- Regular shaving creams are full of chemicals like benzaldehyde and propylene glycol. These chemicals are not what you want put on your face every morning. Go easy on your skin with organic shaving cream, and you may even avoid dryness and razor burn that often accompanies shaving. Try Living Nature Men's Gentle Cleansing Shaving Gel, made with witch hazel, honey and basil oil, among other soothing ingredients.
- Men sweat. To combat this, men's deodorants are packed full of strong chemicals that plug up the sweat glands and keep men smelling fresh--at the cost of their health. Antiperspirants and deodorant sometimes have a form of aluminum, which has been linked to Alzheimer's, brain disease and, possibly, cancer. Organic deodorants fight sweat and odor with natural ingredients like baking soda, tea tree oil and lichen. Burt's Bees makes a deodorant for men that contains corn starch to keep you dry, and oils of citrus, cypress and fir for a warm, masculine scent.
- Instead of foaming up your face with washes containing sodium laureth sulfate, switch to something a little more natural. Organic products will keep your skin from drying out and help you to avoid irritation, especially if you are particularly sensitive after shaving. Wash your face with Guy Gear Tri-Wash (and your body and your hair at the same time). It is made with aloe and chamomile.
- When your skin is already burning and tender from shaving, the last thing you want to do is rub in a few more harmful chemicals. Regular aftershaves can have everything from ethyl acetate to linalool and a host of dangerous ingredients in between. Burt's Bees Natural Skin Care for Men Aftershave, on the other hand, is made with soothing ingredients like sunflower oil, coconut oil and aloe.
- Benzoyl peroxide, the ingredient in most acne treatments, may result in skin damage or even cancer. It is classified as Category III by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which means it is not sure how safe the product is. Avoid the danger (and the hefty price tag) by purchasing pure tea tree oil at your local health food store. It has a strong, invigorating scent and can be applied to blemishes with a cotton ball. Tea tree oil is antibacterial and anti-fungal, which is what helps it fight your acne.
