Pampering and taking pride in one's appearance isn't just a woman's thing. Men, like women, are exposed to the wear and tear of the environment and daily life. Here are 10 tips for men to use when taking care of themselves:

1 Many men who shave would be more than quick to say they 'suffer' from razor burn and those tiny (sometimes a bit bigger) razor bumps. Do not worry because there are ways of treating your skin to help minimise these unsightly features. Using a mild facial scrub meant for after cleansing will benefit you if you use it before you shave. Also, stop cutting yourself short and use new blades each time you take a razor to your skin.

2 Take the time to care for your skin and invest in a decent facial cleanser. Each facial cleanser is designed for different skin types. Do not use a dry-skin cleanser if you have oily skin (this could complicate things), and the general rule of thumb is to avoid the ones with fragrance.

3 Those poor white shirts with the golden armpit stains. Some antiperspirants have that annoying and unsightly habit of staining your clothing. Look for the antiperspirants that do not have aluminium salts. If you can't avoid the aluminium, then iron some Scotch Guard into your shirts' armpits.

4 Everyone cringes at the thought and sight of acne. It is a self-conscious point for men who have acne riddled across their backs, resembling graters. A good way of preventing (or maintaining) this is to shower before workouts. That's right, before. There is nothing like working up a good, clean sweat that is almost oil-free with fewer dead skin cells that won't clog your pores.

5 Men have now taken to wearing Vaseline on their lips to keep them moisturised. No. Forget the petroleum and gently brush your lips with a soft, dry toothbrush. This will remove the loose and flaky skin. When you're through with that, apply lip balm. Don't plaster it on. This will leave you with smooth and kissable lips.

6 Do you ever notice how people have a way of commenting, "Oh my, you're hands are so soft!", No one likes the feel of rough and callused hands. If you have rough hands, your skin just needs some gentle exfoliation; a gentle scrub. Moisturise those hands to fight the dry skin that comes from washing your hands.

7 Recently, it's been a toss up between deodorant and antiperspirant. Despite popular belief, they aren't the same thing. Deodorants neutralise odours and help rid your armpits of bacteria. Please note, you will still sweat if you wear deodorant. However, antiperspirants clog pores and stop you from sweating. Not good. Antiperspirants contain aluminium and will accumulate in the brain. Choose wisely, and trim underarm hair while you're at it to reduce odour.

8 It seems as if the world is ageist with all those age-fighting products and procedures. There is nothing wrong with ageing, but there are ways to help the ageing process along gracefully. Some say the sun is what damages the skin and makes ageing look like the bad guy. This is true. However, smoking also does this. It reduces the blood flow to the skin. So stop smoking and make those added years less crippling.

9 It is so easy to neglect the feet. But they are used and abused day after day. Treat yourself to regular pedicures and foot baths. Pampering your feet with baths also have positive side effects, such as taking blood away from inflamed body parts. They help ease other ailments, such as insomnia, sore throats, leg cramps, gout pain, headaches, among others. Turn the temperature up a notch and have a hot foot bath which relieves cold hands or feet, nausea and dizziness. Better yet, if you're suffering from a sore throat and would like to prevent a cold, just add a tablespoon of mustard powder per quart of hot water and let yourself relax.

10 For all you sensitive men with sensitive skin, do NOT shave your pubic hair if you have allergic reactions to shaving creams or gels. This area is more sensitive than your face and according to Men's Essentials, "Your allergic reaction could be spectacular."

Sources: mensessentials.com,menshealth.com, groomingtips formen.com, mensfitness.com.