STRYX REVIEW | CONFIDENCE BUILDING COSMETICS FOR MEN
APRIL 2, 2020
Stryx Review | Confidence Building Cosmetics for Men
Have you ever woken up in the morning and stumbled to the mirror just to find that you have a monstrous zit staring back at you? What’s worse is that it’s the day of your big client meeting, first date, or big event.
Or maybe you just always find your reflection staring back at you with new red bumps or dark circles. That’s what usually awaits me in the mornings. Just check it out below. It might not be world-ending but it is frustrating.
YOU (AND I) POP AND POKE….
but nothing comes out and you’re stuck with a bigger red mess. Then for a split second you think to yourself, “I wish I could just cover this up. Why do females have 101 cosmetic products to hide this stuff and I just have to live with it? Well, hopefully no one says anything.” You shrug and move on.
No retouch on this photo, this is how I usually wake up to find my skin.
I know I’m not the only one who’s been through this routine.
In fact, as I’ve gotten older, my skin seems to think I’m thirteen again. So, in a sort of Benjamin Button turn of events, I’m finding more red bumps every morning.
I’ve definitely thought to myself more than once about sneaking through the cosmetics aisle and seeing if there were options for me. Then I quickly shut that down in fear of being found out and because I wouldn’t even know where to start.
Enter Stryx.
They are making cosmetic products for us guys to avoid that whole one-on-one morning conversation. Stryx is making men’s makeup simple, discrete, and worth using.
THE REAL QUESTION IS WOULD YOU ACTUALLY USE IT?
THE MEN’S MAKEUP STIGMA
Before I jump into reviewing Stryx and their flagship products, let's back it up. First, let me say that I do in fact use men’s cosmetics to cover up razor burn, blemishes, red spots, and big ol’ zits. Second, no I don’t feel like I’ve compromised my masculinity.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST THOUGHT WHEN YOU READ THAT I WEAR MAKEUP?
When I say “I use makeup” it’s easy to jump to the extreme with lipsticks, eye shadow (I don’t really know other popular cosmetic products), and a full-on clown ensemble.
Come on, you don’t even give me the benefit of the doubt of being a rock star.
However, I can’t say I blame you. Cosmetic products are traditionally marketed to a female demographic.
Even though men’s skincare and grooming is a booming industry (men’s personal care industry is predicted to hit $166 billion by 2022 according to CNBC), you still don’t see much in the way of products commercially marketed towards men.
Now that first statistic includes shaving and grooming, but CNBC also noted that in a survey conducted by Euromonitor “more than 56% of U.S. male respondents admitted to using some sort of facial cosmetic like foundation, concealer or BB cream at least once in 2018.”
“The men’s personal care industry is predicted to hit $166 billion by 2022, according to Allied Market Research.
— https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/17/men-are-a-multibillion-dollar-growth-opportunity-for-the-beauty-industry.html
So while I don’t know what BB cream is, that tells me that I’m definitely not the only one who’s given thought to wearing makeup for men and that many of us have already tried it.
It also tells me, just by the use of the word “admitted,” that men aren’t exactly ready to fully embrace the fact that they wear makeup or that they think there is something innately wrong about trying men’s makeup. That’s even though usage is growing!
MAKEUP IS JUST FOR WOMEN
The stigma that makeup is only for women (in a daily use application) is still alive and well. Just search the comments of some of the YouTube reviews for Stryx and you’ll find it. There is always going to be some resistance.
The funny thing is that some of those same “masculine” bros making derogatory comments are simultaneously stocking up on beard oil and hair products to achieve their perfect look.
Seems to me like the lines are blurring when it comes to self-care.
“It’s all about inclusivity and encouraging people to be a little more inclusive with both men and women.
— Manny Gutierrez - https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/17/men-are-a-multibillion-dollar-growth-opportunity-for-the-beauty-industry.html
Assigning masculinity or femininity to actions or products doesn’t really gets us anywhere.
In a world where guys are taking greater care of themselves with their style, their hair, their beards, their fitness, you name it, why let all that work go to waste because of a pimple or razor burn?
