Yes, couples and housemates can absolutely share one skincare routine, as long as the formulas are genuinely skin-inclusive rather than marketed to one gender. Hunter Lab, now available at Hairhouse, was built around exactly that idea: performance-driven, natural formulations designed to work for any skin type, so there's no need for a "his" and "hers" version of the same moisturiser. For anyone tired of double-buying skincare, it's a genuinely shared solution rather than a compromise.
By Emma, Beauty Editor, Hairhouse
Why More Couples Are Sharing One Skincare Routine
My moisturiser keeps going missing. The only possible culprit is my partner, and although I'm proud of him investing in his visage, I'd prefer not to double-dip and waste money on individual skincare investments. So I'm switching the script and investing in a brand we can share.
It's a familiar problem in Australian households, where shared bathrooms are the norm, whether that's a partner, a share-house flatmate or a sibling splitting rent. The economics only make sense if the products on the shelf actually work for everyone using them, rather than everyone secretly running their own separate routine behind a shared door.
Enter Hunter Lab, an Australian skincare brand now available at Hairhouse, built specifically to solve this.
What Makes Hunter Lab Skin-Inclusive Rather Than Gender-Specific?
Co-founder Elliot Waldron launched the brand over a decade ago alongside his partner Susie with a clear vision. "From day one, our insight was simple," he explains. "If we wanted more men confidently using skincare, we had to speak to the real influencers in their lives, partners, girlfriends and the skincare-literate people around them."
"For us, creating performance-driven, natural skincare that works for all skin types wasn't about being 'gender-inclusive', it was about being skin-inclusive," he adds.
At the time, the industry was heavily divided: ultra-feminine packaging on one side, clinical "for men" labels on the other. Hunter Lab stripped it back, focusing on sophisticated, results-driven formulations anyone can use, without the blue-versus-pink packaging.
"It's great that partners can share a cleanser on the bathroom shelf," Elliot says. "A serum doesn't need to be gender-specific, and great formulations can be enjoyed by anyone who cares about their skin."
Hairhouse's beauty team notes: the easiest way to tell if a skincare formula is genuinely shareable is to check the ingredient list rather than the packaging. Look for fragrance-free or low-fragrance formulas and broadly compatible actives, since these tend to suit the widest range of skin types and sensitivities, which is exactly where Hunter Lab has focused its formulations.
Which Hunter Lab Products Are Best to Share?
Not every product needs to be shared to make the switch worthwhile, but a few Hunter Lab staples are especially suited to two people using the same bottle.
The Hunter Lab Daily Face Fuel is a generously sized daily moisturiser, ideal for anyone who applies product with a heavy hand. It hydrates, nourishes and absorbs beautifully, and being fragrance-free, it isn't overpowering for everyday use by two different people.
The Hunter Lab Cleansing Facial Scrub exfoliates into a foaming lather, clearing away grit and grime with a sea mineral, passion flower, violet leaf and bladderwrack extract formula. It smells great and leaves skin fresh without feeling dehydrated, a solid one-cleanser-fits-all option for a shared bathroom.
For something with a bit more shared indulgence, the Hunter Lab Hand & Body Wash looks sleek on the shelf and works as a genuinely unisex, everyday luxury both people will actually reach for. And for anyone focused on ageing gracefully together, the Hunter Lab Peptide Anti-Ageing Elixir is a lightweight, potent facial serum with a soft texture that instantly makes tired-looking skin appear more awake, without a heavy or overly active feel.
How to Build a Shared Skincare Routine That Works for Both of You
Start with the products you already use daily and duplicate the most often, typically cleanser and moisturiser, since these are the easiest to standardise across two people's routines. Choose fragrance-free or lightly scented formulas first, as these tend to suit the broadest range of skin types and reduce the chance of one person finding a scent overpowering. Keep any targeted treatments, like a specific serum for pigmentation or acne, as individual products rather than trying to force every step of the routine to be shared. Finally, give a new shared routine two to three weeks before deciding it's working, since skin needs time to adjust to any new formula regardless of who's using it.
Hunter Lab is available online exclusively at Hairhouse, with free standard delivery on orders over $70 for anyone stocking up on both people's essentials in one order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can men and women really use the same skincare products?
Yes. Skin type, not gender, determines which skincare formulas work best for a person. Brands like Hunter Lab formulate around skin concerns such as hydration, ageing or oil control rather than gender, meaning a well-formulated cleanser or moisturiser can genuinely suit two people with different skin, as long as neither has a specific medical skin condition requiring tailored treatment.
Is unisex skincare as effective as gender-marketed skincare?
Yes. Gendered skincare marketing is largely a packaging and branding decision rather than a formulation difference. Effectiveness comes down to the actives and formulation quality, not who the product is marketed to, which is why brands like Hunter Lab drop gendered labelling in favour of skin-type-based formulations.
What should I look for in a skincare brand to share with a partner?
Look for fragrance-free or low-fragrance formulas, broadly compatible actives, and products designed around skin concerns rather than gender. Avoiding heavily marketed "for him" or "for her" ranges and instead choosing performance-focused, skin-type-led formulas makes it far more likely both people will actually enjoy using the same product.
Is Hunter Lab available in Australia at Hairhouse?
Yes. Hunter Lab is an Australian skincare brand available exclusively online at Hairhouse, with free standard delivery on orders over $70. It isn't currently stocked in-store, so online is the only way to shop the range.
Do couples need completely separate skincare routines?
No, not for most everyday steps. Cleansers, moisturisers and body washes can usually be shared successfully, while targeted treatments for specific concerns like pigmentation or acne are often better kept individual, since these are formulated for a particular skin issue rather than general use.
Discover Hunter Lab at Hairhouse today, and see how much simpler (and cheaper) skincare gets when you're not both buying your own.