Famous international cosmetics brands are recruiting male salesmen these days to raise their profile among the gentlemen's group and to bring more convenience to customers of both sexes, Youth Daily reports today.

As part of its promotions, L'Oreal organized a campus designing competition in the most renowned university in Shanghai -- Fudan University. Quite a few men students taking part in the contest are fully attracted by the cosmetics company, believing that working in a cosmetics company is also promissing for their future career. Their former prejudice against the women-reserved cosmetics industry have largely been driven away.

At the counters of some cosmetics specialty shops, such as Red Earth and Avon, young salesmen have already debut.

"I find it good working this way, introducing and recommending quality cosmetics to the ladies, helping them to retain more confidence in themselves," said Zhang Wei, graduated last year from the Fudan University and now working for the L'Oreal's sales department. He had also stood at the counter on his internship. Quite different from what he feared beforehand, that experience had never embarrased him nor his customers.

On the contrary, he said he found himself especially helpful when gentlemen came alone to find an adequate present(cosmetics) for their wives or girlfriends.

"In the past, the most irritating thing for single men is to talk with sales ladies at the underwear or cometics counter to find one as present for their girlfriend," Zhang said. But now, as of the same sex, Zhang and other male salesmen can not only bring convenience, but also offer precious advice for the male customers.

Besides, some ladies say they also prefer to meet men rather than women at the counter, anticipating that these salesmen will give advices from a gentlemen's viewpoint as to in what way they look better.