BySukant Deepak

February 7, 2022 (IANSlife) With over 3.4 million Trell followers, this 24-year-old Chennai-based beauty content creator creates 3-minute vertical videos in Tamil about make-up tips and hacks that are completely gender-neutral. As a make-up enthusiast, he would like to see more men be open about confidently using make-up and skincare products. Traditionally, men have contributed only a small portion of the $532 billion global beauty industry. However, he believes that rising skincare awareness is eroding the gap between male and female beauty shoppers.

He tells IANS, "With time, self-care has also become gender-inclusive." He emphasises that the newer generation has brought self-care into the mainstream and that the concept of self-love and self-care are now widely accepted, compared to how it was a couple of years ago. Men wearing make-up or using beauty products was previously unheard of because men were expected to conform to societal stereotypes of masculinity. This is no longer always the case."

He also adds that the growth of social media in recent years has allowed male content creators to share their creative expression with large communities, which has been instrumental in breaking down long-held stereotypes of make-up and beauty being a "girls-only" industry.

"I'd say the trend has picked up in the last 4 to 5 years, but it's become very visible in the last 2-3 years." "There is no doubt that the pandemic has accelerated self-care," he says.

Peterson, who has a fashion degree, says he has always "loved" being in front of the camera and is passionate about makeup and skincare. "Content creation has enabled me to pursue my passion for photography and make-up and turn it into a career." After finishing my studies, I began posting makeup hacks on social media. When it comes to beauty, there are many factors that affect both men and women. As a result, I make every effort to create content that shares gender-neutral tips and tricks that benefit everyone. My work grew in popularity over time, and I was able to create a large community."

He acknowledges that, unlike men in major cities, most men in small-town India may be uncomfortable talking about skincare and other topics, which he attributes to a lack of exposure. "Yes, the latter is likely to say, 'We are men.'" We don't need to do all of this; it's just for the ladies."

When asked why he decided to create content in Tamil, he says there are a lot of people who want to see what he's doing but can't because of the language barrier. "Trell has been able to address this by encouraging creators to share content across regional languages." "I personally believe that by creating content that speaks to all audiences now, I have bridged that gap."

If you ask him for skin care advice, he'll gladly give it to you, pointing out that sunscreen and lip balm are two essentials that most men overlook. " Sunscreen is an absolute must. The results may not be visible right away, but as you get older, you'll notice how wearing sunscreen every day helps your skin age gracefully. Lip balm is also extremely important. I've noticed that many men avoid it because they believe it's only for women. It is just as important to keep your lips moisturised as it is to keep your skin moisturised. And, yes, consistency is required to achieve the best results."

Peterson's family and friends are fine with the type of content he produces. "I am fortunate in that the people around me have always been supportive."

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Sukant Deepak can be contacted at sukant.d@ians.in