I was with my brother doing some Christmas shopping, and we stopped into Sephora. The way he was so awkward about men using skincare almost made me feel badly for him. I had no idea that men have internalized this aversion to all things “girly” in such a deep way.
While marketing products as “masculine” may be effective with many men and may feel reassuring for them, the formulas some brands use rely on high levels of drying alcohols and heavy fragrances, which can end up irritating the skin and causing skin barrier damage. Everyone’s skin benefits from gentle, nourishing ingredients. To me, choosing products based on what supports a healthy skin barrier is far more important than choosing packaging that aligns with old ideas about gender. I follow many male creators who embrace skincare and makeup so I guess I was wildly out of touch with the experience many men have with regard to self care.
Has anyone else observed this?