In my opinion, makeup is not just for women (or rockstars, or actors/actresses, or any single category of people). We can all use it!
STRYX REVIEW - MAKEUP THAT’S ACTUALLY FOR MEN
Ok, is your interest in cosmetics for men piqued?
You might even be willing to try some, but where do you start? You’re still not quite ready to get caught in the makeup aisle.
Lucky for you, Stryx is solving that problem. They’ve created makeup products that are actually for men. You don’t even have to venture into the store to pick it up.
STRYX - UPON FIRST GLANCE
Before we even get into the products, here’s what I appreciated right in and out of the box:
Sleek and discrete packaging from Stryx
The packaging design looks great. Without knowing, you would have no idea that this is a box with makeup inside. That’s part of their discrete approach to men’s makeup.
They know that stigma still exists and they’re keeping it in mind. The boxes have blue, black, and white geometric designs that just look cool on their own.
Discrete Stryx products don’t look out of place on your desk
DISCRETE PRODUCT DESIGN
That inconspicuous design carries over to the actual products as well. The concealer looks like a simple black pen and the tinted moisturizer looks more like body spray or cologne.
While I have no problem now telling anyone that I use men’s makeup, having this thoughtful type of design is helpful.
KEEP YOUR MAKEUP A SECRET - IF YOU WANT
If those items spill out of your bag onto your desk, you don’t actually have to explain yourself if you don’t want to.
I’ve had guests use my bathroom and say nothing when they see them on my counter. If you’re not quite ready to reveal to the world that you’re using men’s makeup, the Stryx products help you cover that up too. (Dad jokes galore!)
MAKEUP EASY FOR MEN TO USE
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous before trying Stryx for the first time. I was worried that there would be a lot of techniques to learn, brushes to buy, etc. That’s just what I’ve seen scrolling TikTok with occasional makeup tutorials popping up.
Stryx Concealer and Tinted Moisturizer are easy to apply!
To my pleasant surprise, both the concealer and tinted moisturizer took little application effort. No brushes or other fancy tools required. I just needed a small amount on my hands of the tinted moisturizer or a couple of dabs from the concealer directly to my face followed by a little blending by my fingers to virtually make everything disappear.
STRYX - CHOOSE FROM THREE SHADES
If you’re having trouble selecting a shade, they offer a great YouTube video right on the product page. I actually preferred this smaller selection because I didn’t have to agonize over what medium or dark shade of pale I am.
Stryx notes that you can achieve those in-between shades by varying amount of product applied if you’re unsure. I ended up going with the lightest color to avoid creating out of place dark spots on my face.
SOME MEN’S MAKEUP HELPFUL HINTS:
Stryx has great video tutorials and info on their social platforms and websites for application and how much to use. Check this link for their YouTube channel. I consulted these before my first try and it did end up being as easy as apply and blend.
Wash your hands well (especially now) before using any sort of men’s makeup. You don’t want to trap dirt on or introduce bacteria to your face.
Make sure to pick up makeup remover pads to help at the end of the day. Since Stryx is formulated for men’s skin, just washing with water won’t cut it.
CONCEALER AND TINTED MOISTURIZER FORMULATED FOR MEN
Stryx specifically designed their formulas for men from the ground up. Our skin is different. Men generally have thicker and more oily skin. Which means we shouldn’t be sharing our girlfriend’s, sister’s, mom’s or best friend’s products.
NOT JUST A “FOR MEN” LABEL
What I really like is that they didn’t just slap a “for men” sticker on a product designed for women’s skin. For that reason, their makeup stays on better. That’s also why you need those makeup remover pads.
Stryx also has a face wash that just passed the kickstarter phase to help with makeup removal and cleaning. I’m looking forward to adding that to this system as well.
It’s the simplicity and thoughtful design that makes me such a fan of Stryx!
HOW AND WHEN I USE STRYX MEN’S MAKEUP
I’ve found myself primarily using Stryx before photo/video shoots and larger group events. I personally haven’t felt like I’ve needed to wear it every single day, which I actually prefer. It’s helping me look my best in those times that I really need it.
I’m currently using the concealer tool the most. I focus mostly on spot treatments for the bumps and razor burn I get. It’s a quick dab, blend, and keep it moving scenario.
