2019 is proving to be a year all about inclusivity, equality and gender-neutral rights, but it seems we have forgotten to pay attention to male skin-confidence and what that means for their mental health.
We have seen a surge in the importance of gender-equality from the back of the 2017 Weinstein scandal, but while we have been ensuring women are now treated equal in society, it seems we have forgotten about the many day-to-day pressures men still have to endure to also feel equal and accepted in the 21st Century.
Masculinity is typically associated with confidence, but what happens when a man isn’t confident in his skin? A recent survey by Body Image found 1 in 4 men are unhappy with their appearance, but with stigmas surrounding the connotations of men wearing make-up, how are we meant to help men put their best-face forward? No matter what gender someone identifies with, we are all receptible to break-outs, uneven skin and dark-circles.
Men wearing make-up has been apparent for centuries, yet while the awareness on male mental health rises, we still seem to hold a grudge when it comes to men wearing make-up to help their confidence and identity. which for some may, improve their state of mind.
New media brand The Book of Man are a hub for all things men - “a support network offering advice and inspiration to modern men in a time of great change.”
Founder Martin Robinson says, “there’s no doubt about it - something is going wrong for men. Look at the symptoms: rising depression, addiction, violence, violent death through suicide. The Book of Man exists to explore the inner lives of men, with the ultimate objective to encourage them to open up and talk. 75% of suicides every year are men and there is a fundamental issue with the way men are coping with societal change.”
While society is continuously trying to push skin confidence, make-up has always been at a reachable distance for women when they need that skin pick-me-up. Many brands have taken skin confidence to a whole new level, taking the plunge in raw-photography by showing acne, stretch marks, freckles and scars. But whilst this female-led movement is 10 steps ahead, why are we still 10 steps behind for male skin confidence?
“What you might call old school masculinity or hegemonic masculinity can be considered a big old wall that can trap men in certain ways, making them think they should be strong, stoic, unemotional, alpha, the breadwinner. Of course, this means that if those things are ever questioned or if men feel like they are failing in those ideas, then it can lead to anger, violence, denial, isolation, addiction, even suicide; the fact you’re 3 times as likely to kill yourself if you’re a man indicates a lack of willingness or the skills to ask for help.”
But where can you turn to for guidance?
There is no denying over the last two years we have seen a radical change in the direction of beauty, with skincare for men continuously growing. According to a Statistica 2017 study, the male skincare industry was worth £608 million in the UK. In the past 8 months, there has been an even further advancement in the male beauty industry, with brands bringing out their own exclusive male makeup lines; Fluide Beauty, Chanel’s Boy De Chanel and War Paint. These brands are pushing their way through the barriers with their tinted moisturisers, guyliner and concealer to offer that alternative for men when their skin isn’t at its best.
Robinson agrees, “grooming is booming, and tinted moisturisers on sale by male brands like Lab Series” are helping break the stereotypes for men.
There are now over 1,000 Youtube tutorials catered for men wanting to learn how to cover their break-outs, fill in their brows and give their skin a helping hand. With the incline in social influencers and spokesmen pushing for acceptance for male make-up and encouraging conversions on male mental-health, there are now a diverse range of platforms for men to seek tips and tricks to help hide their unwanted skin troubles, with new make-up brands following not too far behind.
The male make-up brand making a difference
Founder of War Paint, Daniel Gray, is someone who is a strong advocate in breaking the stigmas attached to men wearing make-up after struggling with his own insecurities at the age of 18. “When I started to take a real notice in the way I looked due to some comments that left me feeling insecure about my appearance, it grew into body dysmorphia – an issue that has great affected me since."
Gray began wearing basic concealer to hide his insecurities. “This gave me that extra bit of confidence I desired. More cosmetics soon followed, not just to improve the way I looked, but to enhance the way I felt about myself.
War Paint have partnered with CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) - a charity that supports mental health. This felt right for Gray as he himself suffered with body dysmorphia and wanted to give back in some way by offering a percentage of each concealer sold on their website to be donated to CALM.
War Paint offers male concealers, foundations and skincare such as moisturizers. They believe that to “allow make-up to be truly gender neutral there needs to be a mens-specific brand in the same way there are women’s-specific brands.” With many products to choose from and online tutorials to follow, War Paint are a true “destination for men. Designed by men, for men.”
“Men's skin is naturally tougher, the skin on a man's face is 25% thicker than a woman's. Men’s skin also has bigger pores and a lot more of them which produces more sebum than a woman. The difference in men’s skin to woman’s skin is caused by hormones, specifically testosterone. All men need to help their skin look great is a light concealer or foundation and bronzer, that will help cover blemishes and un-even, texturized skin.”
Is the term ‘masculinity’ obsolete?
Men for many years have only been seen as breadwinners, women’s superior and the emotionless-macho; but there is still a pressure from society for both gender roles to stay on parallel universes. However, star-lines have shifted and there seems to be a new constellation coming forth – for men and women to now share similar attributes and interests, especially in the realm of beauty and make-up. But does this mean the word masculine will become obsolete, or just simply change its definition?
The movement of brands and campaigns
Robinson hopes for masculinity and makeup in 10 years-time to be “as a quality that all genders can have a share in. At The Book of Man we therefore want to question masculinity to hopefully free us up from those old stereotypes and expectations. We want a new masculinity which is looser, more open, and a more likely route to happiness.”
There is still a long way to go for men to acceptably carry attributes of masculinity and feminism, but with some brands pushing forward in a more genderless approach and with social influence taking off by storm, there is now hope for men to be confident in their skin and for the line of make-up between masculinity and feminism to be blurred in order to help male mental-health. Both The Book of Man and War Paint are undeniably opening the conversation for male make-up and mental health, which will hopefully encourage more companies like these to follow in their footsteps.
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