The gender binary is losing its grasp on makeup, and I’m here for it. Society has started to shift its attitude towards makeup, no longer seeing it as purely effeminate. Many men are getting the memo, and are eagerly stepping up to meet the shifting standards. But, understandably, some guys have been hesitant to face the change- to change their faces. So, to the men who are reading this, let me wipe away your worries, and explain why you should stop avoiding makeup. 

Every day, more and more men are beginning to take their looks more seriously, and thus have begun to venture back into the makeup scene after quite a long break. For those of you who didn’t know, makeup was not “just for women” until more recently in history. 

According to Gentleman’s Gazette, before World War I, makeup was completely gender-neutral and often indicated higher status. Around the world, men wore makeup for a variety of reasons. 

Gentleman’s Gazette explained, “Ancient Egyptians lined their eyes with coal, ancient Babylonians and Incans painted their nails as status symbols, noblemen in Asia and early modern Europe wore face powder for a fair complexion, and ancient Greeks and Romans used ochre and iron gall to paint their lips and cheeks to appear younger.”

It is ridiculous that makeup ever became gendered. Thankfully, people are now taking a page from the past, discarding gender-binary norms and making make-up for everyone. Today, in part thanks to social media, makeup is becoming a way for men to look and feel their best while also serving as a medium for self-expression. 

According to L Makeup Institute, “With the rise of social media apps like Instagram and TikTok, men and masculine-identifying people are trying out makeup as a form of self-expression. It’s an increasingly common view that society should separate beauty from stereotypes and gender binary norms.”

Another reason why men should stop avoiding makeup is that beauty standards are evolving. Men are just more attractive with makeup. But don’t take my word for it. 

According to IFL Science, in a small study, “researchers have found that men are considered more attractive when wearing a smattering of the old powder and rouge than when barefaced.”

Boys, beauty standards are evolving. It is time to man up and try some makeup.