Makeup & Men

by Jason Salzenstein
EDGE National Style & Travel Editor

It might seem like the words ‘makeup’ and ‘men’ don’t really go together, unless you’re referring to drag queens, movie sets or a small group of rock stars. The last few years however, have seen not only a rise in the number of companies offering makeup specifically made (or at least repackaged and targeted) for men, and more and more men are taking advantage of the ‘tricks’ that women have been using for years.

It’s not just gay men or metrosexuals in big cities that are beginning to see the advantages (and oftentimes novelty) of wearing makeup; a recent survey by a large French beauty conglomerate reported that even men in rural areas are using (at least basic) makeup to cover blemishes or smooth skin in order to appear younger and have a better chance of competing in the job market.

The range of makeup for (or adopted by) men is much bigger now than it was even a few years ago. Today, employees at most major makeup counters- at least in larger cities- won’t even bat an eyelash at a man approaching and asking about makeup. The offerings and options for men range from corrective and concealing options that no one ever need know of to dramatic choices for going out on the weekend or simply making a bold statement, and everywhere in between.

The EDGE Style Team decided to take a look at what’s out there, and what and whom it’s best for. In general, we stayed away from the products, techniques and styles of drag queens simply because that’s an entirely different look, and one best left to the pros. We focused on what men can do to hide flaws, improve their appearance, and enhance their look either subtly or dramatically.

The market is obviously flooded with makeup, and even when it comes to men the choices are plentiful and varied. We tried to give you a good overview of the major players, what they’re best known for, and what kind of look they work best with. We also share some of our favorite products and let you know where to buy them.

4VOO

A smaller ‘boutique’ company, the Canadian-based 4VOO is focused 100% on men’s skincare and enhancement products, so they know what they’re doing. We like the simple packaging and no-BS claims of their products as much as we like the effects that they achieve.

Capitalizing on the skin-enhancing effects of silk, the Shine Reduction Powder ($35) was our immediate favorite. This oil-free powder gives skin a flawless, matte finish by getting rid of shine and oil and minimizing the appearance of pores without drying skin out. Silk allows moisture to be controlled based on the surrounding temperature and humidity, creating a clear, clean look with natural sun protection and anti-inflammation qualities.

The Face and Body Bronzer ($42) contains 19 botanical extracts, so not only does it even skin tone, reduce ruddiness and give you a ‘fresh from the islands’ look, it also moisturizes and improves skin condition. It goes on streak free and dries quickly, leaving skin soft and smooth. If you’ve got discolorations that you want to fix before applying the bronzer and/or powder, grab the Confidence Corrector ($32) and hide blemishes, dark circles and even tattoos (although this requires a bit of practice to look natural).

For further enhancement, we loved the Lip Maximizing Serum ($29) because it stimulates collagen and hyaluronic acid to moisturize and plumpen lips. Conditioners moisturize while other ingredients increase lip volume up to 40%!

To keep brows and lashes under control (after trimming-if necessary- please), the Lash and Brow Styling Glaze ($18) has no competition. For those with unruly brows, or thin lashes, this is a miracle worker. Available in clear or black.

So, if you’re looking for a new way to bring back a younger appearance or enhance what you’ve got, maybe it’s time to go looking in your mom’s bag of tricks…

Jason Salzenstein is the Style & Travel Editor for EDGE Publications. He is is a professional shopper and design consultant as well as the Fashion Director and Editor at Large for Xodus Magazine.