MikeLigalig.com

By PNA

Majority or 91 percent of Filipinos admit that looks are indeed important to them, although a smaller proportion or 38 percent would consider themselves sexy, an AsiaBus market survey by a leading global market intelligence company Synovate said.

The AsiaBus Synovate survey was conducted by October 2008, but was released only recently. The survey was conducted to get insights on the Filipino’s perceptions on male vanity. Interviews were conducted via house-to-house personal interviews among a representative sample of 1,000 consumers aged 15-64 years and residing in Metro Manila.

With data like these, it comes as no surprise that men are now less likely to gauge their masculinity based on their use or non-use of beauty products.

Majority (70%) disagreed with the contention men who use beauty products are not as masculine as men who do not. Also, 66% disagreed with the statement that men are made fun of if they spend too much time on their appearance.

Based on the results of the survey, the absolute requirement before any man can be described as good looking or handsome is good hygiene and fresh breath. This criterion was selected by both men (52%) and women (67%). Conversely, body odor and bad breath are the hygiene conditions which men and women find least acceptable in men.

In addition, virtually all men and women interviewed said that they preferred the look of a clean shaven face on a man.

Meanwhile, asked if a man’s appearance improved with age, only 35% of both the male and female population agreed.

Still, while the majority has come to accept that the use of beauty products does not make one any less of a man, Filipino males’ use of these products is still limited to a select few. Not surprisingly, the products which have more widespread usage are those which enhance the “look good-smell good” proposition.

The commonly used products are perfumes and colognes (81%), deodorants (79%), mouthwash (57%), hair conditioners (53%), hair spray and hair gels (47%).

While a relatively smaller number have admitted to the use of products such as facial moisturizers (12%), lip balms (11%), oil control films (9%), facial masks (7%), and pore packs (3%), it cannot be denied that these have found their way into the repertoire of men’s grooming aids.

Still, not very many men are willing to be caught with these products when they go out. Only 26% admitted to bringing their grooming products outside the home; the majority prefer to keep the battle for vanity limited to the home front.

For whom are the Filipino men of today making an effort to look good? 72% of Filipinos say that they try to look good for themselves, while 24% say that they try to please their partners. Women seem to agree. For them, men should look good to please themselves (62%) more than their partners/potential partners (34%.)

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