Why does this guy have such a lipstick collection? Maybe because one of the leaders in uncovering today's trends in women's beauty products - gasp! - is playing for the other team. That's right, he's a man.

He's tall, broad-shouldered, and slender with a striking smile and kind eyes. Should you pass by him on the street, you might stop and turn for a closer look, but it's likely you'd never guess what the man does for a living.

If, on a random day, you are touched by a spontaneous curiosity regarding the new, largely anticipated women's fragrance featuring notes of juniper berry, bamboo, and kiwi, this guy's in the know. And should you wonder which of the latest antiaging night creams are best for your complexion, the man's got the skinny.

After all, Matthew Evans is the Beauty News Editor of Women's Wear Daily (WWD) -- every retailer's key to the ins and outs of the fashion industry -- and his livelihood relies on his knowledge of the current events in the beauty world.

"What attracts me is the business side, at the business level -- it doesn't attract me on a consumer level," Matt says, then laughs and adds, "I don't wear makeup, obviously."

He pauses, then continues: "But I guess in a certain sense, it does [attract me on a consumer level] because more and more beauty companies are trying to lure men with unisex offerings and those kinds of products."

And he should know. After more than two years with WWD, moisturizers, eye shadows, hair serums, and body washes crawl from drawers and cardboard boxes and spill onto his desk and floor space at work. Shelves and shelves of collected free beauty products hover squarely along the walls of his bathroom at home. When confronted about the spectacle devouring his bathroom, Matt shrugs: "The reason it's there is because I thought at some point I'd use it. "Then he smiles and adds, "The top shelf is my roommate's, though."

But one can only get rid of so many beauty products. Five to 20 items land on Matt's desk each week -- everything from sample lip balms to entire hair care lines -- and after passing a few out to his colleagues, friends, family, and girlfriend, delivering some to the office giveaway table, and donating still others to the company's charity beauty sales, visitors continue to gawk at his home collection.

In fact, a man in the beauty industry today periodically finds himself dealing with diverse reactions to his line of work. "I used to get snickers from my guy friends, but those have given way to 'Do you have any cleanser, aftershave, or whatever?'" he says of the preconceived ideas surrounding his job. "It usually comes as a surprise to women, but again, that often turns into 'Can you get me stuff?'"

"In the past two years, though, I gone from being the object of these snickers to a resource because it's an industry publication, a trade newspaper," Matt concludes.

All chuckles aside, the products at home hardly go unused. "Once I have all the stuff in the house, those are the things I use," he says.

And he's found that all these years, women have actually been on to something: specialty products really do make a difference. Inexpensive shaving creams, deodorants and shampoos have been replaced by name brands like Origins, John Frieda, and Anthony Logistics For Men. "The companies put a lot of time into these products - they put a greater emphasis on formulation," he explains, then smiles: "and the fragrances are nicer in higher-end products."

But working at WWD involves more perks than just a few freebies here and there. When the often 10-hour workday is over, there are spa openings, fashion shows, and after parties to attend; celebrities, supermodels, and fashion designers to mingle with. And through it all, Matt somehow manages to stay grounded. "At industry events, I'm in work mode, but I still enjoy myself," he says. "They're good places to get information -- still fun - but it's always in the back of my mind that I'm working. What interests me most is the reporting side.

And in the end, when the workday is over, the industry parties have been attended, and the freebies have been hauled home, Matt knows he's in the right line of work. "I really like it. I can see myself doing it indefinitely because I like business reporting," he says. Then, flashing that killer smile, he admits, "But I never thought I'd have such a voluminous collection of lipsticks."

Has all that guy talk got you thinking of your husband, boyfriend, or just good buddy? Why not surprise him with something ultramanly, like a pocket flask reminiscent of the '20s and '30s (heck, you might even want to pick one of these up for yourself!) or a personalized sports mug? Or how about checking out the Hemingway-style vintage Zippo lighter? These gifts are bound to show him you know just what a man really wants!