Trying to find the right makeup can be a minefield if it’s not something you’ve been exposed to. Then, when you find it, there are so many different techniques and ways to apply said makeup. For a novice, it can be a lot to take in and figure out. To help our girls out there, we wanted to utilise our expertise at Glamour Boutique to help crossdressers navigate the world of makeup with some simple tips.
It All Starts With the Skin
Before any makeup touches your face, it’s important to take care of your skin. As genetic males, it takes some extra work due to our facial hair. Due to shaving, our faces can get a little rough. It is best to use exfoliators and moisturizers. Moisturizers with SPF are good too since it can help protect your face from the sun’s rays. This can also help with keeping your face clear of razor bumps. It’s a must to keep your face clean and hydrated. It will help you look and feel fresh. Face masks are another great option. Try to do one once a week for the best results.
Makeup Brushes Can Make or Break Flawless Application
We cannot stress this enough. Invest in good makeup brushes. They WILL make a difference when applying your makeup. Investing in good quality makeup brushes can go a long way to ensuring even, smooth coverage from everything to foundation and concealer to eyeshadow, bronzer and blusher. It’s all about blending – we want to avoid tide lines around the jaw or jarred eyeshadow. Some people like to use their fingers to blend out things like concealer and foundation and the heat from your hands can help, but we recommend trying out good makeup brushes, blending sponges and blend blend blend!
Be sure to have a lineup of brushes for each part of your application process. Glamour Boutiques entry level brush selection has all you need including a guide as to what each brush is for. These should include brushes for: foundation, concealer, powder, blush, flat eyeshadow, blending and one for your lips.
Pay Attention to Eyebrows, 5 O’Clock Shadow and Unwanted Nose Hair
Applying makeup over hair is hard work, so make sure you’re freshly shaven, have plucked any majorly straying eyebrows and nose hair so that when makeup is applied it blends more evenly into the skin. Eyebrows are a major trend right now with different styles going back and forth. One style that is tailor made for our male selves is the thicker, bushier look. That helps in a major way as we do not need to pluck our eyebrows as much. The thicker style has grown more with Soap Brows. This is where you take your bushy brows and make the hairs noticeably lifted.
If you want to style your brows, a really popular style is the Stick Straight Arches. Bleaching your brows is another trendy way to go. Again, these will really only be useful if you have the ability to do what you want with your eyebrows. Going back to brushes for a second, spoolie brushes are ideal for keeping unruly eyebrow hairs in check. For those of you looking to do more with your brows, YouTube can be a great help with tutorials.
Do Your Eye Makeup First
It is always good to start with the eyes when applying your makeup. That way any eyeshadow fallout or accidental smears can easily be wiped away, also mistakes can be corrected without having to redo the entire face of makeup.
Try Different Colored Eye Pencils, Don’t Rely on Black Alone
Different eyeliner colors can be complementary to different eye colors and skin tones. Don’t just go for black all the time as it can be harsh. Different colors can produce different looks. Keep trying different color combos to see what feels right for you. Here’s a helpful tip: using white or nude liner on the bottom lid can make eyes appear bigger.
Natural Eyeshadow Colors Can Make Your Eye Pop
Nudes, browns and other natural hues can work wonders for your eyes. Try warm tones for dark eyes and cooler tones for lighter eyes. Remember, it’s not always the most striking black smokey eyes that have the most allure. Be different and stand out with some nice natural colors. Natural looks are very popular right now so this is a great way to stick with a trend.
Warm Up Your Eyelash Curler for Added Effect
Warming eyelash curlers with a hair dryer before use can help to curl your eyelashes faster and it will hold better. Not too hot though!!! We don’t want any burns. Just a little bit. Of course a simple application of false eyelashes will give you an instant female appearance.
Book A Session With A Professional Makeup Artist
Sometimes going through everything with a professional makeup artist is best as they can provide insider tips and tricks for crossdressers that are tailored to your skin. Be sure to have them go through each step with you as well. They will be able to show you these steps while actually applying them in their chair and even if you cannot duplicate the applications exactly, you will leave feeling more confident and ready to do some great makeup application on yourself.
Glamour Boutique has a makeover artist on staff at their retail/makeover studio that is ready to help you on your makeup journey. If you are local to our New Jersey showroom or in town visiting, call us at 973-226-5588 or email us at info@glamourbioutique.com and we can book you with our amazing makeup artists!
What are some of your makeup tips? Do you have any makeup horror stories? Let us know by emailing us at glambmarketing@gmail.com or by messaging us on our Facebook page.