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Achieving Beautiful Skin: He enjoys chili dogs and cage-fighting pay-per-views. She prefers couscous and romantic comedies. While they may have different tastes, shouldn't they at least be able to share the same cleanser? Explore more images on achieving beautiful skin.
Marili Forastieri/Digital Vision/Getty ImagesLet’s indulge in some gender clichés for a moment, shall we? Men are rugged, hard-living types who exude dirt, sweat, and musk. Women, conversely, are delicate blossoms who dedicate a lot of time to perfecting their beauty and social poise. One gender hails from the cold expanse of Mars, while the other originates from a world of harsh pressure and acidic storms – Venus. One is made of sugar, spice, and everything nice, while the other is crafted from serpents, mollusks, and disembodied dog tails.
Walk down the skincare aisle, and you'll come across a variety of gender-specific facial cleansers designed to wash away the dirt and grime we gather each day. There are also plenty of unisex products available. But are men’s and women’s skin really that different? Do we actually need two distinct face scrubs crowding the shower space?
Biologically, men's and women's skin do differ. Men generally have a thicker epidermis with larger pores that are more prone to clogging with dirt and oil [source: WebMD]. Additionally, men lose collagen, the skin-strengthening protein, at a slower pace than women. And let’s not forget facial hair – men typically need to shave regularly, which can lead to more irritation and skin damage.
The variations between cleansers mostly come down to marketing. Women's skincare products have dominated the market for years, while men's products often focus on appearing and smelling more masculine: think spicier scents, fewer fruity notes, and darker or more clinical packaging. Add in a bold name like "MenScience Daily Face Wash," and you've got a shot at tapping into the $19.7 billion men's grooming industry [source: Packaged Facts]. Ultimately, most men's facial cleansers are not much different from their female or unisex alternatives.
The key factors in choosing the right cleanser for you depend largely on your unique skin type, whether it's normal, dry, oily, combination, or sensitive. From there, it’s important to consider the ingredients in the cleanser and how it fits into your broader skincare routine.
