Men and cosmetics in 21st Century

"There are more and more men's cosmetics brands and the most interesting right now is in men's skin care." -Sakae Nonomura, director of the Beauty Research Institute at Kanebo Cosmetics Inc.

Men’s cosmetics are comprised of skin care, shaving, hair care, and general grooming products. We do not, of course, mean lipstick and eyeliner, but beauty products specifically designed for men. Everything, in a sense, to keep you clean, healthy and looking your best around the clock. Once upon a time, men subtly bought these items at the women’s makeup counter in the local department store or pharmacy and looked for unscented versions of the products made for women. Manufacturers now offer specifically designed men’s cosmetics -- marketed to them -- but offering transformative results. A man’s skin is often much tougher and thicker than a woman’s due to his testosterone and pH level. As a result, he needs stronger lotions and cleansers to reach deeper into his pores. It is true that hair skin tonics, as they were called, have always been made with "manly" men in mind, but most of these had alcohol as a main ingredient, which was very harsh. Today, we know better -- and look better too. 

Men's Cosmetics on AM 

Skin is the single largest organ of the human body, and the hair that grows from it on men has a different chemical composition than women's. This means men should use products designed specifically for them. Yet, many inexpensive brands and items have simply changed the base formulations of their women’s line, added a musk scent and splashed the word “men” across a manly looking bottle. The truth is there are numerous well-designed, formulated and produced men’s cosmetics to take care of your skin, give you a better shave and keep your hair looking great -- which are offered by smaller boutique lines your local store may not carry. AskMen.com continually seeks out the very best in men’s cosmetics and profiles several of these specialty brands each week to help keep you looking your best. It's what we do.

 Men's Cosmetics Fact 

Men have 20% thicker skin than women, which means that men actually need specially formulated moisturizers and cleansers to maintain healthy skin. Men have larger pores that can accumulate more dirt and grime during an average day; thus, a face cleanser designed for women is simply not strong enough to thoroughly cleanse men's skin.