For the sake of more space in your bathroom cabinet and cash in your back pocket, it would be wise to consider sharing your beauty regime. Not just on Youtube – though that may make you money if you have the editing skills of Zoella – but with someone closer to home. For instance, your partner. Male or female, there should be nothing stopping you from sharing the cost of upkeep with your nearest and dearest.
Androgyny has long affirmed its place within fashion, while the gendered boundaries in beauty have been slower to tear down. Traditionally packaging, advertising, scents and sales displays not ingredients have directed consumers to the products designed for them and their perceived sex. Some categories have made the most out of calling themselves unisex (hi, fragrance), but by and large skincare, haircare and beauty have only exasperated tired definitions of masculinity and femininity. But, with the conversation around gender-neutrality growing pace, it’s time to revisit and reconsider why beauty is divided across the sexes.
‘There are differences in the skin between men and women. However, most skin care products can be used interchangeably’ Belgravia Dermatology’s Dr Sajjad Rajpar assures. This should explain why ASOS has recently rebranded their entire beauty and grooming offering to be unisex and sold under the genderless moniker ‘Face + Body’. When asked why, a senior buyer said, ‘we have seen specific growth in our skincare and base categories, which we know both sexes are purchasing,’ before adding, ‘Products and ingredients work for both men and women, this is why we have all products in our Face + Body category.’
‘Everyone has skin and everyone has different skin types, you should buy products for your skin type rather than being swayed by the appearance of packaging’ the ASOS buyer added. This is something the dermatology profession echoes – when they assess, diagnose and prescribe remedies for a person’s complexion it's based on the active ingredients of products and the requirement of the person's skin - their gender is barely relevant.
By and large men and women can share products, but there are certain stages in life when different sexes may encounter different skin complaints.
Men tend to have pigmentation in their skin, which might explain why women are called the fairer sex. Yet, all of us still need protection from UV rays, so face creams and sunscreen can be used interchangeably. Men are also more likely to suffer from more severe acne and redness, but that shouldn’t mean you can’t share products containing salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide or solutions to decrease rosacea.
Likewise, men and women both have hair, which needs washing and conditioning. The only difference is us girls have more copper in our locks, and our male counterparts are prone to balding. That said, Dr Rajpar dispelled the myth that this doesn’t affect women to as he said, ‘one in three women may also suffer from hair loss.’
As obvious as it sounds, wrinkles and the signs of ageing effects everyone. ‘Men have thicker skin, but both sexes experience thinning of skin with age, and the rate of collagen loss is, in fact, identical for men and women,’ validates Dr Rajpar. ‘Anti-aging creams can be used interchangeably by men and women, and those advertised for women will have the same effects on men’s skin and vice versa.’ When it comes to combatting it, share the cost of the expensive elixirs that contain retinol vitamin C and vitamin E. Though, men, be warned you should avoid tonics that contain soy isoflavones because of its similarity to oestrogen. At the end of the day, while menopause pushes along a female’s collagen decline, women and men both loose skin tone and a decline in hormones.
The takeaway? Save yourself some dosh and space next time you go travelling by sharing your beauty buys.
What To Share:
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Shampoo
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Conditioner
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Facial Cleansing Brush (be sweet and buy a separate head as no one wants to share face grime)
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Exfoliator
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Moisturiser
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Lip Balm
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Razor (just make sure you change the blade first)
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Shaving Cream
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Post Shave Razor Balm
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Acne Treatment
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Body Wash
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Brow Gel
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Dry Shampoo
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Hair Masks
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Body Lotion
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Fragrance
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Fake Tan
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Eye Cream
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Tweezers
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Comb
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Packs of Sheet Masks
What Not To Share:
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Anything in a jar – it’s never a good idea to share a container as it requires you to stick your fingers in. Unless you’re super-duper careful it can become a petri dish of bacteria.
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Mascara – eye infections can spread easier than you think and as the mascara tube’s body is a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses. Every time you dunk the wand back into the tube it pushes air and aerobic bacteria back into a closed space to breed.
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Lipsticks – the oily surface of your favourite lipstick is actually the perfect place to store the cold sore virus. Sanitise first before you offer it around.
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Toothbrushes – this sounds too obvious to need spelling out, but your mouth is full of smelly bacteria.
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Make-up Brushes – cross-contamination of skin conditions is a real factor to consider before sharing your make-up brushes. Though, if you clean thoroughly with a suitable alcohol this can be avoided.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.