There has been an increase in men taking initiative for their skincare.
The popularity of skincare routines and get-ready-with-me's online with the sprinkle of lifestyle influencers and content creators participating has seen some men show more interest in taking better care of their skin.
But, unfortunately, it's not as easy as sharing your partner's toiletries just because they happen to be readily available. This is largely due to the fact that females and males have different skins with its unique needs.
Pretoria-based dermatologist Dr Tarryn Jacobs says males have thicker skin with more collagen, resulting in their skin gradually decreasing in age whereas female skin shows a rapid decrease in thickness after menopause.
Dr Tarryn says, “Studies also show that male skin has more oil production and this goes hand in hand with enlarged facial pores. There are differences between men and women in terms of bone structure, in fat deposition and muscles of the face and that also influences the male aging process.”
Videos of couples (male and female) doing the same skincare routines have been trending.
Dr Tarryn says there’s no real harm in doing so because the basic elements of an effective skin care plan remain the same and everyone can use the same products.
Premature ageing
“What is more important is to choose skincare products that are suitable for your skin type, whether its normal, dry, combination or oily. What you also want to consider are any skin conditions or skin concerns, like acne, hyperpigmentation, redness, or aging skin,” she says.
READ MORE | Tips to take care of your skin in your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond
A more open conversation around premature skin ageing is on the rise. According to Eucerin, males are most affected by sagging skin combined with puffy eyes and dark circles that make them look tired.
Dr Tarryn says, “Lifestyle and behaviours play an important role in skin health and skin aging. External factors like smoking, pollution and sun exposure contribute to ageing skin. Studies have found that men are more likely to smoke and less likely to adopt sun protective behaviours, like wearing sunscreen and this can lead to premature skin ageing.”
Although the dermatologist advises that sun protection is the “single most effective product to use to prevent premature aging. This is because exposure to the suns UV light accounts for up to 80 percent of skin aging”.
Skincare product availability
Shaving also plays a part in destressing skin. Eucerin states that up to 40 percent of men have shaving-related skin problems, with younger and fair skinned men more prone the skin issues.
Luckily, grooming and cosmetic brands have been expanding and better curating product offering on the store shelves. Stores like Clicks and Dischem have dedicated sections for men to shop for their skincare needs.
The Grand View Research found that the global men’s skincare products market size was valued at USD 11.6 billion (about R216 billion) in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.2 percent from 2020 to 2027. In 2022, skincare was the leading category in the beauty space, accounting for about 41 percent of the global market, according to a Statista report.
Beauty brands such as L'Oréal and Nivea are just some of the beauty brands that have gradually introduced more curated skincare ranges for men now including serums, toners and soothing gels designed specifically for men's needs. These include formulations with hardworking active ingredients like salicylic acid, which target breakouts, and hyaluronic acid, which is known to be great for hydration.
Meanwhile, Wendy Wallner, a senior client officer at research company Ipsos, tells Forbes that, “There is considerable openness to males of all ages using cosmetic products than we’ve observed historically. This has been fueled by the anonymity of the ecommerce buying environment, the recent surge in zoom calls as well as concern about social media appearance.”
