Makeup for Men: For or Against?
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Makeup for men, now that’s a topic that has stirred up quite a bit of discussion.
Can we revisit gender by allowing men to consume and wear makeup like women do?
Once again, it’s the whirlwind of English pop music, Harry Styles (yes, him again), that is shifting the lines of gender by launching a collection of gender fluid makeup. Will you resist the trend, or do you think makeup should be reserved for the feminine gender?
The Origin of Makeup
It was the Egyptians in 3000 B.C. who created what we now call kohl. Made from soot or lead, its primary purpose was to protect the eyes from sand and the harsh climatic conditions of the country. Very quickly, both men and women adopted this technique, claiming it to replicate the eyes of cats, sacred animals. Makeup was born… and it was gender fluid!
Fast forward a bit in history to the Renaissance in France, where the nobles were not shy about using powder. Thus, both women and men wore makeup, shall we say, a bit excessively. There was even a trend among the bourgeois to appear as pale as possible by using green makeup to resemble a corpse. Think that’s strange? I do too, but rest assured, this awful trend didn’t last very long.
The Revolution was a somewhat sad time for makeup for men, as it became an exclusively feminine attribute once again.
After the French Revolution of 1789, makeup was reserved for prostitutes and actresses. So, if you weren’t stepping on stage, you had to think twice before putting on lipstick to go out.
The cinema of the early 1920s would solidify the popularity of makeup for women. More and more creators emerged, and lead was banned from cosmetic products.
Makeup for Men: A Cultural Story?
While in the West, the question of male makeup is controversial, that’s not the case in Korea or Japan, for example, where it’s normal for men to have baby-like skin.
Members of the group BTS are very representative of the democratization of makeup for men. It’s simple: there’s no way they’re going out without a flawless complexion, shiny eyes, and well-groomed eyebrows.
It is indeed by looking towards the Asian market that Chanel released its collection of makeup for men before timidly launching in France in 2019.
For some time now, makeup for men has been increasingly exported to the West, with influencers like @fabiancrfx, 19 years old, sharing his truly amazing transformation tutorials with his Instagram and TikTok followers.
Cultural Male Icons and Makeup
If there’s anyone who has enjoyed testing all the color palettes, it’s definitely the pop stars. Long before the current controversies raising questions about gender, David Bowie, Boy George, and Freddie Mercury donned makeup in the 70s and 80s, sometimes excessively.
Recently, it was pop star Harry Styles who made headlines by adopting a dress, a typically feminine accessory. The artist never tires of pushing the boundaries of gender by striking supposedly feminine poses or sporting polished, painted nails.
Why So Much Hate Against Men Who Wear Makeup?
Men who wear makeup have often been viewed with suspicion by conservatives who see gender transgression as a danger to society.
The first to suffer the consequences? Bilal Hassani during Eurovision 2019. His detractors accused him of presenting a degrading and biased view of what, according to them, masculinity should be.
President Emmanuel Macron also stirred up a makeup controversy. Doubt it? Well, it’s true, but it was primarily the hefty sum of 26,000 euros for three months of makeup that caused the scandal. I must admit, that’s a lot for makeup that isn’t even noticeable!
Why does makeup for men bother some with a narrow mindset? Because this transgression challenges the archaic dictates of our societies. You know, girls love pink and boys love blue; girls wear makeup and boys must be manly.
Gender Fluid: When Makeup Erases Gender
For makeup for men, we prefer the term gender fluid makeup, which is more inclusive.
On Netflix, the success of the show RuPaul’s Drag Race demonstrates that men are interested in makeup and, more importantly, that they excel in the field!
Brands have well understood the potential market that makeup for men represents. In 2018, Givenchy created a gender fluid collection called “Mister,” leaving little doubt about its intentions.
Of course, makeup for men goes hand in hand with current discussions about non-binary individuals and activists who are rethinking social norms.
Makeup is an important transition tool for someone who feels of a different gender. It allows them to affirm their true identity.
What Percentage of Men Wear Makeup?
33.2% of men wear makeup regularly. Is this figure likely to increase? I’m sure of it! Especially when we see celebrities like Harry Styles who are shifting the lines of gender with their makeup collections for men.
Paradoxically, it was during the pandemic when women claimed to wear less makeup that makeup for men took off.
Not surprisingly, it’s the younger men, more connected to the world, who are the most likely to wear makeup or claim not to have a problem with men wearing makeup.
The most commonly used products by men are lip balm, skin concealer, and foundation.
Harry Styles: After the Dress for Men, Makeup?
After posing for Vogue in a Gucci dress, the singer is determined to continue to question masculinity by valuing his creative expression and the fluidity of gender in his aesthetic.
If he skillfully handles dresses and pearl necklaces, Harry Styles also loves to take care of himself and declares that he loves wearing nail polish.
For him, makeup is a matter of creativity more than gender.
Pleasing: The Harry Styles Collection
The Pleasing collection, in collaboration with Brazilian fashion designer Marco Ribeiro, is a breath of fresh air for everyone. Unsurprisingly, it was at Paris Fashion Week that the singer presented his new range of gender fluid beauty products to the world.
My favorite pieces? I love the four vegan-certified nail polishes in vibrant colors that allow for chic and modern style play.
The collection also includes a unisex body oil and Pleasing Spritz, a refreshing tonic spray enriched with probiotics.
The little extra that we love? The Pleasing collection is sustainable with 100% recycled cardboard packaging, vegan, and cruelty-free.
Image credit @Jesús Boscán
