Frequently I am asked by friends and acquaintances what differences exist between men's and women's skin and whether this inevitably results in gender-specific skincare products. A good topic that I would like to take up because a lot is in motion here.
 

A Brief Explanation of the Differences

How our skin looks and feels is influenced by our sex hormones (estrogen, testosterone etc.), among other things. So on average, men's skin is a little thicker than women's skin. It produces more sebum and has a higher collagen density, which usually makes it appear smoother than that of women. Because bacteria tend to multiply in sebum, men are more likely to have blemished skin problems than women, and their skin is often more oily and large-pored. Women typically lose their natural collagen cushion earlier, which means that they also have to deal with the topic of anti-aging earlier. The first wrinkles often appear in women between twenty and thirty. Most men are in their thirties when the visible aging process of the skin begins. Then skin aging is often faster than in women. In addition, the formation of wrinkles in men is comparatively deeper and more pronounced.
 

But There Is More

Scientific results show us that just as relevant for the skin as our sex hormones are, for example, genetic dispositions, a person's ethnic background, lifestyle, age. And so, a man can have dry skin, and a woman can suffer from blemished skin.

What I want to say: men's and women's skin do differ in some places, but that's not the only distinguishing feature. Really meaningful is what we describe as "skin condition" in cosmetics. For example, if you notice "my skin is tight and tends to be dry," "I suffer from blemished skin," "my skin is sensitive and often reddened," or "first small wrinkles are appearing. " There are also lifestyle topics that place particular demands on care products, such as sun protection, a vegan lifestyle, or even shaving.

In fact, that has always been the case. Still, historically, women have been the core target group of the cosmetics industry for many years due to their greater affinity to look after their appearance and after themselves. Therefore all marketing communication has been geared towards them. Thus, the scent of many care products was – and still is – determined by floral rather than fresh, woody notes. In the meantime, however, men have also conquered the cosmetics market, genders are becoming blurred, we are talking about diversity. In addition to women's and men's care, a third division, "unisex skincare," entered the cosmetics market a few years ago. 

Skin Care: Marketing & Science

Does the division make sense? If you look at it from a marketing point of view: yes. Because the perfect target group approach is decisive for the success and failure of a product. And most of us identify ourselves very explicitly as being a man and woman or about not being either of the two. At least that's how it is at the moment.

From a scientific point of view and because it is about your well-being, I would like to ask you the following questions: What does your skin need? What do you expect from your skincare products? What are your personal preferences? The choice of your skin care products and care routine should then be based on this. And that can actually happen entirely independently of the gender issue.
 

Insider Knowledge

For example, at Doctor Eckstein^®, we have bundled this care philosophy, tailored to the skin's needs and lifestyle, under the terms Skin Solutions and Lifestyle. And to give out even more insider knowledge: My partner often has reddned, reactive skin and swears by our Sensitive products, and I, as a woman, love to shave my legs with our MEN Shaving Gel and use the MEN Shower Gel - I like the fresh scent.
 

Skin Care Without Gender Glasses

Skincare should always match your current skin needs, personal lifestyle, and preferences. If you are satisfied with your care products - why change something? But if you are currently - or at some point again - looking for a suitable care solution for your skin, you now know that your selection is not as limited as you might previously think. Therefore my conclusion: Just look at skin care products without gender glasses. Then, you could possibly make yourself and your skin even happier.
 
Take care, Verena