Hey, baby face.

SKINCARE IS JUST FOR WOMEN, RIGHT? GUESS AGAIN!

Think women spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning? According to recent statistics, the average man devotes approximately 51 minutes each day to personal grooming, a mere four minutes less than his female counterpart. Surprised? Maybe you shouldn't be. American men now spend nearly $10 billion annually on their appearances, with about $3.3 billion allotted directly to grooming products alone.

It seems clear that today's men are just as concerned as women are with the way their skin looks and feels. While guys may not head off in pairs to the men's room to compare notes, the current trend does indicate that men are accepting the idea that good looking skin isn't necessarily a sign of vanity, but rather a goal in maintaining overall good health.

it's a guy thing

So does this mean that men and women can now share moisturizers? No, it doesn't. For one thing, men have larger pores than women do and they secrete more oils -- up to 15 percent more. As you might have guessed, this extra oil also means more dirt and pollutant buildup on your skin. Using the wrong kind of moisturizer will only trap more dirt and eventually clog those bigger pores. But men do need daily moisturizing.

Another thing that separates men from women is daily facial shaving. Dragging a sharp blade over your skin one or more times a day can be extremely irritating. Using a well-formulated moisturizing shaving cream or gel will help to reduce friction that can lead to unsightly (and painful) nicks and rashes.

When is being hairy scary? The answer is when your beard stubble causes razor bumps. Technically known as pseudofolliculitis barbae, this condition results from emerging hairs that curl over and burrow into nearby skin causing a foreign body reaction and a telltale bump. In effect, it's an ingrown hair and can make shaving a very unpleasant experience. It can even lead to infection and scarring. For this reason, it's essential that you properly care for your skin before and after shaving to reduce this risk. This is especially true if you are African American or if your natural hair is very curly.