Until recently, most skin care products were marketed toward women—and the products and brands that were marketed toward a male audience were clearly labeled “for men.” But the truth is, wanting a great complexion isn’t exclusive to one gender. Skin care “is starting to be considered maintenance, and no longer considered only for women,” says Dr. Tess Mauricio, a Beverly Hills-based dermatologist.
As a result, we’re seeing more gender-neutral skin care brands and products that cater equally to all genders—whether through their marketing, their packaging or their formulations. Many skin care brands are realizing that creating products exclusively for men or women limits their appeal, and for no good reason.
While there are some minor differences in skin according to sex (for example, “men have a thicker dermis and have more active sebaceous glands…[and] women’s skin tends to be more prone to dryness,” says Mauricio), there’s no real reason that everyone can’t use—and get results from—the same ingredients. “Skin care product ingredients do not know the gender of the skin they are applied to,” says Dr. Fayne Frey, a New York-based dermatologist. “Dry skin in a woman is treated the same as dry skin in a man.”
Here are 11 of the best gender-neutral skin care brands (along with some of their best-selling products) to try if you want to see real results: