Skip to main content

Biggest men’s skincare concerns? Under-eye bags, wrinkles, and acne, study says

A new study peels back the layers on the most common men's skincare concerns

There’s often a hyper-focus on women’s skincare. Blame the lifestyle magazines and marketing pros. However, men also have concerns, and a new study is bringing them to the forefront.

A new report, Augmenting the Beauty Consumer Journey in 2023, from Finnish beauty technology company Revieve is shedding light on the differences between men and women regarding skincare concerns and behaviors.

Both genders have similar overarching goals and pain points. According to the report, people are primarily concerned with wrinkles, under-eye bags, and acne, regardless of gender.

man using skincare mask

“The differences in skin concerns between male and female users correlate to what we see in the dermatology field,” Helen Robertshaw, the dermatology advisor at Revieve, said in a press release. “Overall, both user groups are concerned about aging because one’s skin appearance reflects a person’s health and well-being – and wrinkles are the most notable sign of this. In addition, younger looks are associated with attractiveness — so it is not surprising that people focus on treating wrinkles.”

Still, there were some gender-related differences. Male users were likelier to describe their skin as oily, while most women reported having combination skin. Female users were more likely to engage with AI skin analysis tools (77% of women vs. 69% of men).

Revieve’s report also showed that online selfie analysis helps users feel more confident purchasing more products. The add-to-cart rate is 86% higher for selfie-takers than their non-selfie-peers. What’s more, self-takers take more purchase-related actions.

“We are seeing a massive shift in commerce forcing the beauty industry to transition towards relationship commerce,” Sampo Parkkinen, the CEO at Revieve, said in a press release. “This means getting to know your customers individually and continuously providing a personalized brand experience. Our latest report unveils how deep into a customer’s skin AI and AR-powered solutions can get.”

While some of the report is aimed more at the beauty industry, it does reveal some key points: Men have skincare concerns. Furthermore, they are looking for a personalized experience that helps them feel confident choosing products to address problem areas and achieve their desired goals.

In addition to beauty tech tools, some ways you can learn more about men’s skincare so you can make informed decisions include:

  • Reading up on ingredients. Do you need hyaluronic acid? Is a retinol product right for you? A little homework on men’s skincare routine pro tips can help you identify products and ingredients you may want to look into adding to your regimen.
  • Speaking to a dermatologist. Men’s skincare — like any skincare — is highly personal. A telehealth or in-person visit to a dermatologist can help you sift through the industry jargon.
  • Patch test. Even with the best information and advice, skincare is highly personal. Regardless of your skin type or what you read, it’s always a good idea to patch-test a product on a small area of skin for a couple of days. If you don’t notice any irritation, it’s likely good to use.

Finally, you deserve to feel good in the skin you’re in. No product is guaranteed to fix every issue — and you can’t avoid aging — but the right information can give you a chance to find the products best suited for you.

Editors' Recommendations

BethAnn Mayer
Beth Ann's work has appeared on healthline.com and parents.com. In her spare time, you can find her running (either marathons…
Facial treatment for men: A comprehensive guide on exactly what to expect
Do men get facials? They sure do. Here's what to know about facial treatments for men

While we try to maintain perfectly healthy looks by doing routines like skincare for men, there are some things — automotive repairs, taxes, and medicine — that are just best left to the professionals. A facial fits that bill. The spa treatment feels luxe but can also be found at accessible prices.

Cindy Kim is the co-founder of Silver Mirror, a New York City facial “bar” that specializes in customized facial treatments. Facial treatments for men is absolutely a part of her business. After completing a degree from a business school, Kim founded Korean beauty e-commerce site Peach and Lily. Though she has access to the world’s best skincare products, Kim had finicky skin and began to seek out a more effective solution. Before long, she realized that frequent treatments in the form of fast (affordable) facials (like she could get when she lived in Korea) were important, and Silver Mirror was born.

Read more
Should you worry about under-beard skincare? We ask the experts
We asked grooming experts about all things beards and how to manage your under-beard skincare routine
Viking Revolution Beard Oil

Beards are one of the best ways to define your own personal style. How you decide to grow one out and shape it can be as unique and individual to you as a personal hairstyle can be; that's true if you decide to go bald and bearded as well. However you decide to shape your beard, how you decide to take care of your beard is almost even more important.

The truth is that just because you decide to grow out your beard, that doesn't mean you should neglect the skin below it. So how do you properly care for your beard and the skin under it? What about if you just so happen to have some other skin issues going on? We asked five skincare experts about all things related to beards, skin, and products to make sure you have the best grooming skincare routine around to maximize your beard’s growth and health.

Read more
The best nighttime skincare routine for men, according to experts
Nighttime skincare routine order every man should follow, per the pros
Skincare products on a counter

Bedtime routines may have been a staple part of your life as a child — perhaps even one you looked forward to all day. Maybe it included a book, bath, story, and time with a beloved caregiver.

However, bedtime routines aren’t just for children. They also don’t just include powering down your phone and curling up with a book — though both are good ideas to up your sleep quality and duration. The right nighttime skincare routine can leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated in the morning.

Read more