# "Makeup for Men Is on the Rise—and No Longer a Taboo" I call shenanigans on this perennial BS claim **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 15, 2013, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeup-for-men-is-on-the-rise-and-no-longer-a-taboo-i-call-shenanigans-on-this-perennial-bs-claim/658381 "2013-05-15T06:32:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeup-for-men-is-on-the-rise-and-no-longer-a-taboo-i-call-shenanigans-on-this-perennial-bs-claim/658381/61 "2013-05-16T04:51:55Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > How is lip balm make up? Unless it’s tinted, but then that’s not at all mainstream either. Lip balm is a gateway make-up. It leads to the hard stuff. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeup-for-men-is-on-the-rise-and-no-longer-a-taboo-i-call-shenanigans-on-this-perennial-bs-claim/658381/62 "2013-05-16T05:52:07Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > The thing is, I think guys are kind of . about these things. My SO has incredibly long, thick eyelashes, that are forever falling into his eyes and hurting him. I mean it - his lashes (and his hair) are so thick I have found them EMBEDDED into his and my skin. I occasionally suggest helping him look for some mascara, something very light and mild, to help him keep his lashes away from his eyes, but he wouldn’t consider it even if they were making him blind. And I’m sure there’s mascara out there just to pull the lashes away from the eye - he certainly doesn’t need thickening or length. > > God, that last sentence sounds filthy. Anyway, I’m sure lots of guys could use some stuff - like foundation and concealer at the very least, to cover acne or acne scars. BUT there is this cultural NO! That goes on. Yes throughout history men have indeed been stupidly stubborn about this. Gee it would be awesome if they were super smart self conscious like women and support a billion dollar codependant cosmetic industry. ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeup-for-men-is-on-the-rise-and-no-longer-a-taboo-i-call-shenanigans-on-this-perennial-bs-claim/658381/63 "2013-05-16T06:14:59Z")
Finally! Maybe the distraction of beautiful makeup creams will satisfy men’s lust for control long enough for women to seize from them the secret of the ultimate enhancement technique: [THE JELQ](http://penis-enlargement-manual.thundersplace.org/how-to-jelq.html) ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeup-for-men-is-on-the-rise-and-no-longer-a-taboo-i-call-shenanigans-on-this-perennial-bs-claim/658381/64 "2013-05-16T11:50:26Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > I just burst out laughing a few minutes ago - the ad before a YouTube video I was watching was for a razor made specifically for manscaping, and showed a guy shaving his chest hair. They went with the usual tactic - busty babe explaining how icky hairy guys are. How does that even work? Geeks who can’t get laid aren’t known for their hairy chests. :rolleyes: Meanwhile, what? Hairy ape guys are rolling around in poon? ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeup-for-men-is-on-the-rise-and-no-longer-a-taboo-i-call-shenanigans-on-this-perennial-bs-claim/658381/65 "2013-05-16T12:39:47Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > Nope, just as easy as regular moisturizer. I think it takes about the same amount of rubbing, if not less-- instead of it being stark white, it’s flesh colored, so it blends faster. > > And not really. I touch my face all day and am fine. Tinted moisturizer is light coverage enough that if you do rub a patch off, you’re not going to look like a porcelain doll with a chunk missing or anything. Would I run my white sleeve across my face? Probably not, but I think under normal usage you’d be fine. Thanks. I think I’ll pick one out and try it. > [@Mijin](#): > > Meanwhile, what? Hairy ape guys are rolling around in poon? Maybe I’m biased as a former hairy ape guy, but I think excessive hirsuteness is one of relatively few appearance deficiencies that men can’t fix by caring just a little bit. I don’t know any women who like hair guys, and I believe studies support that physical attraction decreases as hirsutism increases. On the other hand, lot’s of women I know think shaving or waxing is either weird and vain, or they just find a man with stubble all over his body unappealing. I fixed the issue permanently with laser hair removal, but it cost thousands of dollars. I used to be really insecure about it as a teen / college student. