Throughout modern consumerism, beauty and self care products have primarily been formulated to target women. This is largely due to traditional shopping roles and societal pressure to maintain a healthy, youthful appearance. However, as gender roles have evolved and self care has become a universal movement, Mens' Care products have become prevalent in stores and online.
Although the target objectives of these products tend to be similar for both men and women, it is widely known that there are considerable variations between the biological needs of men and women.
Below, we explore these differences and the implications they have in designing effective and marketable products for men.
What are the differences between Men's and Women's Skin?
Male skin differs from female skin in a few ways, which mainly is due to the presence of the hormone testosterone. Generally, it creates thicker (up to 25% thicker than women's) and oilier skin that ages differently.
Other variables like skin color, circulation, or also play roles, sensitivity, sweat rates, in differences between both sexes. Research looking at the pH value in men found it to be below 5 on average, whereas the pH value of female subjects is, aside from limited expectations, higher than 5. Beyond skin, it's been found that women may also have denser hair, which can even change seasonally. This is also something to consider if you are creating a summer or winter themed product.
Variations in Collagen and Skin Thickness
Age is also one of the most important variables to consider when creating a mens care product. Who will it be meant for? As we age, our skin types change drastically. According to one study considering skin collagen and collagen density, the skin of men demonstrated a gradual thinning with advancing age (12-93 years); whereas the thickness of women’s skin remained constant up until 50 years of age, after which it decreased with age. The male forearm skin contained more collagen at all ages in the range of 15-93 years. In both sexes there was a linear decrease in skin collagen with age. Collagen density calculated as the ratio of skin collagen to thickness was lower in women at all ages. The rate of collagen loss was similar in both sexes. Women start with a lower collagen content; therefore they seem to age earlier than men.
Creating The Future of Mens Care
Today, men have become more aware of their looks and the advantages that accompany having an efficient grooming regime. In the past, men only needed to concern themselves with buying shaving cream, shampoo, and deodorant. As the worldwide male grooming industry keeps developing, a multitude of new products are now available to them; including moisturizers, facial cleansers, anti-aging creams, cover-ups, and even face masks. What will you create?
Considering creating a Men's Range? Let our team show you the possibilities!
Contact us to learn more about trends in mens care, popular formats, and formulations to offer genuinely effective and top quality products that work. We conduct both stability and microbial/challenge testing with outstanding customer service, so you can do what you do best - keep creating!