If you’re like most men, your grooming routine is more about damage control than prevention. After all, there are work emails to answer and Fantasy Football leagues to obsess over. Here to help you combat those daily grooming conundrums is Dove Men+Care Expert Karen Lynn Accattato, grooming guru on Empire. If you’ve seen the show you know why this woman is well worth tapping for advice—Lucious Lyon and his three sons have the best RGS (Rich Guy Skin) of any guys on television.

How to Deal with a Zit

“Most men don’t wash their face with a proper cleanser, but they should. On set, I cleanse the guys’ faces at the beginning and end of every day. If a zit comes up, I use a medicated cream and follow with a little bit of concealer. Lee Daniels [the show’s co-creator] is not a fan of visible makeup and the HD cameras pick up everything so it’s all about finding the right color and using a light hand to cover the irritation caused by the blemish. Regular guys can use concealer too—just make sure to do the same thing.”

How to Deal with Shine

“Believe it or not, if your skin is oily it’s probably dehydrated or in need of exfoliation. To keep shine at bay I exfoliate the guys’ faces at least three times a week with a facial scrub and always use a moisturizer. Dove Men+Care has one that has a matte finish, so it hydrates without adding any shine. I’ll also use a mattifying primer on the guys’ skin before they go on set. It’s clear and gives skin a luminous quality without causing a reflection. If you’re someone who deals with shine, you could stash this in your bag for emergencies. No one will know you’re wearing it.”

How to Deal with Unruly Hair…Down There

“Empire is a sexy show with plenty of skin-baring moments so I groom everything—and I mean everything—that needs grooming. First off, you’ve got to trim that hair back. Don’t just let it grow. When you’re shaving sensitive areas use a hot compress to soften the hair follicles and prevent irritation, apply a heavy dose of moisturizing shaving cream, grab a brand-new razor or blade and go to town. If you want a close shave you can shave against the grain. Always follow up with a moisturizer that’s free of heavy fragrances. You should be moisturizing every inch of your body, really.”

How to Deal with Ashy Skin

“Ashy, dry skin is probably the number one skincare sin for the guys of Empire. They’re people with a lot of money, remember, so pampered skin helps convey that sense of luxury and privilege. The best way to get super luminous skin is to apply a body moisturizer as soon as you get out of the shower, before you towel off. It helps lock in moisture. Once you’re dry, then apply a natural oil. On set, I use everything from jojoba to coconut oil on the guys. You apply the oil and then put on a terry-cloth robe while it absorbs. This keeps it from getting on your clothes and gives the skin a chance to absorb the moisture.”

How to Deal with Crazy Eyebrows

“Too often I see guys whose eyebrows are totally neglected. It’s distracting. Even if you don’t want to touch the shape of your eyebrows you should always remove the hair in between your brows and trim them back a bit. For the guys on set, I’ll sometimes use a pomade or clear brow gel to give them more of a manicured look. Again, the objective is not to be able to tell that their eyebrows have anything in them so it’s all about using matte products and applying the product conservatively.”

Facebook content

This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.

Related Stories for GQDoveMoisturizerEmpireGroomingTVSkincareShaving