I grew up in a time when boys using skincare products was taboo, but I was lucky to have a mother who firmly believed that everyone should have good skin. Fast forward a couple of decades and it’s truly refreshing to see that this subject is being brought up more nowadays and that men, no matter their sexual orientation, are all eager to learn more about skincare and beauty products. Of course, beauty companies have caught on to the interest of this new demographic and brands from L’Oréal to Chanel have all released their own lines of skincare and beauty products targeting males. However, one question still remains: should gendered products be a thing of the past?
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Arguably, skin is skin. One could generalize and say that men’s skin tends to be on the oilier side — and there are certainly some products that are created with men specifically in mind. However, oily skin isn’t an attribute that is male-exclusive. Everyone has different skin types and a lot of the men I’ve come across in my life have had combination skin more often than just oily skin. I’ve personally had more luck with products marketed towards a female consumer because there tends to be a wider range of products that target major skin issues and I also believe that the technology is often better. So, other than a change of packaging, is there actually a concrete reason for male-targeted products?
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I do believe that men can use the same products as women as long as you know your skin type and what it needs. When you’ve come to that level, I think that gender-neutral products are the best route to go. However, we need to remember that the topic is still fairly new to the mainstream for a lot of men and, unfortunately, the stigma that equates beauty and skincare to a decrease in masculinity is still present. It may still need more time to fully break through the taboo. I believe that those male-targeted lines certainly help ease men into the world of skincare and shows them that it’s absolutely OK to want to take care of their skin and pamper themselves. With that in mind, here are some of my favourite male products that I’ve tried thus far.
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Clarins Men
The Clarins Men Exfoliating Cleanser is a great 2-in-1 product which gently exfoliates your skin daily, but can also double up as a deep cleansing mask. It also doesn’t smell overly like aftershave which is a plus in my books.
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Shiseido Men
Serums may still be foreign to a large demographic of men but trust me gents, you’ll want to add one of those to your skincare routine. Shiseido’s Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate boosts the skin’s resistance to damage caused by external hazards such as UV rays and dryness while keeping your skin nicely hydrated for 32 hours.
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Chanel Boy de Chanel
The Boy de Chanel line is a welcome addition as it also includes make up along with skincare. Their new Anti- shine Toning Lotion is great for anyone with oilier skin as it has a lovely mattifying effect and can be used on its own or prior to your regular moisturizer.
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L’Oréal Paris Men Expert
L’Oréal has an impressive lineup of brands in its portfolio including the L’Oréal Men Expert line which I’ve found to be affordable and effective. Their Hydra Energetic Anti-Fatigue Eye Roller is cooling to the touch and truly helps to get rid of those pesky under-eye bags and brighten them up with the help of vitamin C.
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Skinceuticals
This last step is one of the most important in your skincare routine. Make sure to always wear sunscreen when you go out no matter if it’s sunny or cloudy. The Skinceuticals Physical Fusion UV defense Sunscreen provides a fantastic SPF50 to protect from UVA and UVB but it also helps to even skin tone with its tinted formula. For the men who may still be on the fence when it comes to makeup but who want to look their best!