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeup-for-men-is-on-the-rise-and-no-longer-a-taboo-i-call-shenanigans-on-this-perennial-bs-claim/658381/66 "2013-05-16T12:49:45Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](#): > > Maybe I’m biased as a former hairy ape guy, but I think excessive hirsuteness is one of relatively few appearance deficiencies that men can’t fix by caring just a little bit. > > I don’t know any women who like hair guys, and I believe studies support that physical attraction decreases as hirsutism increases. On the other hand, lot’s of women I know think shaving or waxing is either weird and vain, or they just find a man with stubble all over his body unappealing. > > I fixed the issue permanently with laser hair removal, but it cost thousands of dollars. I used to be really insecure about it as a teen / college student. I actually don’t mind. Really, really do not mind at all. Hot guy = hot guy, hairy or non-hairy. Most healthy people look good to me just the way they are. But stubble… no. Can’t snuggle with stubble! (This should be embroidered onto cushions as a reminder.) You know how you often hear guys saying they like all kinds of women (big boobs, small boobs, they just like boobs)? It’s kinda like that. I like men, all kinds. Just don’t be stinky and be healthy and it’s all good. 😉 So I’m sorry you were insecure about it as a teenager. It must’ve been pretty tough, especially as it is (I think?) not as easy to talk about as many similar issues for women. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeup-for-men-is-on-the-rise-and-no-longer-a-taboo-i-call-shenanigans-on-this-perennial-bs-claim/658381/67 "2013-05-16T13:43:03Z")
I guess nobody remembers the 70s and 80s. Men were using some serious makeup in those days. Mostly ‘women’s’ makeup but still. These days, marketers have figured out that they can scare men the same way they scare women, with the idea that everyone will hate us because of a blemish or misplaced hair. It takes a little more effort to make men worry about their appearence but the woman’s market is saturated so they are going after the other half. Part of the problem for marketers is that men have hair on a big part of the usual makeup area, hence the 5 blade razor. For me, when they invent some product that will tame the weird old man hairs that come out of my eyebrows and ears, I’m going to wear makeup. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeup-for-men-is-on-the-rise-and-no-longer-a-taboo-i-call-shenanigans-on-this-perennial-bs-claim/658381/68 "2013-05-16T16:18:50Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > I’d like to know what you guys are carrying that you wish you could have a purse. I have enough pockets for my wallet, phone and keys. My boyfriend carries: tablet ipod keys wallet cell phone Those are on normal days. If we go traveling he often brings the GPS and puts it on pedestrian method. And then on vacation also, I don’t want to always carry his stuff like tissues, advil, lip balm, etc. He brings the bag along and carries all his own stuff, and this way I can also take a small purse and not have to carry a diaper bag. > [@](#): > > Yes throughout history men have indeed been stupidly stubborn about this. Gee it would be awesome if they were super smart self conscious like women and support a billion dollar codependant cosmetic industry I sense a little sarcasm. Sure, we are supporting it, but I don’t really see what is inherently bad about that. The cosmetic industry provides something we like, and we use it. Using it too much is bad, especially if it’s more than we can afford. So is too much of everything. The rest of it is supply and demand - basic economics. If we don’t do anything “extra” we may as well go back and live in their caves. I mean, we don’t _need_ 90% of the stuff we buy. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeup-for-men-is-on-the-rise-and-no-longer-a-taboo-i-call-shenanigans-on-this-perennial-bs-claim/658381/69 "2013-05-16T16:55:47Z")
> [@gracer](#): > > So I’m sorry you were insecure about it as a teenager. It must’ve been pretty tough, especially as it is (I think?) not as easy to talk about as many similar issues for women. Thanks, I appreciate that. Although I really wasn’t scarred by it emotionally. I’m glad I could afford to do something about it early in adulthood. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeup-for-men-is-on-the-rise-and-no-longer-a-taboo-i-call-shenanigans-on-this-perennial-bs-claim/658381/70 "2013-05-16T17:40:46Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Gee it would be awesome if they were super smart self conscious like women and support a billion dollar codependant cosmetic industry. Pro tip: there are quite a few women who aren’t wearing makeup because we’re self conscious. Some people actually _like_ it and think it’s _fun_. Men, too. Would you believe that? ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeup-for-men-is-on-the-rise-and-no-longer-a-taboo-i-call-shenanigans-on-this-perennial-bs-claim/658381/71 "2013-05-16T17:59:44Z")
No ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeup-for-men-is-on-the-rise-and-no-longer-a-taboo-i-call-shenanigans-on-this-perennial-bs-claim/658381/72 "2013-05-16T18:14:05Z")
i have some “moisturizer” that is green tinted so when you put it on red skin it sort of neutralizes the red and makes it look more normal. I get a little red from shaving and being out in the sun a lot. I guess this is sort of like makeup. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeup-for-men-is-on-the-rise-and-no-longer-a-taboo-i-call-shenanigans-on-this-perennial-bs-claim/658381/73 "2013-05-16T18:27:59Z")
That’s called primer and yes, it is makeup. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeup-for-men-is-on-the-rise-and-no-longer-a-taboo-i-call-shenanigans-on-this-perennial-bs-claim/658381/74 "2013-05-16T18:32:05Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > That’s called primer and yes, it is makeup. I’m wearing primer? That doesn’t sound good. I prefer to call it “moisturizer.” ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeup-for-men-is-on-the-rise-and-no-longer-a-taboo-i-call-shenanigans-on-this-perennial-bs-claim/658381/75 "2013-05-16T18:37:52Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > I’m wearing primer? That doesn’t sound good. I prefer to call it “moisturizer.” You can call it whatever you’d like, of course, but the point is you’re still priming your face by neutralizing the color. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeup-for-men-is-on-the-rise-and-no-longer-a-taboo-i-call-shenanigans-on-this-perennial-bs-claim/658381/76 "2013-05-16T18:56:41Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > You can call it whatever you’d like, of course, but the point is you’re still priming your face by neutralizing the color. Ok I’m gonna go with aftershave then. Sounds more masculine. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeup-for-men-is-on-the-rise-and-no-longer-a-taboo-i-call-shenanigans-on-this-perennial-bs-claim/658381/77 "2013-05-16T19:10:26Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > Well, I think they look better, particularly the third guy. Of course it isn’t vastly and noticeably different- it’s tinted moisturizer, not stage makeup. It’s supposed to be light and barely noticeable, that’s the whole goddamned point. Well i bow to your superior knowledge, but looking at those pictures did not make me think it was worth the bother. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeup-for-men-is-on-the-rise-and-no-longer-a-taboo-i-call-shenanigans-on-this-perennial-bs-claim/658381/78 "2013-05-16T21:48:03Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > My boyfriend carries: > > **tablet > ipod** > keys > wallet > **cell phone** > > Those are on normal days. If we go traveling he often brings the **GPS** and puts it on pedestrian method. And then on vacation also, I don’t want to always carry his stuff like tissues, advil, lip balm, etc. He brings the bag along and carries all his own stuff, and this way I can also take a small purse and not have to carry a diaper bag. :dubious: Wouldn’t selling those and putting the money towards an iPhone lighten his load while covering all the same functions? That would free up space to carry his own lip balm and a couple of Advil. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeup-for-men-is-on-the-rise-and-no-longer-a-taboo-i-call-shenanigans-on-this-perennial-bs-claim/658381/79 "2013-05-16T23:33:56Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > :dubious: Wouldn’t selling those and putting the money towards an iPhone lighten his load while covering all the same functions? That would free up space to carry his own lip balm and a couple of Advil. no shit. I saw that and thought “he needs all four? is he really that dumb?” ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2013, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeup-for-men-is-on-the-rise-and-no-longer-a-taboo-i-call-shenanigans-on-this-perennial-bs-claim/658381/80 "2013-05-16T23:41:03Z")
If I’m going somewhere that I’d want to use it, I’ll have either a tablet or laptop plus my iPhone. Fortunately, I have a purse. I’m not sure that it’s so ludicrous that someone would want to carry multiple things with them. I doubt you’d be putting your Nexus 7 in your pocket or anything anyway. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeup-for-men-is-on-the-rise-and-no-longer-a-taboo-i-call-shenanigans-on-this-perennial-bs-claim/658381.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/makeup-for-men-is-on-the-rise-and-no-longer-a-taboo-i-call-shenanigans-on-this-perennial-bs-claim/658381.md?page=5)