No matter if you are a relative newcomer to crossdressing or if you are a seasoned pro, there is always something to improve about your appearance, especially when it comes to beauty tips. We sat down with our two makeup artists and also included some great secrets passed on to us by some of our gorgeous clients so that you will be in the know. These beauty hacks will not only help you save time and money, but they will elevate your makeover. In time, you too can look as though a pro has transformed you. This does not mean a re-do of your current makeover regime or the products you use. It just means making the most of what you have and using a few tried and tested tactics and techniques to make the most of what you’ve got. Many beauty treatments for feminizing the face can be long-lasting and expensive. We concentrate on the affordable solutions to help you get the femme appearance you need, just for when you need it.
Get Plumper Lips with Peppermint Oil
Add one or two drops of peppermint oil and blend into the lips with a Q-tip. The peppermint oil activates blood circulation under the lips leading to a swelling/adding volume. Add your favorite lip color on top. You can also add peppermint oil to your lip gloss for the same results.
Make Eyes ‘Pop’ with Light Eye Liner
Make your eyes look more feminine and larger with the simple use of a white or light shade of eyeliner. Apply just above the bottom lash all the way across from corner to corner. This will make your eyes look bigger, brighter and more attractive.
Warm your Mascara for smoother application
Your favorite mascara is starting to dry out and becoming harder to apply. This happens a lot to crossdressers because we may not use our beauty products on a daily basis, maybe not even weekly. Place your mascara between your thighs or inside your bra against the chest to warm it up. A few minutes later and it goes on like new.
Use Setting Powder to stop your makeover melting
You’ve gone to all the trouble of a femme makeover and you are going out. To make your makeup last make sure to invest in setting powder to keep the makeup from sliding off as you heat up. Apply after foundation and again at the end of the full makeover. Also great for correcting mistakes like applying too much blush.
Get fuller looking Lips without injections
Another great hack for plumper lips is to use concealer. Add a small amount of concealer just at the outer edge of your lips and use a brush to blend. Now, use a lip pencil and a matching lipstick and voila, your lips appear nice and full and feminine with this great visual beauty hack.
Add Volume to your thinning Hair Line
We see more and more clients growing out their own hair so that they can transform easily to a natural femme look with their own long locks. However, as we age our hairline recedes and becomes thinner. An easy hack is to use some eyeshadow. Be sparing as you don’t want it to look artificial. Done with a light touch it looks amazing.
Make your Mascara last longer
You know you have a good amount of your favorite mascara left but it is becoming fakey and clumping. Before you get frustrated and toss it in the trash, simply add a few drops of saline like a contact solution, shake and apply. Suddenly your mascara is like new and has many uses left.
Create the perfect Cat Eye
Many crossdressers are scared of attempting a ‘cat eye’ look which is simply lengthening the natural lid. This is sometimes done in a straight line and sometimes with a flick/curl. The easy way is to do a straight line simply by using a straight edge like a credit card. It’s simple, effective and completely changes your look for nights out.
Use every last bit of Foundation with a Q-tip
Q-tips are literally a girl’s best-friend when it comes to makeup. For those of you that use liquid foundation in a tube, don’t throw it away when you can’t squeeze anymore out. Use a Q-tip to get in where no brush or applicator can go and you’ll find at least one more application.
Always use a Lip Liner Pencil
Of all the beauty hacks to get fuller, female looking hips this is the one to do every time. Use a lip liner pencil to outline the edge of the lips. Thicken the lip line above the ‘Cupid’s brow’ and underneath the middle of the lower lip to artificially extend the natural lip line. Now fill inside the lip liner with your matching lipstick for a fuller, more female looking lips. The liner also stops lipstick from ‘bleeding’.
Correct Puffiness of the Skin when applying makeup
Always think of ways to be kind to the skin. As crossdressers, shaving the face can lead to puffiness and dry skin. Help yourself by dampening your blending sponge (before applying foundation) in rose water and placing in the freezer for 10 to 15 minutes. This will both soothe the puffy skin and help moisturize.
Moisturizer works better on Damp Skin
It’s harder for a moisturizer to penetrate dry skin. Always apply to damp skin after you have showered or washed. The skin after a shower is already hydrated so help seal it in with moisturizer at this stage. Gently pad the skin with a towel but do not remove all the moisture and then apply the moisturizer. You’ll feel the difference within days.
Test Foundation on the Neck, not on the Arm
If you are testing foundation, always apply a sample to the neck and not to the wrist or arm which most people do. Your neck area is the closest match to your face and much closer than the wrist or arm which can change a lot depending on the season.
Contour: the Crossdressers facial transformation Hack
The majority of crossdressers need contouring to alter their facial shape to a more softer and feminine appearance. This is done through the use of light and shade with contour. The most obvious example is making a male nose look narrower which is simple, yet transformative. Use an affordable Contour Kit and follow the step by step instructions. Use a highlighter 2 shades lighter than your skin tone and a dark contour 2 shades darker.
Crossdressers Lipstick Hack
Lipstick is just for the lips right? No, it actually has 2 other emergency uses. Forgot your beard cover? No problem; just dot the lipstick all around the beard shadow area and blend in before applying foundation and the shadow disappears. Left your blush at home? Simply apply a small amount of lipstick to each cheekbone and blend in with a brush or sponge and you are good to go!
Try these simple hacks to not only save you time and money but to elevate your femme transformation. Be the best girl you can be. You can find many more beauty hacks in our crossdressing tips blog and if you have some simple hacks to share with your sisters then please email us at info@glamourboutique.com