Hot 'n' happening: Man-ly skin care
"Men have dramatically changed their grooming habits," said Martin
Ruppmann of Germany's association for cosmetic product distributors in
Wiesbaden.
"They are placing more emphasis on their appearance and aren't waiting
until their girlfriends gift them personal care products."
They are browsing the aisles of perfume shops and drug stores
themselves, confirmed Ursula Lueders of Germany's product testing
foundation in Berlin.
A well-groomed appearance is no longer just a woman's domain, added
Elisabeth Riehemann of Jean Paul Gaultier perfumes in Munich.
"A man's skin is different from a woman's in that it holds more oil and
therefore requires moisture more than extra oil," Ruppmann said. Aside
from that, shaving makes the skin more sensitive.
"Special products for men aren't necessarily needed," Lueders noted.
"Depending on skin type, an all-purpose or a baby cream should suffice.
The main thing to remember is it should not be too oily."
Apart from the scent and design of the product, men like to see
immediate results, said Annette Kreuels of Lancome in Duesseldorf. With
that in mind, Lancome's product for tired eyes has a sort of ice cube
effect.
Another Lancome product that can be practical when men are on the road
is a facial cloth that is designed to remove the shine caused by stress
and hectic schedules.
The Baden-Baden company Biodroga promotes its Morning Fit Gel as having
a "cooling, skin-tightening and mood-brightening" effect. An extract
from the African cola nut revitalises the skin with a caffeine-like
effect.
The Paris-based French manufacturer Nickel promotes The Morning After
that also claims to have the effect of caffeine on the skin.
There's hardly a spot on a man's body that is not looked after by a
specific personal care product. Ahava of Wiesbaden offers hand creams
especially for men.
There's a vitamin serum from the US company Zirh that claims to provide
protection from environmental influences, and Energy Cream Q 10, an
anti-ageing cream from the Hamburg-based Beiersdorf's Nivea men's
product line.
Men's skin is also offered protection from wrinkles. The daily peeling
product Anti-Rides Line Peel promises smooth and glowing skin,
according to the manufacturer Biotherm in Duesseldorf.
Shiseido in Duesseldorf offers a product called Body Creator Abdomen
Toning Gel for reshaping men's problem zones - the belly, hips in
particular.
Manufacturers also are coming out with make-up like cosmetics for men,
such as Gaultier's Face Bronzer, which is meant to provide evenly toned
skin. There's also a special gel designed to bring unruly eyebrows into
shape and a concealing cream for men handsomely designed like an ink
pen for covering red splotches and blemishes.
No matter where a man turns he's not likely to escape the use of a personal care product especially tailored to his needs.
"A man's skin needs care," Ruppmann stressed. "And men have gradually accepted this to be true."
|
|
|
