Does A Gender-Neutral Lipstick Really Exist?
Beauty brands that offer gender-neutral makeup are mushrooming. Gender freedom may make sense in other areas, but isn’t a bit excessive when it comes to makeup? The question arises, what distinguishes a lipstick for women from a lipstick for each sex? Does that make sense or is it all just marketing again?
When it comes to defining gender, fine distinctions are made today. We no longer simply speak of women and men, but are cis-women and cis-men. These are those who identify as “male” or “female” with the gender recorded on their birth certificate and clearly say of themselves “I am a woman” or “I am a man.”
“Cis-“, by the way, comes from Latin and in this context means, this side, within, inside, and is thus the opposite of trans-, on the other side, over, across. In addition to these cis people, there are trans male/trans man (trans man, born a woman, now a man) and trans female/trans woman (trans woman, born a man, now a woman), also gender queer/gender non-conforming (gender neutral, without gender role) and finally different identities.
Cosmetics was long female occupied
You have to admit that all PR campaigns and commercials released by cosmetic companies in the last decades have been female-centric. The target group clearly defined: Woman between 18 and 36 years, good income and in the background a husband (it was always a husband!), whose beauty shopping, she did at the same time.
At the same time, the use of makeup is in no way traditionally female. In fact, men were the first users of cosmetics. As early as 4000 B.C., rulers and members of the nobility in ancient Egypt painted their faces with dramatic black cat’s eyes, because they used them to demonstrate their prosperity and also believed that they were closer to the gods in this way. Romans practiced manicures with pig’s blood, and the British smeared themselves with blue paint as a deterrent.
From the 20th century onwards, the use of make-up was considered transgressive for men. Nevertheless, even in this period there were notable exceptions, true icons like David Bowie or Prince, who underlined their uniqueness through make-up. In 2003, the first make-up collection for men was launched.
Enfant terrible Jean Paul Gaultier then launched his “Le Mâle Tout Beau Tout Propre” collection consisting of moisturizer, bronzing powder, lip gloss, nail polish, brow and eyelash care, concealer and eyeliner. Metrosexuality was the name given to this change in gender perception.… weiterlesen
CultureAndCream Author from Munich
To travel during my profession as a beauty journalist was never enough for my. Also my six month on a world trip didn’t do it. It always attracts me to other cities, foreign countries, on roadtrips and places I don’t know yet. But I am not only interested in “culture” and “cream”, I am also fascinated by people who have stories to tell . Such unique experiences I want to share with you.
