Help Me Help My Boyfriend

[AdminAssistant]

Two things:

1. I'm going to spend next weekend with my boyfriend, and he wants me to go shopping with him. He has, basically, no nice warm weather clothes for work. Thing is, I do really good to dress myself and shopping really isn't my thing. But, this is something that seems to mean a lot to him, so...okay. (And I get to do a little shopping for myself, of course.) So, guys, when you take someone shopping with you, what kind of help do you want? Just another pair of eyes to say, "Oh, no, not that" or someone to just pick everything out for you?

2. He has significant facial and body acne. It's not a huge thing, and it really doesn't bother me (although I pick myself, and I have to fight the urge to pick HIM. Ew.) But, it does bother him, and he has a few self-esteem issues anyway. I told him that when we were shopping I'd help him pick out some products that might help. I know he needs to get some salicylic acid. But do you have any suggestions for soaps, toners, moisturizers? Something that's easy and "manly", of course.

Thanks guys...this is my first serious relationship in a very long time, and a lot of this basic 'girlfriend' stuff is just very new and strange to me.

[trailerparkmedic]

For the shopping: ask him what he wants you to do. "Do you want me to pick out clothes for you or just give you my opinion on what you pick out?" If he's not sure, start by picking out clothes and see where it goes.

For the acne: Don't forget moisturizer! My acne has DRASTICALLY improved since I started moisturizing. I'd just start him with generic face wash (he can use it on his body too) and moisturizer and see if it works. Most stuff is pretty neutral (non girly or manly) now, so it shouldn't be too bad.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Get him to smear tartar control toothpaste on his acne prone areas in the shower, leave it on till he can't stand it anymore, and then rinse it off.

Tell him for the love of all that is holy to keep it out of his eyes.

[MaggieTheCat]

For the clothes shopping bit, you might want to do a combination of picking stuff out and just acting as another set of eyes. Tell him to pick out some things that he likes, and then you pick out some things that you think he'd like or would look good on him, and have him try it all on. Then you can decide between the two of you which ones look best.

I'm not very good at shopping, though, I do most of mine online.

[Jester]

I am a very good shopper. The problem is, I usually shop for myself, or for gifts for other people....not to dress other people. I am actually a guy that can dress himself...occasionally even fashionably! (I do clean up rather well, I must say.)

I have never had a real acne problem. I got my first zit in my life at the age of 20. Good thing, too....I had enough problems in high school without that adding to it!

Hmmm, now that I think about it, I am probably the worst person to ask about something like this.

(But if you do want male fashion advice, if I know what he is looking to get in general, I might be able to help.)

[Summerfly413]

I'm not very good at the shopping thing. I do think saving him from buying something awful would be helpful though.

As for the acne thing, I've found that products with 10% benzoyl peroxide as the active ingredient help wonders. It can dry out the skin a lot though, and can make it more sensitve to the sun.

[Food Lady]

Salicylic acid and vitamin C seemed to work best for me, and now that I've had years of using them, I look a bit younger than I am. I decided to exoeriment a couple of years ago and make up a toner. Works very well, isn't a messy cream, and can be applied anywhere. I have an 8-ounce glass bottle. I drop in 4 aspirin tablets, add 1 ounce lemon juice, 1 ounce rubbing alcohol (to preserve the solution), and fill to top with water (tap works fine). Takes a few hours for the aspirin to dissolve. I use it only at night.

[Mr. Rager!]

I'm not sure about body acne on what to do with it. I don't have acne period, but I heard from a website that a lot of men have begun putting a towel on their pillow at night (fresh towel every night) and said that after about two weeks, their acne cleared up.

My girlfriend will never pick out my clothes. NEVER! I dress myself. Things to look for, make sure the clothes fit properly and are simple as far as patterns go or not pattern at all. That way, if he decides to mix and match things, he won't be doing funky things with the pattern. If he has no color sense, look for things that can go as an outfit and don't let him mix and match. And if all else fails, as the sales person to help you out. That's why they are there. And often times, they have a pretty good idea of what looks good and what does not look good.

Sometimes when you go to websites, they will actually put together outfits based on an item that you select. gap.com and thebuckle.com both seem to do that.

[AdminAssistant]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I told my (shopaholic) sister that we were going shopping on Friday and she burst out laughing - she knows how much I do. not. like. shopping. Oh well, it'll be fun with the BF....maybe?

[Magpie]

I can't stand shopping, but I find that it's not quite as bad when shopping with DH. It helps to not have to deal with the stupidities of women's sizing.

I suggest making sure you do a bit of work before you leave for the shops. Make sure you know what your boyfriend wants to wear. I will ask for advice, but it's to make the styles I like look decent, not to find a new style. You want to be on the same page for what he's buying.

Pick your stores carefully. If you know what you want, you can pick a store that is likely to carry it. There's no point in going to the Gap if you're looking for clothes for a shop floor, and I really wouldn't recommend Mark's if you want something in business dress (business casual I actually would).

Once you're at the stores, look for what he would be interested in, and then pick several items to try. While he is in the change room you have two jobs - check for similar styles, and make sure he can find you when he steps out. If something looks bad in several sizes, then grab one of the similar styles for him. If he needs a new size, grab it while he takes the old one off (bonus points if you can just hand it over the door - yes this is awkward, but it's not like you're going to SEE anything, and it saves a heck of a lot of time). Shopping is much less annoying when you have the whole super-efficient thing going.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I hate shopping for myself, let alone anyone else.

I like Neutrogena products; they have a men's facial care line.
They also have a skin clearing body wash, which isn't part of the men's line but it's not all girly, either.

[Sheldonrs]

I have friends who swear by ProActiv for all acne problems, but since I never tried it, I can't say.

As for clothes shopping, something I like doing alone but usually hate it when I'm with someone else, I've found that if you give the guy you're with a BJ in the fitting room, they usually don't have enough strength to keep shopping after.

Just a suggestion. Plus it's easier to get into the mens fitting room if you are ALSO a man.

[AdminAssistant]

As for clothes shopping, something I like doing alone but usually hate it when I'm with someone else, I've found that if you give the guy you're with a BJ in the fitting room, they usually don't have enough strength to keep shopping after.

Of all of the suggestions, he likes this one the best.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I've found that if you give the guy you're with a BJ in the fitting room, they usually don't have enough strength to keep shopping after.

Just a suggestion. Plus it's easier to get into the mens fitting room if you are ALSO a man.

Of all of the suggestions, he likes this one the best.

So when is Sheldon coming to help your BF in the fitting room?

[Sheldonrs]

So when is Sheldon fitting in your BF?

Edited for brevity and accuracy.