The beauty industry has maintained itself as one of the most profitable industries in the world, and for good reason. That said, it’s dedicated consumers for decades have mostly been women. Recent years have seen a gradual effort to move beyond products designed for women only, but these efforts still struggle to find steady ground.
That isn’t to say that men aren’t interested in beauty products, for thousands of years, men have used makeup and beauty products in daily life and even on formal occasions. Unfortunately, since the Industrial Revolution, gender norms have largely regulated the beauty industry, making it primarily for women.
Luckily, people within and outside the industry have been fighting against these stereotypes for decades, and these efforts have only picked up since the rise of the internet and social media.
People tend to forget that makeup has many uses outside of making people match current beauty expectations. Special effects makeup for film and television can help actors and actresses better mold into their respective characters or transform themselves into fantastical creatures. Some beauty products can also have medicinal uses to help rejuvenate the skin, considering that it is the body’s biggest organ.
Additionally, due to many existing in patriarchal societies, anything tied to being feminine can be seen as lesser than or unmasculine compared to men.
That said, beauty can be for everyone. However, as long as the industry keeps being tied towards strictly feminine qualities and toxic male values, pushing men away from interacting positively with feminine ideals, the beauty industry will remain where it is.
