The Boys in Beauty: What Working in the Industry Has Taught 6 Men at L'Oréal

Marc Toulemonde, Group President Active Cosmetics Division

22 years in the beauty industry 

Before joining the industry, Toulemonde admitted to only using shampoo. After 22 years of experience working with some of the best brands in the business, he now reaches for nearly 15 different products each day. “I use about six in the morning, four at night, and I always try at least three new or competitive products a day,” he says. “I am open to everything, but use all unisex skin care. Right now the only product I use targeted for men is a styling wax.”

Toulemonde is not only a resource for his team, he’s also the go-to for many of the ladies in his life. “My wife’s friends believe I am a dermatologist and are always asking for advice on at-home products and in-office services,” he shares. “The woman who cleans our home thought my wife had the most beauty products she had ever seen! It took her five months to realize all the products on the left side of the vanity were mine and the right were my wife’s.”

For men and women, Toulemonde’s best piece of skin care advice is to start young. “Use good skincare and start early,” he urges. “Do not be afraid because it pays off in the long run. I have beautiful skin. I have been taking care of my skin since I was 20 and use a lot of product. My core products are backed by science and when I look in the mirror I see the results.” Interested in his daily routine? He gave us a sneak peek!

A.M. Routine: Shave with CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser. Wash with SkinCeuticals Simply Clean. Apply SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic for antioxidants, SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 for extra moisture, and La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios AOX. "I also add CeraVe Healing Ointment and Moisturizing Cream when the weather is dry and cold."

P.M. Routine: Wash with SkinCeuticals Simply Clean. Apply La Roche-Posay Mela-D Pigment Control. Correct with SkinCeuticals Retinol 1.0%. Hydrate with Vichy’s Mineral 89.

John Reed, General Manager, USA & DMI, CeraVe Skincare

8 years in the beauty industry

After his eight years in the industry, Reed admits that he’s become more concerned with the formulas themselves when it comes to skin care products. “[I’ve] become more interested in dermatologist-developed products with effective ingredients, without fragrance and other allergens,” he says. As far as using men’s products specifically, the only male specific products he uses are deodorant and cologne.

Reed shares that the tricks that he’s learned through working in the beauty industry involve a little skin care mixology. “[I mix] retinol serum with my daily face lotion and nightly face lotion.” Another tip? Swapping out shaving cream for a hydrating cleanser when he needs to shave.

His top skin care concerns mirror those of many of us: fine lines and wrinkles, dryness, keratosis pilaris (KP) on his arms. Which is likely why his best piece of beauty advice is to use CeraVe, a brand known for its hydrating moisturizers.

His other piece of advice? “Use SPF. Every day, all day.”

We wholeheartedly concur.

Andrew Jeon, Assistant Marketing Manager, SkinCeuticals

3.5 years in the beauty industry

Jeon says that prior to joining the beauty industry his routine was very—very—barebones. “I was the stereotypical man in the college dorm room restrooms that was using a bar of soap to wash my face,” he shares. “Now that I am educated on what is available to help counter all the damage I’ve done to my skin for the past few years, I am open to trying new products and even procedures.”

One of Jeon’s best skin care tips? See a dermatologist. “Why would you trust your skin to anyone else?” he asks. “I have learned many important tricks, but the main one I want to emphasize is that seeing a dermatologist is the best chance of treating skin conditions.”

When it comes to products, Jeon isn’t one to pick up only male-marketed skin care to deal with his top skin concerns which he lists as enlarged pores, hyperpigmentation, and uneven skin tone. “I am comfortable purchasing a product whether it’s pink or black.” But he does wish he started purchasing them earlier.

“When I first started at SkinCeuticals,” he shares, “I went under our SkinScope LED—which is a portable, full-face diagnostic tool. While some skin concerns and imperfections are visible in everyday light, some are only visible under UV light, which highlights damage beneath the skin’s surface by detecting skin’s fluorescence. It really put into perspective how much underlying sun damage I had accumulated from spending countless summers by the beach and pool without SPF protection.”

Which leads to his best piece of beauty advice: “Wear SPF. Every single day. No matter what!” he says. “Even if you are not planning to be outside, there are tons of other skin aggressors that are damaging your skin that you can’t see—blue light from your mobile phone and computer screen, atmospheric ground level pollutants in the air, and so on.” For this, be sure to pair an antioxidant under your go-to SPF each day.

