.

By the time my trip to Shenandoah National Park rolled around in mid-June, I had sorely learned my lesson—and was still dealing with the damage of my Key West negligence: stubborn blemishes that refused to disappear and skin scalier than a gila monster's. This time, I brought the essentials: Clean, Hydrate, and Screen. Of course, even with my GR8/SKN staples, my skin wasn't perfect. As much as traveling can be relaxing, it is also stressful. It's important to preempt this stress—whether it's caused from 24-hour delays at the airport or from your car's engine over-heating half-way to the Luray Caverns—with a familiar and effective skincare routine. With small and portable bottles, the GR8/SKN line is an easy solution!

The Self-Taught Dermatologist

Don't get me wrong, I think the explosion of DIY beauty tutorials—from fingernail designs to complicated French braids—is exciting. But not all products should be incorporated under the "Do-It-Yourself" umbrella. Specifically, I'm talking about facial products. Here at GR8/SKN, we don't cook up our products in some haphazard RV kitchen—a la Breaking Bad. Our products are the result of careful R&D, so unless you have a degree in biochemistry and a fully-tricked out laboratory, we advise against concocting your own masks, scrubs, and acne treatments.

Masks: If you look at your favorite over-the-counter facial mask, you'll probably see some ingredients that you have in your pantry. Watch out! The formulations of commercial masks are carefully determined so as to avoid harmful ingredient interactions.

Scrubs: Just look on Pinterest and you're likely to find no fewer than a dozen different face scrubs. The problem? Using granular sugar crystals—or ground-up nut shells for that matter—as exfoliates is a bad idea. Scraping off layers of your skin is only going to cause scarring and possible infection.

Acne-Treatments: Toothpaste to clear up zits? A tried-and-true way to pop a pimple? The trouble with at-home acne treatments is that the conditions are rarely sanitized. You may find that your efforts backfire when you unknowingly invite even more bacteria to take up residence under your skin.

So next time you're feeling crafty, Google a new brownie recipe instead—or go paint some mason jars. Leave skincare to the professionals; your epidermis will thank you!

"Skincare is for Chicks": False!

"Skincare is for chicks" is an all-too frequent phrase I hear flying out of the mouths of my male contemporaries. But I challenge you, macho, testosterone-slinging guys of this world, don't you appreciate a clean shave—one that leaves your cheeks and chin baby-soft? I know your girlfriends do.

But that luscious, post-shave complexion won't happen if you ignore skincare. I'm not asking you to waltz into Sephora and fill up a shopping basket with creams, serums, and moisturizers. The products below are sure to provide a clean shave without compromising your carefully-cultivated persona, whether you envision yourself on the cover of GQ or behind the handlebars of a Kawasaki Ninja.

So...aftershave?

Like pouring hydrochloric acid on your face.

These products contain perfumes and alcohol. They will burn the heck out of your face. What's a better option?

Try an After-Shave Balm Instead:

It shouldn't be surprising that running a razor blade over your skin will take off a couple of layers of skin. Soothe with a reputable product like The Art of Shaving Balm ($40).

HYDRATE ($24) is another good option; it's a light dermatological superfood that can relieve post-shave redness. Even better, HYDRATE won't leave you smelling like the inside of an Abercrombie store. You will smell fresh, clean, and totally kissable.

To top it off, you don't need to step inside a department store. Visit our on-line store and wake up tomorrow ready to wield your razor.

*Girls, everything we say about hydrate works for you, too. It is a fantastic after-shave balm for your legs.

Top Tips for a Clean Shave

Not to worry: we're not basing our shaving advice on Sweeney Todd. In fact, we hope to avoid all manner of blood and gore in our technique. But to be perfectly honest, many people do not know how to shave properly—and wonder why they end up with faces dinged more than the bumper of a 1998 Toyota. They buy expensive, multi-blade razors that promise baby-soft skin and, if we believe the commercials, a physique worthy of a GQ cover. Today, we're going to set you straight and help dispel any shaving misconceptions that might be floating around.

1.) Super-Soak It
Dampen those prickles before even picking up your razor. A soft hair is much easier to trim than a bone-dry cactus spike. Consider using a facial cleanser like Clean to speed up the process.

2.) Slow and Steady
It might not win you a race, but it certainly will prevent cuts and eventual scarring. Wake up ten minutes earlier if you're worried about being late for class.

3.) Stay Single
Believe it or not, a single-blade razor is the way to go, as it is less likely to get clogged and snag on hairs.

4.) No U-Turns
Remember to shave in one direction—preferably not "against the grain." This should help prevent those dreaded razor bumps.

Keep and eye on our Facebook page for more tips next week.