Out of face cream? Try your hubby's

Kim Read of Delaware claims that once a woman tries out a men's moisturizer or face wash, she won't go back to women's products.

It happened to her. Read worked as a sales representative for Zirh men's skin-care products. One day, she decided to try out the men's facial scrub she marketed.

"My intention was to try it just once," she said. "But I never went back to using a woman's scrub." It was the same story with the moisturizer and night cream.

It's a well-kept secret in the beauty industry that many women swear by men's products. Some women believe men's products work better, because they're designed to work on men's more resistant skin.

"Men's products are stronger. Men have tougher skin, so men's products are designed to be more penetrative," Read said. "Women's products also have unnecessary fragrances added in that reduce the quality of the product."

But New York dermatologist Debra Jaliman says most companies have the same ingredients in their men's and women's skin-care products.

"The men's products are packaged differently to cater to the men's niche market. The fact that these products are stronger is just a perception. Most skin-care products are unisex," Jaliman said.

"We welcome women consumers who have gotten wise to the 'hidden gems' in our line," said Anthony Sosnick, chief executive of Anthony Logistics, a men's skin-care line.

He said men's grooming products are focused on shaving -- a regimen that has requirements such as prepping coarse beard hairs and soothing skin after a shave.

Using men's products can be more cost-effective, too.

"I spent $24 on a men's scrub that lasts me for around six months," Read said. "A good woman's scrub would cost double the money for the same quantity."

Risi-Leanne Baranja, of the Palacinka Beauty Blog, enjoys using products such as Kiehl's Facial Fuel moisturizer and Facial Fuel Energizing Face Wash for their fragrance. She said many women use men's products because it makes them smell different from other women.

She added, "Also, men's products are used by women who just really enjoy the scent that the man in their life wears and want that smell on them."

Other products Baranja recommended include Clinique Cream Shave, Clinique Non-Streak Bronzer and Clinique Maximum Hydrator, Nivea for Men-Platinum Protect Deodorizing 2 in 1 Hair + Body Wash and Nivea for Men-Sensitive Gel Moisturizer.

Another favorite men's product used by women is under-eye cream.

Singapore-based Sesame Chew, who writes a popular beauty blog called Viva Woman, said, "Men's eye products might work better because men are more prone to puffiness around the eye area. So the active ingredients included are maybe stronger and more effective."

Many women use men's products for an intensive cleaning experience.

She likes men's products by Jack Black and Peter Thomas Roth.

"I use men's products when I want to go hard-core," Lundy said. "They work best for me on weeks when I've been wearing heavy makeup. Then I'll probably use a men's scrub on a Friday night, when I want to feel squeaky clean."

Lauren Sundick, a dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology in New York, said men's products are safe for use by women.