Man In The Mirror

With men’s make-up in the mainstream again, it’s time to shift traditional views of masculinity.

- Aisha Hassan

Following the #MeToo movement, phrases like “toxic masculinity” and “intersectionality” are finally part of mainstream lexicons. Many are challenging harmful gender norms, which includes the notion that make-up on a man is “feminine” or denotes a sexual identity. While Marc Jacobs Beauty has offered unisex make-up since 2013, and Tom Ford has had a men’s cosmetics line since 2014, more powerhouse brands are now riding this wave of change.

Chanel’s Boy De Chanel, a line of men’s cosmetics launched in Malaysia this year, positions men’s makeup as an extension of grooming, a way to simply look better. Gucci Makeup, another big launch of 2019, champions make-up as a means of self-expression regardless of gender. The message is that the status quo has changed: Everyone should have the tools to look their best so consumers and industry players should take gender-inclusive beauty seriously.

FACE FORWARD