Manly make-up for men? We always knew that men used it in the film and television industry, but those men have to either look good or at least be in character for their roles. They work under special conditions and make-up is a tool of their trade.

Think of Johnny Depp's signature eyeliner in "Pirates of the Caribbean".

Men's grooming products are in the $5 million dollar sales range, so we can be reasonably sure that the marketing people know what they are doing by marketing make-up for men. They fully expect to make a good amount of money from sales.

Who are the men who wear make-up? According to the advertisers, men from all walks of life and professions who want to have and 'edge' in their appearance and get ahead, wear make-up. It's OK, I still don't know which men wear make-up either.

Men's ads for make-up tend to differ from those ads for women's make-up. Instead of advertising face powder, eye pencils and blush, some of men's ads use euphemisms like, skin tints, face high lighters, man pen and stealth tans. I guess it makes the choices seem more palatable.

Actually, the marketing ads seem to send mixed messages. The ones that I've seen on the web, say, "wear make up to look your best, but make sure its invisible". Some of the women's web sites say the same, "I'm in favor or men's make-up as long as its invisible.

The rule seems to be: Men, go ahead and wear make-up, but make sure no one knows you are wearing it.

I personally wouldn't care to kiss a man that looked prettier than me, but I could be totally old-fashioned in this whole idea.

Beauty consultant, Wendy Lewis said with regard to men's make-up, " ...makeup is sort of the final frontier."

"Scotty, beam me up".

Resources:
http://Forbes.com
http://Filly.ca

Learn more about this author, Mona Gallagher.
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