All-round winner
Since the beauty world began to ditch gender norms in favour of a more neutral approach to advertising (because let’s face it: it’s all in the marketing), it has busted a lot of outdated skincare myths — like the notion that masculine skin needs its own, dedicated range of products to target its individual beauty concerns. In fact, despite differences in skin elasticity (men’s skin is around 20 and 25 per cent thicker than women’s), experts now agree that the basics of our beauty routine should be the same, regardless of gender. The key considerations should always be your skin type (normal, sensitive, oily, dry or combination) and areas of concern such as blemishes, dark spots and signs of ageing — not your gender identity or testosterone levels. Ultimately, everyone’s skincare needs are unique and shouldn’t be forced into binary boxes — so opting for a good-quality, all-purpose cleanser designed to work for all is a great way to kick off any daily regime. The beautifully neutral Eve Lom Cleanser Balm works wonders for all types of skin and delivers soothing hydration up to 12 hours after use.
One-hit wonder
With the endless array of face serums marketed for men and women, as well as every skincare concern on the planet (and some totally made-up ones, too), it’s not hard to see through the industry’s cheeky ploy to make us buy as many different products as possible — though often, the individual formulas will not differ all that much. But with a new wave of gender-neutral skincare brands came the realisation that keeping products inclusive and versatile was the better way to go — not least because making one product that works for everyone is much more sustainable and better for the planet. Enter Non Gender Specific (NGS), whose mission is to create skincare ‘for all humans’, regardless of gender, skin tone or skin type. Each of their formulas targets each of the seven main
skin concerns, helping to simplify complex beauty routines and cut down on waste. As its name suggests, the NGS Everything Serum (available to pre-order) fuses all the powerful, skin-loving ingredients into one, multi-tasking solution. What more could you need?
Instant glow
When a single product promises ground-breaking anti-ageing benefits and plumped-up, glowing skin from day one, everybody’s going to want in on the hype. Retinol is the super ingredient that has redefined modern skincare — and while some brands persist in creating separate versions of the same product targeting women and men individually, others like Typology, The Ordinary and Glossier are setting a standard when it comes to removing needless distinctions, focusing instead on the universal efficacy of the product. With retinol’s versatility and suitability for all skin types, it’s a must-have for anyone looking to give their skin a radiant boost — no labels or
gender-focused marketing required. Another brand giving binary bias the boot is Grounded, whose products are made simply ‘for those who love to take care of their skin’. Their Egyptian Gold Retinol Face Serum is a bestselling hit, with all the retinol goodness locked
in a vegan-friendly, all-natural formula. Daub on cleansed skin in the evening and allow it to work its magic overnight for softer, more supple complexion by morning.
Mask master
The multi-award winning Sand and Sky Porefining Mask started out as an internet hit — and following the viral videos and hundreds of fan pics showing just what this product can achieve in 10 minutes we all had to try it out for ourselves. The deep detox treatment uses Australian Pink Clay and other Aussie botanicals to draw out impurities, toxins and pollutants from the skin, tighten pores and tackle pigmentation — issues that we can all relate to, regardless of gender. Plus, beauty masks are no longer a girly sleepover trend: men too have adopted masking as a way to purify the skin, minimise the appearance of pores and combat blackheads, so for new brands entering the market it no longer makes sense to exclude half of their demographic in favour of stereotypes. As a thoroughly modern brand, Sand and Sky has created one all-natural, vegan, cruelty-free formula to suit all, even sensitive skin types. And best of all? The 60g jar is big enough to share with a partner or a pal. Everyone benefits!
Non-binary beauty
“For a long time, gender fluid beauty has been underrepresented by mainstream companies. However, outdated perceptions of beauty are finally shifting,” says Jessica Blackler, MUA and founder of Jecca Blac. Championing the #MakeupHasNoGender movement, the brand is a trailblazer of gender-less self-expression and being authentic to your true self with one of the first make-up ranges designed for non-binary individuals. Having worked with the LGBTIQA+ community, Blackler saw how gendered marketing around cosmetics added to the exclusion already felt by certain groups. To challenge this, she developed products that offer inclusive solutions, such as
beard shadow coverage, in a much more modern, reactionary approach to today’s shifting identity landscape. So forget the labels, and opt for the Jecca Blac Glow Drops (p47) to add that dreamy, glowing finish to your look, or Jecca Blac Hydrate Primer to maintain your skin’s moisture. Here’s to feeling fabulous, whoever you are.