Are cosmetics just for women?
Skincare is no longer the sole domain of women and today the number of men keen to maintain and look after their skin properly is growing more and more.
Basic hygiene, moisturisation and nourishment concerns are the same regardless of the characteristics of an individual's gender or race. We’re happy that increasingly more men are spending time on caring for their skin because what your skin needs to keep itself healthy is not influenced by gender.
What is most important to men?
Facial hair is without doubt the determining factor in male skincare. Whether you have a beard or not, you should adapt your care to the facial hair you have.
Men with a beard must follow a specific care routine which particularly includes moisturising the skin, although hair also needs daily care as well. A well-maintained beard requires daily washing and the application of nourishing products like hair masks. It’s also necessary to moisturise the skin beneath the beard.
Shaving is of course an important daily challenge in male skincare as it involves abrasion and the loss of cells on the outermost layer of the epidermis. You have to commit to exhaustive pre- and post-shaving care for the skin not to suffer episodes of irritation.
Cosmetics and textures
It’s important to emphasise that men’s cosmetics are carefully focused on the tastes of most men, who prefer gel-based emollients and very lightweight textures.
These products usually have neutral aromas and provide a feeling of freshness when applied, thanks to mint or vitamin C. Products aimed at shaving often procure to afford a calming effect by including camomile or green tea.
Expression lines and eye contours
Despite having thicker skin than women, men often have more expression lines. That's because of the greater force used by the periorbital and facial muscles at the front and sides of the face.
That's why treatments specifically for men usually offer products to reduce expression lines on the forehead and temples that contain hyaluronic acid or collagen.
The future of men's cosmetics
Although cosmetics is no longer just a matter for women and more and more men are actively engaging in taking care of their skin, there are still many men who fail to look after it properly.
One fundamental step they easily forget is to moisturise their hands. The skin on men's hands is often dry, particularly following exposure to the environment and irritating substances. Then there is the body dehydration they suffer from because they don't apply enough moisturiser, and a deficit of deep hygiene because they aren't used to regularly using face or body exfoliants.
