It is incredibly difficult as a male living in America to embrace a subject considered very feminine: skin care. The notion of healthy masculinity is something that many contemporary men are dealing with and trying to help promote through our peers.

Just type "skin care" in google and see what pops up. Here is a screenshot of what I found:

Majority of the photos that appear are pictures of females and their routine of skin care. Almost no males are present. It's very clear that this act is mostly associated with females rather than males, but changing this perception could be a way to promote healthy masculinity.

This perception is definitely less apparent in a Korean society, where it is very common for males to wear make-up and take care of their skin. It was this perspective that made me wonder why western men considered it to be taboo? I think it's crucial to take care of your skin, and it shouldn't be frowned upon.

It is evident that males in western society are pushed to be stoic in nature, rugged, and tough. Skincare is the complete opposite of that norm. By permeating this act to be normalized, men can learn to embrace the variety of what healthy men can be.

Now, the skincare that I'm trying to promote goes beyond just washing your face and putting on lotion. It dives into deeper treatments that I think are important for males to at least learn about, such as exfoliating, toners, and facial oils. All these categories are very foreign to many males in America, and it's ok to not know. But learning how you are uncomfortable with this category is a process that shouldn't be easy, but still something that you shouldn't feel scared to learn about.