Is your other half always stealing your products? Turns out, he may be short-changing his skin by treating it as unisex.
Now that your favourite fragrance is likely to be an aromatic cross-dresser, which smells just as amazing on you as it does on him, should we also be stepping outside the box of male and female skincare? Your other half, who piles on your La Mer moisturiser like a face mask when you’re not looking, would say no. As would the other 64 per cent of men who don’t consider maleonly skincare important, according to market researcher Mintel. In the opposite camp is the grooming industry. It has spent millions peddling the benefits of ‘his and hers’ bathroom shelves and the idea that a mysterious alchemy makes male skincare different from a woman’s. But does skin have a gender? Word in the derm office is yes. ‘It’s very sensitive to male and female hormones,’ says cosmetic doctor Dr Maurice Dray. ‘Men have much higher levels of testosterone, which makes their skin 25 per cent thicker and behave differently to a woman’s.’ So, without the right high-performance ingredients, he may not be doing as much to help his complexion as he should. Here’s why…
HORMONES
HIS SKIN ‘Adult men produce about ten times as much testosterone as women, which makes their skin oilier,’ says Dr Dray. ‘Men also typically have larger pores and pump out more sebum that’s thicker, in turn causing congestion.’ If he’s a die-hard soap fan, Baxter Of California Deep Cleansing Bar Charcoal Clay, £16 (1), absorbs impurities. ‘It’s also harder for oily skin to shed dead cells,’ says Dr Anjali Mahto from London’s Cadogan Clinic, who recommends a cleanser spiked with salicylic acid to dissolve the paste-like mixture of oil and dead cells in pores. Try Lab Series Oil Control Clay Cleanser + Mask, £23 (2).
This story is from the December 2018 edition of Marie Claire - UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 2018 edition of Marie Claire - UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Uma Thurman
‘I Managed To Stay In The Business That I Love All My Life, And I Know That’s Not A Given. I Can’t Not Feel Lucky About It, No Matter What The Downsides Can Be’.
Pollution Proof Your Life
From your daily commute to your wood-burning stove, you’re unwittingly inhaling a variety of toxic substances. But you can take action to reduce their impact, reveals Claire Thorp.
We Love Lucy
From a star-making turn in Bohemian Rhapsody to a leading role in sassy new Netflix show The Politician, Lucy Boynton is ready for her close-up. Here, she tells Jane Mulkerrins about her life-changing year.
Human Touch
Connecting with others can have a confidence-boosting effect, support skin health and help you live longer. Here’s why the wonders of physical contact really matter...
Facing The Floods
Photographer Gideon Mendel has spent 12 years capturing the extreme rise in flooding across the globe. Here, he tells Marie Claire about the devastating human impact.
'Learn How To Please Yourself First' –and Other Sex Tips From Our Mums
Three mothers and daughters explain how talking openly to each other about sex, identity and pleasure has strengthened their relationship and enriched their love lives
10 Mindful Ways To Approach Health And Well-Being
From cortisol-free fitness to stress-busting diets and calm skin, Fiona Embleton reveals ten mindful ways to approach health and well-being
Why Do We All Hate Talking Money?
From secret savings to hidden debt, cash is still a touchy subject in many relationships.
How To Start Over With Friends
In a society that fetishises friendship groups, what do you do when yours collapses? Three women reveal their own BFF break-ups and how they created a new social circle.
Carrie Fisher Has Survived It All
Global fame as Princess Leia, drugs, alcohol, mental illness, rehab…this actress and writer has survived it all. And now, with the much-anticipated release of a new Star Wars film, she's back.