Questions About NIVEA MEN?

Which is better: wet or dry?
It depends on the condition of your skin and what you're used to (e.g. a dry shave is recommended for sufferers of chronic acne). The advantage of a wet shave is thoroughness, while the advantages of a dry shave are speed and convenience. In either case, you should help your skin recover  more quickly after shaving by using the right aftershave care: e.g. aftershave enriched with moisturisers and vitamins.

And what if I cut myself?
Cold water is often enough to stop small cuts from bleeding. An anti-bacterial and styptic pencil will help stop heavier bleeding (available at any pharmacy).

My skin is almost always irritable with red spots after shaving. Why is that?
This can be caused by many things:  
Do you shave against the direction of hair growth?
Do you press down too hard on the blade?
Do you use strong-smelling shaving products containing alcohol?
Do you rub your skin dry with a towel after shaving instead of patting it?
Or do you use an electric shaver and rip the stubble out of your skin?

This often happens on a lower setting too. Consult a dermatologist if the problem persists.

I often have a lot of ingrown hairs on my face. Why does this happen and how can I avoid it?
Ingrown  hairs are often caused by incorrect shaving.

Rule #1 when shaving: never shave against the direction of hair growth! If you shave in all directions, this quickly pulls the facial hair out, causing unnecessary stress for the skin and possibly inflammation. Uneven skin can make it even more difficult for facial hair to grow out – the hairs remain underneath the surface and grow inwards.

Tip: Regular exfoliation removes dead skin cells. Last but not least, if your skin is particularly bad, this can distort the hair follicles and sometimes the direction of hair growth, which can lead to hair growing along under the skin. Ingrown hairs can often be removed using tweezers (carefully!) – but only when a red circle has not yet formed around the hair. If this is the case, consult a dermatologist.

What is the difference between shaving gels, foams and creams?
Selecting a shaving product really is a matter of personal taste.

The advantage of a shaving foam is that it can be used directly from the can.

Shaving gel, on the other hand, is sprayed into your hand without having to shake the container. By moving it through your fingers in a circular motion, a large amount of shaving foam is created from a small amount of shaving gel.

Shaving with the help of a shaving cream is the classic approach. But it requires a shaving brush. Move the dampened brush in a circular motion until a creamy foam develops.

Why do I need to use special skin care products for men?
A man's facial skin is different to a woman's in many different ways : it is up to 30% thicker and contains a tighter network of fatty tissue called the subcutis. It also has higher water-binding properties which often make it appear firmer and tauter than women's skin. It tends not to dry out so much and is thus less likely to form wrinkles.

Men's skin has a higher fat content – younger men are thus more likely to get blackheads and other skin impurities. The 4-step care system developed by the NIVEA MEN research team – from cleansing, shaving and aftershave to skin care – is specifically designed to meet these special needs.

What is Q10?
Q10 is your skin's own coenzyme and provides the cells with energy. The hectic pace of modern-day living, stress, and other adverse environmental effects increase the skin's need for Q10. The NIVEA MEN Revitalising Cream Q10 provides the skin with this essential coenzyme.

Do I need to use different facial products in winter with low temperatures than in summer?
Low temperatures and the air in heated rooms dry out your skin faster. Since the moisture requirements of your skin are increased, richer creams that not only moisturize your skin but also help to retain the moisture for longer are advisable in winter. In addition a lower sun protection factor is normally required. The use of a rich night care product is also recommended in the winter season.

Why do dark circles and puffiness form under the eyes and will an eye cream help?
Dark circles under the eyes and puffiness can be caused by a lack of sleep or an unhealthy lifestyle. Micro circulation in the area around the eyes is very weak which can easily cause the drainage of metabolic waste to slow down. Lack of sleep and alcohol consumption can cause such disturbances to occur, and show up as puffiness. In order to dispose of the substances that cannot be broken down, your arteries expand. Since the skin under eye is very thin (about 0.5 mm in comparison to 2 mm in other skin areas), the arteries in this area are visible as dark colouring.

Massaging a cooling eye creme into the area under the eyes can visibly reduce the dark circles under the eye along with puffiness.