Why Are We Labeling Skincare According to Gender?

Shopping by gender also applies to skincare now. Here’s why it shouldn't.

Published on Jun 12, 2025

Being a beauty lover in the 21st century comes with an array of factors to consider before making a well-deserved purchase. These usually include the price point, the sustainable ingredients and packaging, the number of benefits a single product can offer, and so on. What I didn’t think would become part of the list, however, is gender.

As a kikay with combination and acne-prone skin, nourishing beauty products never leave my kit. You can imagine the excitement that rushed through me as I encountered a concealer pen on one of those nights of endless scrolling online.

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PHOTO: Unsplash/Jonathan Borba.

It was infused with vitamin E and tea tree, two skin-loving ingredients that can aid in the healing of acne, while the concealer provides my desired coverage. Its applicator was convenient, it claimed to be formulated for all skin types, and its price wasn’t going to break my bank, so the product ticked almost all of my boxes. That is, until I read the description, saying that this concealer pen was the key that unlocks masculine confidence.

I ended up not buying it.

It was hard to understand why confidence is ever to be labeled as masculine or feminine when it’s something that each of us is capable of having. That recent night of online surfing led me back to 2022, when Hollywood actor and producer Brad Pitt announced the launch of his skincare line, now known as Beau Domaine Skincare. It’s something I have yet to try, and while the reviews are looking undeniably good, one thing that hasn’t left my mind since then is the way it was marketed as unisex.

I remember thinking: Hasn’t skincare always been genderless? To my surprise, the answer is no, and it continues to be so.

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PHOTOS: Instagram/beau.domaine.skincare

Studies by Euromonitor International show that the competitive landscape for male skincare has been growing for years now, not to mention the rise of male consumers seeking out skincare due to celebrity-backed endorsements and brands such as Brad Pitt’s. It’s projected to expand in the coming years, too.

The study wrote, “Today's male audience craves authenticity and rejects obvious marketing ploys, encouraging celebrities to push boundaries and create purposeful products,” but isn’t gender-based labels an obvious marketing ploy in itself?

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PHOTO: Instagram/beau.domaine.skincare.

Regardless of what we identify as, our bodies are wrapped with skin worth taking care of—it is the home in which every part of ourselves lives. Why does skincare have to be labeled as genderless or masculine for men to feel comfortable enough to engage in it? Is it really necessary to limit the experience of skincare to a specific gender?

The skincare products we can’t go a day without are only possible with the help of science. To answer our questions on gender-based skincare, it’s a must to look through the systematic discipline’s lens. Dr. Jarische Frances S. Lao-Ang of the Philippine Dermatological Society zeroed in on the differences between male and female skin.

Skin thickness: Men generally have thicker skin, hence the need for stronger and more potent formulas.

Sebum production: Also known as the male hormones, androgen is responsible for the size increase of oil glands and the stimulation of oil secretion in men. This leads to the appearance of larger pores and the likelihood of having an impaired skin barrier.

Sweat production: Men normally perspire more, making them prone to harbor bacteria.

Hair growth: Excluding the brows and the lashes, men grow more facial and underarm hair due to their hormones, and regular shaving can lead to irritation and sensitivity.

Skin tone: The color of the skin is affected by melanin and haemoglobin, both of which are suggested to be higher in men.

While there are scientific differences between the skin of males and females, these cannot be generalized forever. Once women age, collagen and elastin production slows down, and the need for more potent formulas arises. There are men who have drier skin, and women who deal with excess oil production. Exposure to bacteria due to sweat is certainly something that each person hopes to address. There are also women who frequently shave hair on their bodies. The list of differences, beyond the fundamentals of science, is a long one. People can’t be boxed or limited to the basic descriptions written for the general public.

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PHOTO: Unsplash/Birgith Roosipuu.

Skincare is a unique, customized experience. As with anything beauty-related, there is never a one-size-fits-all solution. Understanding your individual concerns matters more than shopping according to your gender. Regardless of what a brand claims, a product can never be formulated for a gender so specifically, that people outside of that label shouldn’t feel welcomed to try them despite having the same concerns.

The surge of gender-based skincare also sets society back many years. Skin concerns are not black and white, and they shouldn’t be. Having skincare products labeled as “for men,” “for women,” “masculine,” or “feminine” further complicates the relationship of the LGBTQIA+ community with beauty.

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PHOTO: Unsplash/ABSOLUT.

Shaping an inclusive world does not end in restrooms that are shared, rainbows that are stamped on things, and celebrations that only occur during Pride month. To truly create a safe space is to be responsible for these everyday experiences. It is to have that genuine aspiration to provide security, and to extend it to the beauty products that sit on the shelves of a person’s house, regardless of their gender expression, until they feel safe enough to turn their body into a home—because it is.

Kyla Villena loves a good lip gloss and a trip to the art gallery. She is Preview's beauty girl, who doubles as a self-proclaimed motivational speaker.