Hey, you want to look more handsome than you already are, don't you? Sure, who doesn't—handsome wins you women, better customer service and because we live in a sick, sad, superficial world, even a higher salary. And thanks to this list, now being handsome is easier than ever. There's expert advice, common sense pointers, and even a couple of tips to help you beat bad, ugly, un-handsome habits. But don't waste your time reading this intro, become more handsome right now.
HAVE A BARBER WHO GETS YOU
If you don't have one, get one right away because having a barber is rule number one above all others—if the 24 following tips on this list fail, at least you'll have a good haircut.
So, how can I know if my barber gets me? Because this happens: you go in and ask for the regular and walk out looking like a champ every time. The best way to find a barber like this is by word of mouth and trial and error, but there are a few telltale signs that the guy or girl poking scissors at your head is a contender. They should have the capacity to consult with you in words not limited to the settings on a clipper, be able to translate your direction into a language that your hair speaks and they shouldn't be done with you in less than 20 minutes.
KEEP YOUR LIVING QUARTERS CLEAN
This is rule number two because handsome needs lots of bright light and germ-free air in order to flourish.
Born with the slob gene? Many a good men were, but for the sake of your good-looking life, do something about it. Go to the car wash, hire a cleaning person, bribe your friends to do your dirty work, seek counseling, get hypnotized … whatever … do something. Don't let your life's clutter stop your handsome from happening.
USE AN SPF WHEN YOU GO OUTSIDE
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Take heed, or be contemplating Botox sooner than you thought: A 2013 study by the Annals of Internal Medicine found that adults who use an SPF daily aged 24% slower than those who didn't.
MOISTURIZE DAILY
Think of it this way: Moisturizers are vitamins for your face, and so they make your mug look healthy. According to Dr. Terrence Keaney MD, Director of W for Men dermatology clinic, you should use a moisturizer at least once a day to keep your skin looking lovely.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR EYES
Poor lifestyle choices can be a lot of fun, but they'll also turn your eyes into fortresses of foulness. You've known about Visine since college, but commit this bit to memory: Creams keep away wrinkles; gels get rid of dark circles and bags.
But wait, isn't using a face moisturizer enough, you ask? Hell, sure, but it won't work as well. Eye products are formulated specifically to deal with the thin skin around your sockets, but if you just can't negotiate using eye creams while being a man, then consider this advice from Dr. Andrew Jacono, Director of the New York Center for Facial Plastic & Laser Surgery: If your eyes are consistently puffy, it could be that you're eating too much salt, which keeps water retained in the body. If they're always dark, sleep at least seven hours a night, quit smoking, and treat your allergies, which are all common causes of under eye skin discoloration. Also, wear sunglasses and put SPF around your eyes when outside: squinting and UV rays are the leading cause of crows feet (that wrinkled skin next to your eye).
And new, as of 2013, there's Botox for your eyes and it can be used as a preventative or as a cure to crows feet. Sounds crazy, this injecting poisonous bacteria so near your eyes, but, confession:we tried it, because that's our job. Verdict: It was quick, painless, had no side effects and if we looked funny, no one said anything. One treatment lasts up to six months.
WASH YOUR FACE CORRECTLY
Yup, there is actually a wrong way to wash your face, and it can leave you looking less handsome than if you didn't wash at all. The culprit? Regular body soap which clogs up the smaller pores on your face and sucks up too much natural oil, leaving you mug looking like an old baseball mitt. So, learn this word and look for it on products: Non-comedogenic. It means the product is formulated specifically to deal with the skin on your face. Use a face wash once daily, except for shave day, when you should use a face scrub to exfoliate. And if you have a beard of significant length, don't use any scrubs ever unless you want to spend the next couple of hours picking micro-beads out of your muff.
BEARD RESPONSIBLY
According to science (and Jay Carney and Batman), we've reached peak beard in 2014, meaning those of the fairer sex may start to be more smitten with shaved faces than hairy ones. Though, if you ask the girls at Elle.com, they have their own, somewhat favorable opinions of our beards. Ah, boy, we live in confusing times. The take away? Do whatever makes you feel more handsome, but if you are currently bearding, you still have to be mindful to manicure that forest of follicles fastened to your face.
SHAVE LIKE YOUR GRANDADDY
If you're gonna be red and bloody in the face, let it be because you performed some heroic act, not because you still can't figure out the right way to shave. Dermatologists say that the five blades in your cartridge do a swell job of slashing the strands off your chin, but they also swipe the oils your skin needs to avoid nicks, burns and un-handsome irritation. Therefore: Single blade safety razor, like your granddaddy.
