Men Rocking Makeup

A NEW BEAUTY TREND EXPANDS THE IDEA OF MASCULINITY

By Jessica Katz, Lifestyle Editorial Assistant Photographed by Seth DeGier, Contributing Photographer Modeled by Seth DeGier and Braden Schmidt Makeup by Jessica Katz

In the mid-2010s we saw male beauty gurus such as James Charles, Manny Mua and Bretman Rock rise to fame. Creating colorful, extravagant, full-face looks, these individuals have shown society that the art of makeup has no gender. Recently, this idea has developed even further as more and more influential men find comfort in embracing femininity through makeup.

Many K-pop stars, such as Got7 member BamBam and EXO member Bbaekhyun, commonly sport red, orange or pink eyeshadow. Jimin, a member of BTS, tends to rock a smokey eye, playing with the intensity of his eyeshadows. Unlike BamBam or Bbaekhyun, Jimin is usually in the wheelhouse of deep earth shades that brighten his eyes.

More subtle makeup can be spotted in recent television. Satan, played by Cody Fern, in American Horror Story’s “Apocalypse” is seen with red eye-shadow toward the inner-half of his eyelid, making his blue eyes pop. Jacob Elordi as Nate from “Euphoria” is also seen in simplistic makeup, like adding a little glitter along his cheekbones. →

“The expansion of masculinity allows men to truly both explore and showcase their identity, feeling confident in how they choose to present themselves, and thus, who they are.”

In the past, makeup has been regarded as exclusively feminine. However, it’s common for men to want to spend time on their physical appearance; this is coined as metrosexuality. Traditionally, the idea of metrosexuality has been more applicable to grooming (ie. beard care) more so than makeup.

Recently, research has shown that perceptions of masculinity and femininity have begun to blur. Hybrid masculinity refers to the selective incorporation of practices typically regarded as feminine. Feminized masculinity takes a step further, fully incorporating “feminine” practices.

Today, traditional gender boundaries are being challenged by a cultural wave of gender fluidity and acceptance. Gender can (and should) be seen more as an individual spectrum and less of a rigid social construct. This fluidity allows individuals (in this example, men) to express their individual style and sense of self through vehicles such as fashion and makeup.

New makeup looks created by men are often different from the popularized works of many beauty gurus and influencers. For example, a smudged eyeliner and subdued smokey eye are easy to learn and low maintenance, yet still effectively make anyone’s eyes pop. Destigmatizing and normalizing men wearing makeup is an important first step in creating space for men to find comfort in expanding their idea of masculinity and expressing themselves authentically. ■