Gen X Journey

Skincare, makeup, hair care products and control underwear were once the domain of women only.  My how things change.Companies from Biotherm to Nivea now how dedicated men’s skincare ranges. Some of the products are even better than our stuff. My husband got a male Biotherm travel pack on the plane once and my daughter and I pinched everything out of it.

In any manbag worth it’s weight you can find man bronzer, concealer, eye liner and fake tan. Singer, Pete Wentz, has brought out his own range of guyliner for all those Fall Out Guy wannabes out there. Personally I find eye liner on men quite creepy. It’s rarely done well. Just have a look around your local mall. Emos with long fringes and black eyeliner. I’m glad I’m not out there looking for a man (oooh who’s showing her age?).

Hair styling products are de rigeuer for males of an early age (they have to start early in case they lose their hair early). In my teaching days I was once caught in a downpour. My hair did not cope well and only product would save the day. I asked my 12 year old girls if they had anything. No, they were all sensible pony tails and bobby pins, but my boys! I was flooded with offers of wax ranging from superhold to gentle, paste, gel and even a can of hairspray. I tapped into their supply for the rest of the year. It was the year of the hairstyle for me.

But it’s control underwear that could lead to disappointment for we women. According to men I know their greatest worries are their moobs (man boobs) and love handles. All of this can now be cunningly disguised with the use of a Spanx cotton compression crew. So while we think we’ve nabbed a man with the body of say Christian Bale’s version of Batman we’ve more likely got the Adam West version.

Here’s what Spanx founder Sarah Blakely had to say on the subject.