From a biological perspective, there are indeed differences between men’s and women’s skin. Men’s skin is about 20 percent thicker, due to a greater concentration of collagen. It also has larger oil glands and grows more terminal hair than women’s skin.

However, none of these relatively minor differences require the drastic demarcation between men’s and women’s products to be found in the aisles of drugstores and beauty retail.

The divide couldn’t be starker: Men’s products are packaged in blue, black and grey and carry names likes Bulldog, Jack Black, RUGGED & DAPPER, and Lab Series; while women’s products tend to come in pastel packaging and have names like Flower Lab, Then I Met You, and Sugar Rush Cake Butter. And just to remove any lingering confusion, men’s products usually have “FOR MEN” stamped in large type across the front.

Fortunately, the outdated thinking that men and women will not buy personal care products unless their marketing conforms to gender stereotypes is giving way to a less rigid and more inclusive approach, one that recognizes a common ground and respects individual differences and preferences.

We’ve come a long way since 1994, when Calvin Klein caused a furor with its unisex CK One fragrance.

Brands like Panacea Skincare, Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty, and Fluide recognize that clean is clean, hydration is hydration, and makeup can be for everyone. Gender-neutral beauty also has spread to hair care and fragrance.

The eminently reasonable idea behind it all is that people are better served buying products that meet their individual personal care needs and desires rather than being forced into narrow, stereotyped purchasing decisions.

Lubrizol Life Science – Beauty welcomes this change and is proud to work with firms supporting it. Contact us to learn more about our gender-neutral formulas for your brand.

The Rise of Gender-Neutral Beauty