CHECK OUT THE DIFFERENCE:
This series of photos show the difference with no makeup, just the concealer, and the concealer and tinted moisturizer together.
*No Photoshop skin correction used in any of these.
YOUR SKIN WILL STILL LOOK NATURAL
The red bumps virtually disappear and my skin tone evens out using both the Stryx Concealer and Tinted Moisturizer. The best part is it doesn’t look like I’m wearing anything at all, any makeup that is.
I don’t always use the tinted moisturizer. I save it for the times when my skin is particularly a mess and I need to blend the different colors going on. It covers more ground, moisturizes, and helps even everything out. The formula also has some salicylic acid to help fight some acne too.
A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY
With the concealer tool, I use only a few light dabs per spot to get product on and then blend.
When I use the tinted moisturizer, it’s about a dime size or less to get the coverage I need.
STRYX LASTS AND IS KIND TO SKIN
My skin gets oily quickly and I’ve noticed that it stays on throughout the day without being noticeable and more importantly without
irritating it. I was hypersensitive at first to look like I caked on a whole face of makeup and induce more bumps while using it. So far, I have experienced all day coverage without those negative side effects.
YOU’RE NOT CHAINED TO A MAKEUP ROUTINE
What I love most is that I’m not chained to a makeup routine. I get to choose when I need the concealer or tinted moisturizer and they covertly help me out. It’s like having a couple of James Bond gadgets at my disposal. Not to mention that I bet he would wear Stryx too.
CAN STRYX MAKEUP BUILD CONFIDENCE?
The last thing I want to touch on with Stryx is confidence. It’s easy to toe the line between a confidence booster and completely changing the way you look when it comes to makeup.
What I’ve enjoyed about using Stryx is that I’m not losing myself.
I FEEL LIKE THE BEST VERSION OF ME WITH STRYX
It’s hard to “make up” for the lost confidence from that huge zit or obvious razor burn on your own. On nights I’ve gone out with something like that, I can remember that little spot on my face consuming my thoughts.
I’d love to say that we should just embrace our skin as it is! But, it’s like going out with a stain on your shirt, you’d probably change to put your best foot forward.
WHY NOT BOOST YOUR CONFIDENCE WITH SOME SIMPLE MAKEUP TOOLS?
Especially since quite a bit of my time is now spent in front of a camera, I want to show up to shoots or events looking fresh without having the thought of a zit gnawing at my brain.
Think of this just like your nicest shoes or best fitting jeans that you wear when you want to feel confident. Stryx is doing the same thing for your face!
MAKE UP YOUR MIND ON STRYX MAKEUP
My verdict: If you need that confidence boost and have had the same conversation with yourself in the morning that I have, try it out.
There’s nothing to worry about. I’ve never had anyone stop me in my tracks, point at me with a disgusted look on their face and call me out for wearing makeup. More than half of men in the U.S. are already using makeup. It won’t negatively impact who you are as a person. If anything, it’ll help you feel like your best self.
Stryx is making it so easy to hop on board by approaching the men’s makeup market in the right way, designing products specifically formulated for us, and keeping them discrete and simple to use. I’ve enjoyed testing them and will be ordering refills soon.
SO I’LL ASK YOU AGAIN, WOULD YOU USE MEN’S MAKEUP?
If you’re interested in trying the Stryx Starter Kit for yourself, which includes the Concealer and Tinted Moisturizer it’s linked here and through out the blog post. You can use code “TB15” for a 15% discount as well!
UNTIL NEXT TIME!
As always, thank you for reading along. I hope this helps you decide if men’s makeup is right for you. Be sure to check out Stryx. If you enjoyed reading today, like, comment, and subscribe to the blog to keep up with new blog posts and monthly newsletters.
Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission for purchases made through my links.
Stay tuned for the next Style Breakdown!
Cheers,
David Komisarchik; Threadability (@threadability)
Tagged: makeup, men's makeup, men's cosmetics, cosmetics for men, stryx review, stryx concealer, stryx moisturizer, stryx makeup, menswear, menswear blog, mensstyle