What category redefining brands can learn from the success of men's War Paint makeup

That brand is War Paint and last week you would be hard pressed to miss the media stir this caused when John Lewis announced, following a successful pilot, it was permanently stocking the product in its Oxford Street flagship store. It’s a skincare and makeup range for men who want to improve their looks without it being obvious. Danny Gray, the brand’s founder, caused a stir when he won £70,000 funding from Dragon’s Den investors.

Men have been wearing makeup for decades, so why is this taking off now?

For one thing, it’s a smart concept and it’s been well executed. Instead of being pure play makeup, War Paint makes products that combine skincare with cosmetic benefit.

The packaging and the brand name cleverly tread the line between being disruptive and challenging masculinity in the long run. Both enhance its power to be a ‘gateway’ product for men who’d like to give their looks a boost but would never have considered using makeup in the past.

It also feels like a great deal of consideration has been given to the War Paint customer journey – nice touches such as ‘how to’ videos or the offer of a full refund if you don’t get the right shade first time. I particularly like that the branding materials are refreshingly free of the stereotypical nonsense that pervades so much of men’s grooming product marketing.

Danny has bravely talked about his own issues with body dysmorphic disorder and how he created War Paint because he never felt comfortable buying makeup. In telling his story, he’s given War Paint authenticity and purpose, and is building a connection with other men who live with severe insecurity about their looks. And impressively, even though it’s still a fledgling brand, they’ve already made a clear commitment to the charity CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) by dedicating a portion of their revenue to the organisation.

So where will Danny take the brand next?

As men navigate the Instagram world, there seems to be a schism growing between the idea of making the most of ourselves and the idea that we should be comfortable in our own skin. Daniel can give War Paint ownership of conversations like this and argue that his brand isn’t about vanity, it’s about confidence. As we enter a new decade where inclusion is everything, surely this can only be a good thing.

It’s exciting to see a new brand breaking through in a sector that’s historically a bit taboo. How far War Paint can transform the male grooming market remains to be seen but I, for one, am grateful for the noise it has created. The brand is breaking down barriers on stereotypes and that's something we could all do with more exposure to.

Chris Freeland, chief executive at RAPP.