Skincare Isn’t Just For Women!
graphic by anastasia powell
Society needs to wake up, wash their face, and realize that having good hygiene and caring about the ingredients that are going on your face is not “girly” in any way.
Having a nighttime and morning skincare routine where you cleanse your face, put on your acne medication, and follow up with a moisturizer is typically labeled as “feminine,” and we want to change that narrative.
Skincare has undoubtedly had a major COVID-induced glow-up (haven’t we all?!), and it’s contributed to lots of people feeling healthier, cleaner, and more hygienic. Despite its rise in popularity, the media hasn’t stopped marketing skincare as a feminine practice.
Societal gender expectations that have been long-ingrained into mens’ minds are what make the average guy afraid to walk into a store like Ulta and buy serums, cleansers, or toners. A multi-step skincare routine has been branded as something that girls do every morning, and yet all guys have to do is douse themselves with a healthy dose of Axe body spray and they’re immediately irresistible… make it make sense. Lots of men buy into the myth that using a vitamin-C serum twice a week is jeopardizing their masculinity when in reality, all you’re doing is giving your skin the hydration it needs to look as young as it can for as long as possible.
Looking and feeling your best is something that we all strive to achieve, and caring for your skin plays a major role. There are many reasons why men should have sufficient skincare routines—sun protection, hydration (especially for us Cuse people undergoing harsh winters), acne prevention, wrinkle prevention… and that’s just to name a few.
We’re not saying that brands like Lush or Kylie Cosmetics aren’t packaged or presented in a way that might turn your average straight guy off from buying a product from them. We are saying that there are thousands of brands out there that are very gender-neutral—there truly is a brand for everyone. Similar to how we all brush our teeth, we should all be able to cleanse our skin without judgment.