Brad Pitt’s La Domaine has descended upon the scene — fashioned with the idea of acquainting the masses with a genderless approach to skincare. Travis Barker has been said to have undergone a Kardashianization on the other hand — his foray into skincare informing much of this week’s headlines. Surprise, surprise. Momager Kris, I see you.
Pitt’s launch — just shy of Barker’s announcement on Instagram — has been years and years in the making. Obviously — both have amassed a set of detractors and subscribers over the past week — with some on the ‘gram asserting that they’re simply tapping into the cash-cow that is the beauty industry, and others commending them for promoting skincare as gender-neutral and inclusive. The Internet is a behemoth of controversies at the moment, and it’s all a little conflicting.
Before we deliver a verdict of any kind, some of our all-time-favourite male celebrities have launched their own star-studded brands in the past too. Here’s a look at each one of them, along with Pitt’s and Barker’s, and why they’re so sought after.
Your Favourite Rapper Is Probably Launching Their Own Beauty Brand Soon
Travis Barker
Travis Barker recently commemorated on Instagram an extension of already-existing Barker Wellness Co. — adding to a line-up of pain-relief gummies and tinctures, balms, and bath-soaks a total of five newly-launched, skin-exclusive products. This launch includes an eye-serum, cleanser-cum-face-mask, balm, moisturiser, and face-serum — all vegan, non-comedogenic, natural, CBD-infused (cannabinoid), and, honestly, exorbitantly expensive. The Internet is abounding with criticisms of his foray into skincare ever since — with detractors claiming that the move is unauthentic to his personality and brand, and fans claiming that Barker’s undergone a ‘Kardashianization’ of sorts — that a move into beauty should have warranted a line-up of hand-creams and treatments for tattoos instead. But Barker is determined to destigmatise cannabis, and prove to the world that cannabinoids are beneficial for the skin and body. Only time will tell.
Brad Pitt
Though Brad has chosen not to front Le Domaine explicitly, his involvement with the brand has been anything but minimal. His products are turbo-charged with antioxidant-laden grapes, and enriched with the concept of sustainability. Pitt’s line-up is centred around luscious, moisture-powered creams and serums that are contained in delicate glass-jars and bottles. Again — each product, vegan and natural, is inordinately priced, and for a celebrity with no experience in dermatology, many have begun to regard the launch with skepticism.
Harry Styles
Harry is a distinguished proponent of gender-fluidity and gender-neutrality — always has been. The singer-songwriter’s proclivity for self-expression is reflected not just in his below-the-neck sartorial choices. It’s made evident by his over-the-top lacquers too — embellished with drawn-on smileys and multi-coloured candy-cane-like nails. Styles launched Pleasing last year — while the brand is underscored by two skin-related products, it displays a sprawling collection of 12-free, biodegradable, plant-based nail-paints. They’re iridescent, sheer, shimmer-laden, and packaged very aesthetically — and with stickers.
Machine Gun Kelly
Machine Gun Kelly has debuted many a manicures in the past — some even fashioned alongside fiancé Megan Fox. The American rapper has always regarded his nails as ten small-size canvases to embellish with colour. Just a couple of months ago, he launched his own line-up of ten cruelty-free, non-toxic, clean, and vegan nail-polishes — dubbed UN/DN LAQR. The point of the launch was to normalise glamourising the lacquers regardless of gender or age — because, hey, self-expression is not informed by any of these factors. But his range is dissimilar to Styles in that the products aren’t sheer or barely-there — they’re graphic, evocative, poppy, and conspicuous. Each has been identified with a unique name, and one has even been likened to the smell of weed.
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams’ Humanrace endeavors to satisfy the fundamentals of any regimen — complete with a three-step facial composed of a rice-water-based cleanser, a Glycolic Acid-infused, exfoliator, and a water-light moisturiser. Williams has cultivated his love for skincare by consulting with models on the kind of products they employ into their routines, and committing to one dermatologist for all of his skin-related needs and concerns. All of his products are vegan and fragrance-free, and they’re bottle in bright-green, recyclable containers.
What do you think of these brands?
Featured Image: Instagram
