Brrrr it's cold! It may have stopped snowing but there is still a real chill in the air in the UK and we're wrapping up warm at astonmitchell HQ. We've brought you a whole load of skincare tips and FAQs from Michele Probst, friend of astonmitchell, internationally renowned celebrity makeup artist and founder of Menaji.

Michele says...O.K. guys...no excuses. Men are embracing skin care in record numbers. Taking care of your skin is serious business, especially, during the harsh conditions of winter. However, it is not hard to do with the right tools. Remember, to LOOK GOOD=FEEL GOOD=CONFIDENCE=SUCCESS. It is your face, so take it seriously! Getting started, keep it simple:

So...February's Focus is Winter Skincare

Winter Skin Care

1. Keep it clean.

Men have approximately 15% oilier skin and significantly larger pores than women do. Deep cleansing is key all year long. Keep pores clear with a product that is chemical free and doesn't irritate or dry out skin. Don't forget around the eye area, which is the most sensitive part of the face and reveals aging. It is important to apply an aloe and vitamin E based treatment. As always you want to promote healthy looking skin.

2. Keep it toned.

For the outdoors men, the harsh winter environmental debris and pollutants factor heavily into the health of one's skin. Toning helps keep skin clean and firm. Remember to look for products that are not photosensitive(sensitive to light).

3. Treat your skin.

It is important any season to know your skin's needs. Exfoliate with products that have no alcohol or heavy fragrance. Winter skin is extremely sensitive, so protect and hydrate to prevent dryness and cracking.

4. Protect your skin.

There are preventative techniques that can promote good-looking skin for winter and help keep a healthy glow lasting longer. Remember skin is a mirror of your overall body health. Excessive exposure to winter sun leads to hyper pigmentation which can develop to serious skin conditions. A SPF of 15 or higher is essential. Make sure your indoor environment is also protected. A humidifier is a great way to keep moisture in the air and helps prevent dry skin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I keep my skin moist in the winter?

A: When skin is cold, it is prone to losing moisture. The best way to winter proof your skin is to use an all natural hydrating moisturizer with vitamin E and milk protein which are especially soothing and protect skin.

Q: Should my cleansing product change during the winter season?

A: Yes, products should be as chemical free as possible. Don't irritate skin with harsh ingredients that clog pores.

Q: I spend a lot of time outdoors skiing, hiking, etc., what suggestions do you have for my skin?

A: Make sure you have a SPF of 15 or higher. The winter sun has reflective powers that are extremely dangerous for your skin. The sun's rays both UVA(which age your skin) and UVB(which burn your skin) break down your dermes and cause aging

Q: How often should I hydrate?

A: It is important to apply moisturizer while skin is damp, usually within three minutes of bathing. The winter air is so dry, you do not want to expose your skin to it more than you have to.

Q: I have a tendency to lick my lips. What kind of lip balm do you recommend to not dry them out?

A: Licking dry lips is not good. It takes away all natural oils and will cause irritation. Use a lip product that has a natural base such as peppermint with a SPF of at least 15. Because men spend more time outdoors, they have a tendency to get dry lips more often.

Menaji Daily Winter Checklist

Cleanse/Tone/Treat/Protect

Check out Steve Miller's new book on confidence, which is out now. Steve presents Fat Families on Sky and is a renowned confidence coach (and friend of astonmitchell!) - he tried out a makeover to see if it made a difference to his confidence and he loved it, especially the Fontana Contarini foundation and Menaji Camo Concealer which gave him a professional, polished look.

Why not make 2010 the year you try something new? Men's makeup is getting increasingly popular and we predict it will be the hot new trend for 2010!

:: OK - here's where you can start! Touch up those blemishes or under eye bags with our range of top quality concealers :: Get rid of shine and look cool, calm and collected with our men's antishine range :: Add a hint of colour to give you a healthy glow with our bronzers and foundations :: Go grungy or make your eyes look naturally defined with our mascaras and eyeliners for men ::

Wayne Goss men's makeup video

Wayne Goss is a makeup artist who has a hugely popular YouTube Channel where he demonstrates how to use makeup. Wayne has done a short review and application guide for some of our products including the Menaji HDPV Antishine powder/foundation, Menaji Camo Concealer, Taxi Clear Manscara and Fontana Contarini black mascara and the fabulous MYEGO kohl eye pencil.

Check out his videos men and makeup, dark circles, bags and puffy eyes and another men and makeup vid. We think you'll find them really interesting and useful.

Introducing Made For Boys - exclusively at astonmitchell

Made For Boys is a fantastic Canadian range of skin and body care products made specifically for men which has an excellent reputation in the Canadian and the USA

The Made For Boys Body Wash and Made For Boys Body Lotion are really great products - they use Hemp Seed Oil which is rich in Omega 3, which has all sorts of healing and rejuvenating properties and is thought to be beneficial for problem skin.

The same company produces the Made For Skin range which includes an After-Sports Muscle Soak and an amazing Skin Balm. We were so impressed that we decided to stock them even though they are unisex products!

Celeb Fans

*STOP PRESS*, Now available at astonmitchell - a new eye pencil and concealer from fab and trendy British company MYEGO - Enjoy!

Other Useful Stuff

Make-up for Bridegrooms

If you're getting married soon, or you know someone who is, then you might find our Bridegroom's Page useful. We know that guys need to look fantastic on their big day too, so we've put together some basic advice for bridegrooms who want to look picture perfect.

Sole Stockists of Fontana Contarini

We've got great news too - we are now the sole UK stockists of Fontana Contarini's UOMO make up range for men from Italy. Fontana Contarini offers foundation, bronzing/anti-shine powder, tinted lip moisturisers, clear eyebrow mascara, black eyelash mascara and more. We love Fontana Contarini products as they are designed specifically for men - they are excellent quality and have great packaging. Our customers love this range and we'll be offering even more products really soon.

We Ship Worldwide

We ship all over the world, with customers in the USA, Brazil, Argentina, Europe and Japan - men's make-up is a global business!

Shipping is £3.50 per order (recorded delivery) for UK addresses, £4.50 for non-UK addresses and delivery is FREE for orders over £50.

Free Men's Make-up E-Book

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Low Cost Options

If you're not sure what you need and aren't ready to commit to the high quality ranges on this site, we also have an Ebay Shop stocking loads of 'starter' products at very low prices - ideal if you're not sure what suits you yet.

Check out our Forum for hints, tips, discussion points and more.

astonmitchell - makeup & skincare for men Featured Items

Made For Skin Natural Skin Balm If YOU could only buy one product...this is it. It soothes...it heals...it's the quintessential all-in-one skin care product if there ever was one. And it fits in your pocket. Price: £19.99

YSL Touche Eclat Touche Eclat Highlighter and Concealer from YSL Price: £24.99

Made For Boys Body Wash The Made For Boys Total Body Wash blends Aloe, Hemp & Omega 3 to soothe, rejuvenate and moisturise your skin. Price: £17.99

Taxi Guyliner The Original Guyliner from Taxi of London Price: £9.00

Taxi Precision Eye Pen Precision eye pen by Taxi Cosmetics of London - modern originals for the modern man Price: £6.36