Makeup for menMakeup for men? How and when did this happen? In the last 20 years mens fashions - and attitudes - have focused (finally) on clothing, hair styles and facial hair that champion their personal styles and unique personalities. Men recognize how much image affects their jobs and careers. They want the competitive edge as well as their best faces to put forward in their personal lives. Makeup, a.k.a."enhancement", "complexion enhancers", "instant skin enhancement", is used to improve the skin’s appearance without being noticeable.
Complexion enhancement is a much simpler and less expensive approach than the more radical cosmetic-surgery option, which is increasing substantially in the male population. Why makeup?Using enhancement can increase perceived attractiveness, boost self image, subtly change behavior or signal availability and a willingness to interact with others.It can increase perceived status. A study on women found that people judge those wearing cosmetics as higher earners with more prestigious jobs. What’s available in makeup for men?• Skin correcting sticks (i.e concealers renamed “camouflage” in certain men’s lines) hide zits and dark circles under eyes. • Self-tanning gels heighten skin color while evening out skin tone. Bronzers, skin tints and body and face highlighters accomplish the same thing - and wash off. • “Mancake”, foundation makeup, blends well into skin color - when you buy the color closest to your skin tone.
• “Guyliner” Black (forget other colors) eyeliner pencils are used to enhance eyes (think Johhny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow in “Pirates of the Caribbean.) To answer some possibly unasked questions, more and more videos keep appearing on youtube where men demonstrate how they apply makeup. Is makeup for men catching on?Yes, if foreign markets are any indication. In the UK, drugstore giant, Boots, carries men’s makeup; a London store sells mascara for men and in Asia,2 separate men’s complexion-enhancement lines are booming.While makeup items are available in stores, most men prefer to purchase such products privately from home, shopping on line. It's only natural that makeup for men is gaining in popularity as men feel free to look their personal best. Just because men say they wouldn’t wear makeup doesn’t mean they won’t change their minds. Grooming, after all, has never been more acceptable. Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician. Unknown
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