Your face is the first thing people notice about you. That means your makeup can make or break a feminine first impression.
Does your makeup application look more drag queen than beauty queen? Or have you mastered the art of subtle, beautiful makeup?
No matter what your skill level, there are a few key strategies that apply to everybody. Read on for my top 6 makeup tips for crossdressers and transgender women.
1. Invest in good makeup brushes
Quite simply, it’s impossible to apply masterful makeup without the right tools.
Forget about the tiny, cheap applicators that come packaged with most makeup. Upgrading to high quality brushes will give you much more control, immediately upgrading the look of your makeup.
Here are the basic brushes you should own:
- Foundation brush
- Concealer brush
- Powder brush
- Blush brush
- Flat eyeshadow brush
- Eyeshadow blending brush
- Lip brush
2. Use color correctors
If you have skin issues like a beard shadow, blemishes, or dark circles under your eyes, the solution is NOT to bury them under thick concealer. Your makeup will look much more natural if you start with a color corrector.
The idea behind color correctors is to use a complimentary tone to neutralize imperfections. This allows you to achieve beautiful skin with less makeup.
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For example, you should use a pink or red corrector to neutralize a dark beard shadow – or a green corrector to neutralize redness.
3. Don’t ignore your eyebrows
A mistake I see many crossdressers and transgender women make is leaving the house with ungroomed eyebrows.
Since eyebrows create the frame for your face, they are literally one of the first things people notice about you. Why allow misshaped brows ruin an otherwise good makeup look?
If you can, get your eyebrows professionally shaped. A good esthetician can groom your eyebrows so they look good in both girl and guy mode (if need be).
Also, be sure to check out my previous article on eyebrow feminization .
4. Practice, practice, practice
Makeup is like any other skill – the more you practice, the better you get. And the better you get at doing your makeup, the prettier and more convincing you will look as a woman.
A fun way to practice is to find makeup tutorials on YouTube that you can follow along with. Here are some good ones:
- Easy Beginners Makeup Tutorial
- 10 Minute Evening Look Makeup Tutorial
- Day Makeup Tutorial For Mature Skin
5. Book a lesson with a professional makeup artist
If you struggle with your makeup skills, one of the best investments you can make is a lesson with a professional makeup artist.
A good makeup artist will teach you proper makeup application techniques, help you find your best colors, and ensure that you are applying your makeup correctly. This is important because all the practice in the world won’t help if you are only reinforcing bad technique.
6. Take good care of your skin
Your skin is literally the canvas for your makeup.
Proper skin care can go a long way towards improving your skin’s texture and appearance. Not only will this make you look better, it’ll help your makeup go on smoother and last longer.
Here are 3 simple skin care tips to keep in mind:
- Avoid using harsh soaps on your face. Use gentle facial cleansers only.
- Apply facial moisturizer daily.
- Use a face mask at least every other week. (This is a great ritual for pampering your inner woman!)