Ryan Charchian, Assistant Manager, Community, Social Media & Influencers, Dermablend

1 year in the beauty industry

While Charchian may only have one year in the industry, his obsession with skin care started back in high school. “I used to do a YouTube series called Mansome Mondays on my Channel,” he shares. However, being in the industry, even for a short time, has already taught him so much. “Working in the beauty industry has made me appreciate the products more, because I understand how they are made and how much research and development goes into each one. Because of this, I am more open to trying new products, because I understand the ingredients and what they’ll do.”

Ever wish you knew a trick to beat blackheads? Charchian has one: “The head of education for the brand I work on, Rachel Short, told me all about blackheads and a quick solve to get rid of them. Just put a tiny amount of benzoyl peroxide-based product on the area and it will force oxygen into the pore and clean it out.”

His skin care concerns include dry skin and redness so figuring out how to alleviate these things is key. “I have eczema and sensitive skin,” he shares. “So I’m always looking to keep my skin hydrated and not looking red. Now, I understand my skin so much better than when I first started. I used products that were too harsh and I’m still trying to repair the damage I’ve caused.”

Charchian’s best beauty advice is to watch your diet. “You are what you eat,” he says, “A lot of skin concerns can be solved by cleaning up your diet.”

Richard Manso, VP, Digital Marketing, Ecommerce & CRM, Active Cosmetics Division

Over 7.5 years in the beauty industry

Manso’s first taste of the beauty industry was during his time at a digital agency working with Maybelline. Now, after more than 7.5 years working at L’Oréal, his palette has expanded. “Once I joined L’Oréal, I was exposed to a whole new way of grooming and skin care for men, due to all of the educational content at my disposal,” he shares.

Prior to joining the industry, Manso had a trusted routine. “Even before working in beauty I was always very aware of the products I put on my skin and in my hair,” he says. “There was a small batch of products that I became comfortable with in my early 20s and I basically stuck to these same products through my early 30s since I trusted them. I think that’s how most young men operate.”

During that time, Manso only used products marketed to men, but since has realized that the formulas matter way more the the packaging. “Now I focus more on the ingredients and whether it addresses a skin concern of mine,” he shares. “If women happen to be the target demo for the advertising, so be it.”

His top skin concern is dryness—especially in the colder months—which is likely why his trick is to embrace ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides. “[They] can be your best friends once you get to know them,” Manso says.

His other beauty tip? “Beards aren’t for everyone. Some guys make it work effortlessly. On other guys, it just doesn’t work,” he says. “I admit, I’m part of that latter group.”

Aleksander Posavec, Director of Marketing, Active Cosmetics Division

More than 10 years in the beauty industry

While Posavec has more than 10 years in the industry, his first foray into beauty came during department store visits with his grandmother. “I was always interested in beauty and developed my care regimen early,” he shares. “I remember my grandmother taking me to the department store and explaining the products.”

“For me, beauty is something as essential as taking a shower or brushing your teeth,” he says. “Being in the industry makes you try more products and I really value when I find something new that works.”

Over the course of 10 years, Posavec has learned a thing or two when it comes to tips and tricks. “I believe that the product is important but, you can definitely enhance the results with the right way of applying it,” he says. “People buy more products but then don’t know how to layer them. It is important to understand if it’s oil in water or water in oil. If you apply a product that leaves an oily film, the water-based product you applied on top will never penetrate the skin.”

When asked if he only uses products geared toward men, Posavec scoffed. “No! That would be no fun!” he said. “I try everything, being curious makes you keep going in our business. There are definitely difference between male and female skin, but it is up to you to find the perfect fit for your individual needs.”

As far as his skin care concerns, Posavec shares that “there is a new one every day.” But to name a few, he lists aging skin, eye bags, and hair loss. But when it comes to a skin care routine for these concerns, he admits that he often changes things up. “My routine today wouldn’t be the right one for my skin five or ten years ago,” he says. “Skin also changes by season, people often forget that.”

But, regardless of switching things up based on season and skin concerns, whenever you do find something that works, Posavec’s best piece of advice is to be consistent. “There is a reason why it is called a routine.”