The Dawn of the Metrosexual

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style="text-align: left;" align="center">style="text-decoration: underline;">An Evolution in Skincare!

The idea of men taking an interest in their appearance certainly isn’t a new concept. After all, weight lifting gyms have been commonplace since the 1960s, helping men to tone their six packs and maintain their buff physiques. What is new, however, is the path that male vanity has followed, and the way in which it has evolved.

The metrosexual. Sometimes mocked for being rather feminine, this modern-day man was born out of years of gothic and ‘emo’ trends evolving and becoming more and more accepted by mainstream society. The typical metrosexual takes great pride in his appearance, with an interest in everything from daily skin care to the latest hair styles, even going as far as wearing makeup to keep his preened image looking sharp as ever.

style="text-decoration: underline;">Skincare Products/> /> Skincare products specifically designed for male skin were first introduced to the skincare market in the 1990s, although it’s only really in the last few years that the male skincare industry has really taken off. Now, rather than male skincare being something that can only be purchased from dodgy looking shopping channels, or from the classic infomercials in ‘just 12 easy payments’, moisturisers, creams, toners and lotions are all available in any pharmacy or supermarket – and they’re big name branded, too.

In a recent study of the UK male cosmetics market of the 3.3 million men questioned 28% use eye creams and 23% use anti-ageing treatments. With the exception of hair dye products, these are the most popular cosmetic choices among men. Although it was once thought that men became more distinguished and handsome with age, one therefore can’t help but wonder; are today’s men finding the prospect of ageing just as daunting as many women do? The figures seem to indicate yes!

Brands such as Clarins, Clinique and L’Oreal sell specialised shampoos, hair gels, holding sprays, wrinkle creams, eye roll-ons, pretty much anything you can think of, all designed to enhance male skin which is naturally more rough and tough than women’s due to additional hair growth.

style="text-decoration: underline;">Male Cosmetics/> /> Male skincare is one thing, but male cosmetics are quite another. Although makeup was once reserved for women, these days men are wearing eye liner, using face powder and going as far as making their eyes pop with mascara! Is it time for women to start putting locks on their makeup bags? Probably not, as there are specialised male cosmetics on offer, marketed directly at the metrosexual.

MAC is one of the biggest and most well-known suppliers of products that have been nicknamed ‘guyliner’ and ‘manscara’, and the increase in male cosmetics has been embraced by the beauty industry. After all, it’s a money-making niche that hadn’t really been touched upon previously. But has it been embraced elsewhere? Shockingly, yes!