Men in makeup

CEBU, Philippines - Until recently, makeup and everything about cosmetics were exclusively within Eve's dominion. Makeup was almost synonymous with the word "women" itself, just as some, if not most, of them cannot seem to face the day without a stroke on their faces. Yet, as the use of cosmetics has changed over the centuries, Adam appears to have developed interest - embracing on-set makeup and undauntedly altering his appearance in increasing numbers.

Perhaps, everyone could very well remember that one point in high school when the "guyliner" became so phenomenal that every boy in the campus just wants to be like Johnny Depp or be a flamboyant rockstar like Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong or, maybe, the Filipino icon Pepe Smith - feeling awesome in a full-on smudge of kohl.

And yet those were probably the days when male cosmetics were a little subtle. Nowadays, everyone's favorite male K-pop and K-drama stars prove that guy makeup is more attractive and masculine when gone full-blown. Even Filipino artist Paolo Ballesteros became a 9gag sensation when he did not just stop at dramatic eye makeup.

Well, this should not even come as a revelation. Makeup is not a recent invention and the guyliner did not begin with Mr. Depp's Pirates of the Caribbean. Women and men, alike, have worn makeup way back in the ancient cultures and for as long as faces have been an item.

The earliest records of men using cosmetics were in Asia, particularly in China and Japan, during the 3000 BC where men and women used tinctures of gum arabic, gelatin and egg in staining their fingernails to signify their status in society. Some accounts say that it began with the Egyptians wearing prominently green eye shadows on the top and bottom eyelids. But many would attribute the turning point in male cosmetics to the entrance of the cinema and theatre - a real opportunity for advertisers to cotton on and thereafter bolster a male-specific branding in the cosmetics field.

Gradually, people notice that men are starting to give a run at cosmetics store for, say, a moisturizer or lip balm. Surprisingly, they don't have to be gay or be carrying out a sociological experiment to be doing so.  But, here the question lies: Is the conventional Philippines ready for this?

The huge likelihood for it to be socially-acceptable is there but perhaps this conservative community is not really there yet in terms of allowing their precious men to wear Barbie's stuff without pinning a badge of a rather different identity, exposing them to a possible social stigma. 

Nonetheless, just like women, men have different reasons for wearing makeup. Maybe, for him, the painted mask of a dolled-up person would make him confident or younger - the reasons could be endless.

And, indeed, anyone has the right to wear anything he wants. But as many cosmetic experts would say, applying makeup is a skill that must be learned. The rule that applies to women goes for men as well.

(Reference: www.charlottetilbury.com) (FREEMAN)