Inside the Philosophy of Men From Mars

Hinton Magazine
2 hours ago
5 min read

In a market that thrives on volume, exaggeration and endless reinvention, Men From Mars has chosen a different route. Founded by Aaron and Jason, the brand feels less like a response to trends and more like a considered correction to them. There is no shouting for attention, no exaggerated promises, no attempt to tell men who they should be. Instead, Men From Mars operates with a rare sense of restraint, built on clarity, trust and a belief that men deserve to be spoken to with intelligence.

What follows is a conversation rooted in that philosophy. The interview sits at the heart of this article, unchanged and unfiltered, allowing the founders’ thinking to speak for itself. Together, their answers reveal a brand shaped not by hype, but by discipline, patience and a quietly progressive understanding of modern masculinity.

Men from Mars doesn’t feel like a brand that was built to chase trends. Take us back to the beginning. What was missing in men’s self-care when you started, and what personal frustration or experience made you feel this brand had to exist?

We felt there was a lack of honesty and balance in men’s self-care. The space was dominated by either aggressive messaging or overcomplication, with little consideration for how men actually engage. Our frustration came from wanting simple, effective routines that weren’t buried under gimmicks. Men From Mars was built to offer clarity, trust and respect for men’s intelligence and time.

The men’s grooming industry is crowded, loud and often driven by gimmicks. When you strip it all back, what do you believe men genuinely want from self-care today, and how did that belief shape the foundations of Men from Mars?

Men want simplicity, results and understanding. They want to know what works, why it works and how it fits into daily life. That belief shaped our foundations completely. We removed excess, avoided noise and focused on purpose. Every product, message and decision had to earn its place and provide genuine value without complication.

Your products emphasise clarity, science and ease rather than over complication. Was that a creative decision, a commercial one, or a philosophical stance on how men should be spoken to in this space?

It was a philosophical decision first. We believe men should be spoken to with respect, not persuasion. Science is there to reassure, not impress. Ease is about intelligent design, not shortcuts. Creativity and commercial success followed naturally once we committed to clarity, transparency and a calm, confident way of communicating.

At the core of Men From Mars is a rejection of performance culture. There is no sense of skincare as spectacle, no pressure to transform overnight. Instead, the brand positions grooming as something quieter and more personal, an idea that becomes increasingly clear as the conversation turns toward confidence.

Confidence is a recurring theme in your messaging. Do you see self-care as a surface level routine, or something more psychological and emotional for men? How do you think grooming intersects with confidence, identity and self perception?

For us, self-care has never been just about appearance. Grooming is one of the few daily moments men have entirely to themselves., it creates routine and self-confidence. Confidence comes from understanding, not perfection. Over time, grooming becomes part of how men show up for themselves.

This emphasis on understanding rather than perfection continues into formulation, where Men From Mars distances itself from the industry’s obsession with bold claims and marketing-led science.

Let’s talk formulation. In a market full of bold claims, how do you balance scientific credibility with accessibility, and what does ‘doing it properly’ actually mean to you when developing a product?

To us, doing it properly means being disciplined and taking no shortcuts. We let evidence lead and prioritise performance over positioning. We choose proven ingredients and informed research, then translate the science into something easy to understand. Accessibility isn’t about dumbing things down, it’s about being open and honest. Our claims are always data led.

Education, for Men From Mars, is not about instruction or correction. It is about creating space.

Many men still see skincare as optional or intimidating. What internal conversations did you have about removing barriers without dumbing things down, and how do you educate without preaching?

The key conversation was about tone. Men don’t respond well to judgement or instruction. We focus on invitation rather than obligation. Education should feel supportive and optional, not corrective. By simplifying the conversation, skincare becomes a practical tool rather than an intimidating commitment.

That discipline extends behind the scenes as well, shaping how Aaron and Jason operate as founders.

As founders, how involved are you in the product development process today? Are there moments where personal taste clashes with data or testing, and how do you decide which voice wins?

We remain closely involved at every stage. Personal experience often sparks ideas, but data always leads decisions. When taste and feedback clash, evidence wins. That discipline protects the brand from ego and ensures the products actually serve our customers. We believe our role is to guide, not override what the results clearly show.

The conversation around masculinity has shifted significantly in recent years. How has that influenced your approach to branding, tone and the way Men from Mars positions itself culturally, not just commercially?

Masculinity today is broader and more self aware. We have made sure to reflect that by avoiding extremes and stereotypes. Our branding and tone are steady, inclusive and confident, focused on authenticity and clarity. Men From Mars doesn’t tell men who to be, it supports them in understanding themselves on their own terms.

Every brand reaches moments of doubt or recalibration. Was there a point where you questioned the direction of Men from Mars, and what did that moment teach you about the business or yourselves as founders?

There were moments where external issues challenged our decision making. Those moments clarified our non-negotiables. We learned that patience and consistency build credibility far more effectively than chasing momentum. Staying aligned with our values gave the brand room to grow naturally and with confidence.

Looking at the wider industry, where do you think men’s self-care is heading over the next five years? What do you think brands are still getting wrong, and where do you see Men from Mars sitting within that future?

Men’s self-care will become more data led, personalised and normalised. What many brands still get wrong is confusing visibility with value. Loudness isn’t leadership. We see Men From Mars as a steady, trusted presence in that future, quietly raising standards rather than competing for attention.

Finally, when someone uses Men from Mars every day, what do you hope it quietly gives them beyond better skin? If the brand disappeared tomorrow, what impact would you want it to have left behind?

We hope it gives a sense of calm confidence and capable care. Understanding, that taking care of yourself doesn’t need to be complicated or performative, just intentional. If our brand disappeared tomorrow, we’d want it to have shifted expectations and shown that men’s self-care can be intelligent, inclusive and quietly powerful.