Eye Makeup - Yes, No, Maybe

[doitb4ugo]

Last evening I attended Fenway Health's Mens Event, a formal charuty event for Fenway's mission. A number of younger men were wearing eye makeup. Mascara/eyeliner from what I could tell without staring. I found it intriguing and rather sexy is a metrosexual sort of way.

 

Are we getting to the comfort point where gay men can adopt this practice. Will it be viewed as sexy or as somehow too feminine for those who prefer masculinity as a key gay trait. Is there room in the community.

[+ Gar1eth]

Unless for a costume party or Halloween, I'm going to vote no. About as far as I would go on make-up is tan colored concealer and only used if necessary to hide an enormous zit. I've noticed a majority of escorts I've hired in the past have had some in their shaving kit.

 

Gman

[Epigonos]

I have noticed, over the years, that this has been an on again, off again fad with some younger escorts. As long as it is subtle I don't have a problem with it. Now would I do it myself - NEVER. To my way of thinking it is somewhat like wearing a skimpy speedo on the beach -- it can look great on a nicely built young guy, however I gave up even thinking about wearing one fifty years ago.

[Guy Fawkes]

I have no problems with the way people express themselves. When I was a kid, a man with long hair could be run out of town; A woman wearing pants would be stared at and be the recipient of tart remarks. Wouldn't it be a nice universe if we accepted each other as we are?

[Diverdan]

I guess I am old fashioned, God knows I am old too, but eye makeup, etc. I see as a decidedly feminine expression. I have yet to meet a MAN on whom I thought it added to his looks or made him more attractive. But I realize that some folks like to express themselves in different ways, and to each his own. It is just not for me, and I don't appreciate it on MEN. As a society we are much more tolerant than society was a few years ago, but I often wonder why men or women seem to want to appear as members of the opposite sex. I am not talking about transgendered individuals, which is a whole other situation and knowing a couple of them, presents another some real difficulties in terms of acceptance, getting and keeping a job, etc. and my heart really goes out to them, as in many ways it is a life long struggle.

[Daverwr]

Personally, I've always found guys with eye makeup rather titillating and hot! But, then, I don't have a problem with guys wearing other forms of makeup either. Maybe it comes from working in the theatre, I don't know. But, it can really get my motor going!

[+ deej]

I guess I am old fashioned, God knows I am old too, but eye makeup, etc. I see as a decidedly feminine expression. I have yet to meet a MAN on whom I thought it added to his looks or made him more attractive.

 

Ever watched a porn video? I guarantee that any big-studio shoot has a makeup artist on set and those guys are "in face".

 

When properly applied, makeup should not be the star of the show. Makeup should enhance the wearer, not be front and center. It should basically be undetectable.

 

That said, even many women don't yet understand that there actually IS such a thing as too much. (And this applies to scents too.)

 

I should also add that I work for a cosmetics company so if you're inclined to wear it we'd be more than happy to sell you all the face crap you can handle! I can tell you, though, that marketing to men isn't a thing. It's a zero growth market.

[+ quoththeraven]

It's not just gay men. My daughter spent a party she and the boy she later dated for nearly two years attended putting makeup on him without him complaining. She definitely used eyeliner and mascara; I don't remember if it went any further than that. As my daughter put it,"He has longer eyelashes than I do!"

 

Gender is a social construct. We define what's masculine and what's feminine. There have been times when ruffs, long hair and colorful clothing were considered the height of male fashion, and that's just in Western societies; viewed globally, you'd see even more variation. Makeup, long hair, and other forms of expression that would be considered "feminine" in the West is the norm among many J-pop and K-pop bands. I believe we are all a mix of "masculine" and "feminine" traits and what that mix is and how it gets expressed is our business and not something for society to police.

 

For a longer and more theoretical take on this, see the introduction to Carolyn Heilbrun's Toward a Recognition of Androgyny, published in 1973. And to illustrate my point about Kpop, the music video for "Fantastic Baby" by Big Bang:

 

[video=youtube_share;AAbokV76tkU]

[TruHart1]

Sometimes NOT needed

 

Last evening I attended Fenway Health's Mens Event, a formal charuty event for Fenway's mission. A number of younger men were wearing eye makeup. Mascara/eyeliner from what I could tell without staring. I found it intriguing and rather sexy is a metrosexual sort of way.

 

Are we getting to the comfort point where gay men can adopt this practice. Will it be viewed as sexy or as somehow too feminine for those who prefer masculinity as a key gay trait. Is there room in the community.

 

I really do not mind subtle eye makeup but in your specific case Adam, your eyes are such a striking part of your look that eye makeup would seem to me to be gilding the lily! If a man believes he has mundane eye structure, maybe eye makeup would make a difference. Still, only at evening events without klieg lighting, even then. JMHO

 

TruHart1

[RyanDean]

I think, as a general rule, I prefer a little bit of eye makeup to a little bit of pube shaving. (Trimming's fine but gimme some bush!)

[bigvalboy]

I think, as a general rule, I prefer a little bit of eye makeup to a little bit of pube shaving. (Trimming's fine but gimme some bush!)

 

Yes to this....I've been known, well occasionally, and only when prodded, to put on just a hint of eye makeup. I always stand back and realize that the contrast makes me look better, and God only knows I need all the help I can get.

[+ sam.fitzpatrick]

I've only used it when performing in stage productions in high school and college. While not for me, I can't say that I've noticed much of it on guys here in the midwest.

[+ FreshFluff]

than happy to sell you all the face crap you can handle! I can tell you, though, that marketing to men isn't a thing. It's a zero growth market.

