Genderless Skincare May Just Be What Your Skin Needs
Being gender-inclusive moves the focus away from packaging and stereotypes to target what your skin really needs – and what works for it.
By Vanessa Chia,
Human skin has the same structure whether you’re a woman or a man, so there’s actually no real need to use gender-centric skincare. Beauty products targeted at either women or men seem to be more a product of marketing and stereotyping, than any kind of skin research or fact.
Instead of focusing on gender, Dr Eileen Tan, dermatologist and founder of Eileen Tan Skin Clinic & Associates, recommends addressing your skin concerns – skin type (normal, oily or sensitive), medical problems (eczema or acne), and active ingredients and formulation.
That’s why more people are looking for genderless skincare products. It just makes for simpler skincare. It doesn’t pander to the female or male aesthetic. It takes away the noise of packaging and addresses what’s important – a person’s skin concerns. And it prizes results and skin improvements.
READ MORE: 5 Ways Chanel Beauty Is A Pro In Sustainable And Green Beauty Practices
Increasingly, more brands are putting the focus on what your skin needs, regardless of gender. One of the forerunners is plant-based Australian skincare brand Aesop, founded in 1987.
Says its global director for innovation Dr Kate Forbes: “We speak not to age or gender, but to how your skin feels and behaves in response to environmental conditions, hormonal fluctuations, diet, how well you sleep and other factors. The core needs of the skin – to be cleansed, hydrated, nourished and protected… do not lend themselves to one gender.”
READ MORE: We Tried And Tested These Acid Peels So You Won’t Have To
Latest on the market is just-launched Fenty Skin, with its range of three multitasking products – cleanser, toner- serum, moisturiser with SPF and night cream. Its founder, singer Rihanna, says it’s meant for everyone, including the guys.
Then, there are cult skincare brands like Canadian The Ordinary (launched in 2016) and British The Inkey List (launched in 2018) – both do not segregate between women’s and men’s skincare. “We want all skin types and concerns to feel confident knowing we have ingredients specifically suited to them,” says Colette Newberry, CEO and co-founder of The Inkey List.
The brands say that effective products come down to ingredients, testing and education. Aesop combines botanical and lab-made ingredients to give skin the best of both worlds. The Ordinary focuses on strict testing, which Nicola Kilner, CEO of Deciem, its parent company, says could mean years before a product is deemed suitable for launch.
There’s also a strong emphasis on education, so that customers are better able to create skincare routines suited to their unique skin concerns. In fact, The Inkey List even has an #askINKEY customer service programme that offers free 24/7-365 personalised consultation any time, anywhere.
What it all comes down to is this: Skincare is personal, and you should find what suits you and your skin concerns.
The OG of genderless skincare, Aesop offers luxe skin-, body- and hair-care products in apothecary-style packaging that appeals to everyone. It uses a combination of botanical-based and laboratory-made ingredients.
MUST-TRY: AESOP SUBLIME REPLENISHING NIGHT MASQUE, $160
Quench parched skin with this moisture-rich mask. Humectants and nourishing emollients soothe dry skin, while reducing water loss. Use twice a week or whenever skin needs a dose of intense hydration. Leave for 30 minutes or overnight to help with skin repair.
Born of the fashion designer’s personal quest for high-performance, restorative skincare, Tom Ford merges breakthrough skin science with luxury to transform the skin. And per Ford’s vision, it is for anyone, regardless of skin type or gender.
MUST-TRY: TOM FORD RESEARCH EYE REPAIR CONCENTRATE, $310
The moisturising multitasker refreshes and revitalises the delicate eye area with white porcelain cacao, caffeine, gyokuro (the most expensive Japanese green tea in the world), hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and a multi-action peptide blend.
Dubbed by many as the ultimate in genderless skincare, The Ordinary’s ingredients and formulas, in clinical-looking packaging, are the stars.
MUST-TRY: THE ORDINARY HYALURONIC ACID 2% + B5, FROM $12
A great all-rounder for hydration, it uses hyaluronic acid in three molecular weights, with vitamin B5 to infuse skin with moisture so it looks smooth, supple and youthful.
With its concentrated formulas, products from this home-grown brand, Allies of Skin, contain rigorously tested active ingredients that work efficiently without irritating skin. Its product line-up isn’t extensive, but every one does what it says it’ll do.
MUST-TRY: ALLIES OF SKIN MOLECULAR SILK AMINO HYDRATING CLEANSER, $62
It gently removes dirt, grime and even makeup without stripping skin, using a formula of antioxidants and hydrators like silk amino acid, hyaluronic acid, organic safflower and moringa oil.
The Inkey List’s ingredient-focused products make it easy for consumers to understand what each product contains and does, for example, hyaluronic acid or retinol, helping them make better decisions when it comes to caring for their skin.
MUST-TRY: THE INKEY LIST CAFFEINE UNDER-EYE SERUM, $18
A solution for tired, puffy under-eyes, it instantly refreshes and hydrates so you look bright-eyed and alert. It also helps prevent free radical damage and reduces the appearance of dark circles.
This article first appeared in Her World