Jack Parr, recently crowned Top Model UK 2015 and current Mr British Empire says 'People look at someone like Beckham and think how does he look like that at that age? Oh he wears moisturiser better get some of that on'. Thanks to superstars like the man himself David Beckham, boyband One Direction, actor Jude Law and a generation of selfie takers men have come to realise that looking good is not only for women. The male grooming industry has boomed in the last few years. At the end of 2014 the sales of men’s skin care products was worth £25m in the UK, having grown by more than 4% the year before. Areas such as Liverpool, Manchester, Essex and London have taken charge of the phenomenon with male only salon and skin care products popping up to cater to everyone's needs from hair removal to pedicures

In our new social media dominated world were a relationship, love, date or sex comes at the swipe of a photograph, men have learnt that not looking good could cost the possibility of finding their next partner. It's not only wellbeing products like moisturiser that are on the up it's the old male taboo products like concealer and guy liner that is seeing a massive increase. The last time the world saw make up and men come together, Dale Winton's orange face was all over our television screens. It's now less about the Bowie-esque sparkles or heavy gothic guy liner but more about using the subtler products and treatments that millions of women use on a regular basis. Deeply manly male celebrities such as Johnny Depp and Bradley Cooper have been photographed with but of the old slap on. Rumour has it Harry Styles is partial to a bit of lipstick, sporting it at the bands film premier back in 2013. It's not just the celebrities getting in on the action. Superstore Debenhams reported that men spent 24% more on grooming products than in the same period last year. 'It used to be seen as a negative for men to wear make-up but it's now being promoted you see it in shops male make-up, male foundation, it's seen as an okay thing to wear now' says Jack. Even major male designers such as Tom Ford and Marc Jacobs launched their own male skin care products back 2013 due to the rapid growth of the male skin care market. Not all products have succeeded. Back in 2008 Superdrug launched TaxiMan but many felt the world was not ready for it with it since being withdrawn from shops. Now in 2015 the majority of 18-55 year olds are happy to describe themselves as 'metrosexual'.

Although some feel it wasn’t a boom as such but more just the male mind taking inspiration from other types of celebrities. Jessica Punter grooming editor of GQ said "When I began covering grooming in 2006, we were still at the stage of trying to convince men to even moisturise – let alone pay for facials or manicures." She feels the sudden interest in male grooming is less about insecurities than it is about new standards of beauty, " I am pretty sure male hair removal is influenced by the porn industry and I don't think this is necessarily about a conscious insecurity, just what men perceive as the new normal,". Jack though feels that the 'boom' is down to male insecurities. He feels that because "the male model industry image has increased in recent years and it has put pressure on the so called normal day to day life male. Males are pressured now in keeping their skin clear and spending time on their hair it's now a normal thing spend 45 minutes doing your hair". The fact of the matter is men have now caught up with women when it comes to insecurities. Men strive for the perfect body or look now. I study conducted by the YMCA revealed that 38% of men questioned said that they would sacrifice a year of their life if it meant that they could have the perfect body. Whether it is down to insecurities or a sudden realisation that men just want to take care of themselves, one thing is for sure, the male grooming industry still has its stabilisers on. With the success on Tom Fords and Marc Jacobs products its set that male spending on grooming products will possibly equal that of women's in the next five to ten years. At the end of the day it’s your face, why wouldn’t you want it to look good? Here is my interview with recently crowned Top Model UK and currently Mr British Empire Jack Parr.