 

Even skincare? Clinique (E. Lauder) and Kiehl's (L'Oreal) both have a whole men's line--presumably the same stuff they sell to women but in more masculine-looking packaging.

[+ deej]

Even skincare? Clinique (E. Lauder) and Kiehl's (L'Oreal) both have a whole men's line--presumably the same stuff they sell to women but in more masculine-looking packaging.

 

They don't explicitly market to men. They actively market to women who buy it for their men. (Sexist, I know.)

 

You'll see the occasional advertising to men for shaving products, sure. But we're talking about cosmetics in this thread.

[+ FreshFluff]

They don't explicitly market to men. They actively market to women who buy it for their men. (Sexist, I know.)

 

You'll see the occasional advertising to men for shaving products, sure. But we're talking about cosmetics in this thread.

 

That makes sense. Interestingly, Clinique often sells these products at a different counter in the men's section, far away from their main counter. I suppose they want the women to feel like they're buying masculine products for their boyfriends.

 

I think it's a little tricky to define "cosmetics." For example, skincare lotions can be marketed as shaving products.

[+ Gar1eth]

That makes sense. Interestingly, Clinique often sells these products at a different counter in the men's section, far away from their main counter. I suppose they want the women to feel like they're buying masculine products for their boyfriends.

 

I think it's a little tricky to define "cosmetics." For example, skincare lotions can be marketed as shaving products.

 

I have nothing against skin care except using it. I seem to have a deletion on that part of my gay gene or chromosome. Now if there were a product that could eliminate the bags under my eyes so that they looked natural, I'd use that.

 

Gman

[+ deej]

products.[/url]

 

Yeah, there's a perpetual battle between cosmetics makers and the FDA.

 

There are different rules for stuff you put on your eyelids vs. stuff you put on your cheeks vs. stuff you put on your lips. Is a retinol solution (to reduce wrinkles) in the same category as a bracing after-shave lotion? Chemically, no. But after-shave goes on the cheeks so it has to meet the same requirements as concealer, foundation, rouge, and powder.

 

It's kind of a mess.

[+ quoththeraven]

South Korea is the largest market for men's makeup in the world even though there are only 19 million men in all of Korea. Some of them start using makeup during their two-year mandatory stint in the military. This may sound like gender equality, but it's more the super-competitive ethos at work.

 

More here: http://beyondhallyu.com/culture/from-macho-to-make-up-shifting-gender-ideals-in-south-korea/

 

A video tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h-F-66xagc In the comments, women praise the guy's looks before and after makeup and tell him he looks like Kevin of UKISS (presumably a Kpop group).

[RyanDean]

I subscribed to Birchbox for Men a few months back.

So many niche cosmetics -- ahem, grooming products & accessories -- aimed at dudes.

But no manscara or guyliner...yet.

[Rudynate]

I had a friend years ago who routinely wore eye makeup. He was so skilled at applying it, that you wouldn't guess that he even had eye makeup on. It just made his appearance pop in way that it didn't without.

[+ FreshFluff]

I had a friend years ago who routinely wore eye makeup. He was so skilled at applying it, that you wouldn't guess that he even had eye makeup on. It just made his appearance pop in way that it didn't without.

 

He's probably

, that is, lining the inner rim of the eyes. For those who use guy-liner, use a medium to dark brown matte pencil. A black pencil is far too obvious, especially on light skin.

[Samai139]

Way too old to consider using any kind of eye make-up and find young men who use it a lilttle too far ahead of the line for my taste.

Totally agree with the two posters who mentioned that they would prefer men with non-shaved pubes (and for me, armpits) to eye liner and mascara. If any readers watch the new show "Backstrom"--there is a young gay man who uses a LOT of eye enhancement.

Aside: I realise that colouring one's hair and going to a srpray tan salon are probably not consider "make-up" but don't they serve the same purpose? And yet businessmen, politicians, etc. have no problem with them.

[Juan Vancouver]

I have no problems with the way people express themselves. When I was a kid, a man with long hair could be run out of town; A woman wearing pants would be stared at and be the recipient of tart remarks. Wouldn't it be a nice universe if we accepted each other as we are?

 

+1

 

To me there is nothing more attractive than someone who inhabits his or her own body, makes his or her own rules and unapologetically expresses who she/he is, without worrying what the others expect.

 

And...

 

Gender is a social construct. We define what's masculine and what's feminine.

 

And we also define what is "acceptable" or not. I refuse to have someone's priest or someone's crotchety, rule-bound, old uncle decide whether the way I express myself or someone expresses themselves is right or wrong. It ain't!

 

The more loving an accepting we become of ourselves and others, the more beauty we will be able to bring and appreciate in the world.

 

I say... whatever rocks your boat!

[bigvalboy]

+1

 

To me there is nothing more attractive than someone who inhabits his or her own body, makes his or her own rules and unapologetically expresses who she/he is, without worrying what the others expect.

 

And...

 

 

 

And we also define what is "acceptable" or not. I refuse to have someone's priest or someone's crotchety, rule-bound, old uncle decide whether the way I express myself or someone expresses themselves is right or wrong. It ain't!

 

The more loving an accepting we become of ourselves and others, the more beauty we will be able to bring and appreciate in the world.

 

I say... whatever rocks your boat!

 

Articulate, concise, and kind.

[Guest countryboywny]

I think Juan pretty much sums it up for me. Personally, I do NOT like men in "obvious" (badly applied, too much) makeup. If it's used to highlight a feature or two and isn't obvious then what I don't know won't hurt me. Bottom line, men in makeup generally turn me off but that's me. If guys want to do it.. more power to them.