A Scientist’s Take

Greetings skin microbiome enthusiasts,

As a microbial formulation scientist, I usually think in terms of bacteria, formulation, skin health, and the microbiome. But when I launched my skincare line, I realized there was another question I hadn’t fully considered:

👉 Why don’t men use skincare?

Recently, I asked this question on LinkedIn. To my surprise, it sparked one of the liveliest conversations I’ve had online—nearly 2,000 people reached, 14 thoughtful comments, and plenty of insights that made me pause and rethink.

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My Own Skincare Development Story

When I first started developing these products, I was actually clueless about how much the market pushes skincare almost exclusively toward women. My test panel wasn’t a group of beauty editors or influencers—it was my family.

• My 10-year-old daughter (at the time) gave feedback on texture and feel.
• My 15-year-old son was brutally honest about how he will use it only if it helps with his acne.
• And my husband—who had never used skincare, and usually dismissed products as “too oily,” “smells bad,” or “I don’t want anything on my skin.”

For years, I had to trick my husband into using skincare in general. But when it came to my prototypes, he was surprisingly open. That’s when I made myself a promise: if it wins his approval, it will work for everyone.

At that point, my development process was running at about 67% male voices and 33% female. I was convinced that balance would make the product universal.

But when I launched, reality set in. The majority of my customers were women. Even with teenagers and acne-prone skin, it was moms making the decisions—you rarely hear a dad’s name in the skincare journey. Six months in, I suddenly realized: wait a minute… where are the men?

That’s when a conversation with my friend Paul sparked even more curiosity. Surrounded by a network heavy in BioAg and biotech (mostly men), I decided to take the question directly to my male colleagues and LinkedIn network.

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What the LinkedIn Conversation Revealed

Here’s what stood out from the discussion:

• Culture and conditioning. Men are often raised to think skincare is feminine or unnecessary.
• Perception of need. For many men, skincare feels like a “nice-to-have,” not a “need-to-have.”
• Health vs. beauty. Men are more likely to use skincare if it’s framed around comfort, hydration, or sun protection—not beauty.
• Women as gatekeepers. Partners often buy skincare for men, who then use it without as much” resistance.
• Marketing gaps. The market simply isn’t talking to men—most packaging, ads, and language are tailored to women.

One comment summed it up perfectly: “The market is just not talking to us.”

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The Microbiome Perspective

From a scientific lens, it makes sense. Men’s skin is generally oilier than women’s because testosterone boosts sebum production. But oil does not equal hydration.

Skin hydration depends on water content in the barrier, and oily skin can still be dehydrated. Shaving, hard water, and outdoor exposure only add to barrier stress. That’s exactly where microbiome-based skincare can help—balancing, protecting, and deeply hydrating without the heaviness or fragrance men dislike.

And here’s an important nuance: research shows that men and women do not share identical skin microbiomes. Men often harbor higher levels of Corynebacterium and Staphylococcus at sebaceous sites, while women may show higher overall bacterial diversity or different enrichment patterns depending on the skin site. In other words, the microbiome isn’t gender-blind—it’s shaped by hormones, sebum, and life stage.

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What This Means for Fafabiotic

Our products come in pink and blue—not because we set out to make them gendered, but unintentionally, they’ve become a “her & him” pair.

• The pink lotion has become a favorite among women who want a one-step product for wrinkles, pigmentation, light hydration, and acne.
• The blue lotion delivers deep hydration—exactly what men’s skin, despite being oily, often lacks.

After this experiment, I’m seriously considering rebranding them as a for her / for him duo.

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The Bigger Picture

The skin microbiome reflects biology, hormones, and lifestyle—and yes, that means men and women often have different microbial balances. But the bigger truth is this: everyone’s skin needs care, protection, and hydration.

If color cues, partner influence, or reframed messaging help men feel included, maybe that’s how we start shifting perception. Because at the end of the day, skincare isn’t about beauty—it’s about skin health.

And healthy skin? That’s for everyone.

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So, what do you think? Would a microbiome-powered “her & him” skincare duo resonate with you—or with the men in your life?

Until Next blog, Cheers