Gender-Related Cost Discrepancies in a Cohort of 110 Facial Moisturizers

In a study examining gender-related price discrepancies among facial moisturizers, 110 products were analyzed from three online retailers (Amazon, Target, and Walmart) in October 2018. The products were categorized as men's, women's, or gender-neutral based on marketing language, container color/graphics, and container shape. It was found that 87% of men's facial moisturizers explicitly included "men" in the marketing language, while only 5.4% of women's products were labeled "for women." No significant difference was observed in the amount of product per bottle or in the number of products with specific marketing claims (fragrance-free, SPF-containing, anti-aging, sensitive, hypoallergenic, or dermatologist recommended) between the two groups. However, the study revealed a significant cost difference, with women's facial moisturizers costing on average $3.09 more per ounce than men's ($9.29/ounce for women versus $6.20/ounce for men, P = 0.013). This suggests that women pay significantly more for facial moisturizers than men, a finding consistent with previous research on gender pricing disparities in dermatologic products.