Moški pri izbiri kozmetike niso preveč izbirčni. Po navadi iščejo bližnjice in iz polic zbirajo izdelke z večnamensko uporabo kot je 5 v 1 ali 3 v 1. Včasih se zdi, da bi radi imeli šampon, ki ga lahko uporabijo za lase, telo, obraz in čiščenje avta 😉.  Pri takšnih izdelkih, ki delajo 5 nalog hkrati, se je potrebno sprijazniti, da nobena naloga na koncu ni opravljena kakovostno. 

The question is, do men really need their own cosmetics, or can they borrow shampoo and cream from their better half?

Testosterone determines the characteristics of a man's skin

Men's skin is structurally different from women's, as men produce larger amounts of the male hormone testosterone. Although every man's skin is unique, in general men's skin is thicker, oilier and ages differently.

Difference in skin thickness

Men's skin is on average about 20% thicker than women's. Also, women's skin is significantly more hydrated than men's, even moisturizing creams are more effective on women's skin.

A woman's skin ages faster

The collagen content in men's skin decreases steadily from around the age of 20 until old age. In women, however, collagen decreases uniformly until menopause, after which the amount of collagen drops more markedly, which results in faster aging of the skin.

The reality of men's cosmetics

Although the structure of men's skin is different from women's, the reality of the cosmetics industry is that manufacturers usually only change the scent and the packaging, while the formulations usually remain the same as women's cosmetics.

All I can suggest is that men use lighter creams, as men's skin is generally oilier than women's. Also, micro scars can form on the face due to more frequent shaving, so it is more appropriate to use cosmetics for sensitive skin.

The big difference between men's and women's cosmetics is certainly in deodorants or antiperspirants.
Men sweat more, so most antiperspirants intended for men contain larger amounts of active substances that prevent sweating. In this case, a woman who sweats more (e.g. during sports) can use a male antiperspirant.

Author: Petja Škufca, B.Sc. cosmetologist

What do you think?

Are men's cosmetics just a marketing trick or have you ever noticed that the ingredients of men's and women's cosmetics differ significantly?