The stigma that cosmetics are only for women has finally come to an end. Cosmetics are now being considered mainstays next to razors, and styling gel in male grooming kits. Traditionally, cosmetics have been considered beauty enhancement products for women: mascara, lipstick, and powdered foundation just to name a few.

Male Cosmetics

Historically, men have used cosmetics as early as the ancient Egyptians. Men and women used to line their eyes with eye color made from crushed eggs of ants. Use of make up was common amongst the Greeks, Romans, throughout the Renaissance, and America’s founding fathers.

In our current society more men are using cosmetic cover-up products to take the years away. This doesn’t mean that ‘guy-liner’ or ‘man-scara’ are becoming mainstream for men, but anti-aging cosmetics for men have been on the rise. Among male specific cosmetic companies, sales have been increasing steadily over the last decade. Menaji reports record increases in online sales over the previous three years, according to Michele Probst, the makeup artist who founded the company a decade ago.

She admits that many of her friends and industry contacts thought the idea was ridiculous. However, Probst declared “Men have always been very vain and always have groomed, and these are just new grooming tools.” According to the Canadian male cosmetics company 4Voo, online sales have tripled in the same time frame. “Women use cosmetic products to beautify, but men have a totally different approach and totally different goals.”

Male Cosmetics

The most common application for male cosmetics is concealment. Concealers can lighten the dark patches under the eyes without surgery or corrective skin therapy. Even cosmetic bronzing agents can subtract years and make men appear more vibrant and youthful.

Jeffrey Lederer, 63, a principal in several investment partnerships and a former Wall Street trader, openly applies Menaji products. “People are reticent to ask what they are, even though I think they’re interested,” Lederer said. “It does take a certain amount of self-confidence to use it in public.” Lederer considers himself an aesthetic person who believes the cosmetics give him a more youthful visage as he ages.

“As I get older, the one thing you never want to do is look foolish, like dying one’s hair, which I think is probably the most obvious and egregious thing a man can do.” He said, “But I don’t think any of these products in any way makes the user look less respectable, or foolish, or less manly.”

Peter Albert, 41, a corporate training program director applies Illusionist Concealer by Vapour Organic Beauty. “They’re not severe dark circles, but the concealer makes me look less tired when I have had just four hours’ sleep, as I have had today,” Albert said in a phone interview with Andrew Adam Newman. Albert is not a unique case in his application of concealer to hide ‘tired eyes’. One of the most common applications of cosmetics for men is foundation under the eyes to cover dark patches.

Common Cosmetic Applications For Men

Concealers for Rosacea

One of the most common gateways for men to begin using cosmetics is the covering up of Rosacea. Rosacea is a skin disease of adults in which blood vessels of the face enlarge resulting in a flushed appearance.

Concealers are perfect for reducing the redness of irritated skin during a Rosacea flare-up. Typically it takes a strong product to reduce the redness from Rosacea. Luckily, the market is full of great products focused on men that will suppress the redness from Rosacea:

“Disappear” with Green Tea Extract
This camouflage cream is so packed with pigment that it will even cover black tattoos. Better yet, Disappear won’t just cover breakouts, but will also help them to disappear permanently. Nourishes with seaweed and green tea extracts.

Corrective Colors
Four lightweight shades to correct and perfect discoloration. Perfects the complexion for a flawless finish. Yellow cancels red Peach cancels blue purple, gray & lilac cancels yellow.

PureMatte Finish Powder
Specially formulated to help those who want to avoid shine. No oil, talc, FD&C dyes or synthetic preservatives.

Cosmetic Solutions for Tired Eyes

As we stated previously, one of the popular cosmetic application for men is the removal of ‘tired eyes’. Tired eyes are bags under the eyes which is commonly caused by Thyroid problems, a lack of Vitamin C, intake of alcohol, medications, allergies, sleeping positions, and stress. All of these issues can severely hamper the production of healthy collagen in the skin and can cause the skin to sag.

Again, concealers or certain types of powdered foundations can help cover bags under the eyes and restore a youthful appearance under the eyes.

As a makeup artist the most common challenges for both male & female clients are tired or puffy eyes and facial skin tone. Many men have sensitive skin that tends to be blotchy and red, especially after shaving.

The application of a lightweight loose mineral powder will one redness, protect the skin with minerals and also provide SPF. This 3 in one benefit is a win-win for the user and the look is totally natural and invisible to the naked eye!
Dorothy, Cosmetic Specialist at Dr. Robinson’s

Active Light Under Eye Concealer
The unique ingredients create a soft-focus effect that conselas while it brightens. Ingredients such as cucumber, white tea extract and buckwheat wax calm tired eyes and ruduce puffiness. The added benefit of avocado and sunflower oil gently nourishes the delicate eye area. Concealer and brightener in one. Disguises wrinkles, fatigue and deep ceases.

Circle /Delete Under Eye Concealer
An eye treatment as well as a concealer containing conditioners such as jojoba esters and avocado oil, both high in vitamins A,C,D and E. Contains green tea extract, a potent antioxidant.

Concealer is also a must for camouflage as “a little goes a long way” and will immediately brighten the area and hide flaws.

For any foundation, powder or concealer, a brush is a MUST! The use of a brush will perfect the application and allow for precise use of the product.
Dorothy, Cosmetic Specialist at Dr. Robinson’s

Eye Pencils
Natural pigments give you long lasting color that stays put. Creamy and easy to apply for a perfectly lined eye. Made with conditioning oils and waxes and colored with our same protective pigments. Because we use no FD&C dyes, our pencils can be used anywhere on the face.

We recommend Taupe and Basic Brown.

Eyeliner for Men

Men wear eyeliner for the same reason as women: it enhances contrast and emphasizes the eyes. By enhancing the eyes, men are able to maintain eye contact. This affords them the opportunity to capture the attention of their with co-workers, audiences, and significant others.

Many male eyeliner products range from highly contrasting to subtle colors to ensure that men have a wide range of products to chose from. Every level of contrast can emphasize the eyes to a specific degree in order to ensure the desired response.

Author’s Note: *All non-Dr. Robinson affiliated interviews and commentary were done by the article’s original author Andrew Adam Newman in his article for the New York Times.