Make Up

[Guest Steph1967]

I have never been good on figuring out what looks good on me and what colors accent my features. I have sandy brown hair, blue eyes and fair skin so I need to figure out what looks good. I go to stores and the clerks look at me like I am crazy which I deal with. Can anyone give me any advise where to go to learn the proper way to put on make-up? Thanks

Steph

[Guest ~Brenda~]

Steph,

My experience has been that there is always somone to help you in stores. Makeup takes practice, and you will fail many times. One simple thing I can share with you is that don't over do the make up! my motto is less is best.

Brenda

[Guest Faerie Princess]

Steph,

My experience has been that there is always somone to help you in stores. Makeup takes practice, and you will fail many times. One simple thing I can share with you is that don't over do the make up! my motto is less is best.

Brenda

Steph,

Brenda is right that makeup will take practice. It took me a long time to finally get it where I think I look good . And yes, don't over due the makeup.

Chloe

[Guest qRachelp]

I have never been good on figuring out what looks good on me and what colors accent my features. I have sandy brown hair, blue eyes and fair skin so I need to figure out what looks good. I go to stores and the clerks look at me like I am crazy which I deal with. Can anyone give me any advise where to go to learn the proper way to put on make-up? Thanks

Steph

Steph- This YouTube video is priceless to me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZeSXp-aMlI...feature=related

It will give you some really good basic makeup applying info with invaluable tips for transsexuals. In the vid, she goes for a basic day-look that can be enhanced more with darker colors when the sun goes down.

XX,

Rachel

[Guest Anna_Banana]

Steph- This YouTube video is priceless to me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZeSXp-aMlI...feature=related

It will give you some really good basic makeup applying info with invaluable tips for transsexuals. In the vid, she goes for a basic day-look that can be enhanced more with darker colors when the sun goes down.

XX,

Rachel

While the video you posted is good, I don't think it's the best video to watch for early-stage trans people. The woman in the video clearly had quite a bit of work done. She admits to having gone through laser hair removal and she may have already been through FFS. As far as I'm concerned, she'd pass with or without makeup, which kind of defeats the purpose of using makeup to begin with. Unfortunately I don't have a video that would really be helpful for the early-stage people. Said individuals tend to be too shy to make videos for us.

.Anna

[Guest kennerzzz]

I have fair-ish skin, blue eyes, and blonde hair (dyed deep brown, it actually looks more natural on me than my blonde!) and find that brown is the perfect match for blue eyes. When it comes to eyeshadow, you can use a warm brown, even almost a coppery brown, because everyone and their grandmother (i've always wanted to say that...) knows that colors opposite on the color wheel make their opposite stand out. Make sense? On a color wheel, the opposite of blue is orange, so you'll need to use a warm brown (I don't suggest orange....haha.), and possibly brown eyeliner. I find black eyeliner, no matter how thin the line is drawn, is a bit over-powering. Especially for trans people (but for anyone, really), natural makeup is key.

A good place to learn how to apply makeup is at a makeup counter at any department store. Don't be shy! Makeup artists are, of course, a part of the art world, and stereotypically are more open to different kinds of people. So whether you go as a guy or a girl and ask for help with your makeup, they'd be glad to help you!

Good luck!

[Guest Pammy]

I have found two real places that offer you the help you seek. Relying on friends/family is chancey at best. The best place, and the place that has taught me the most, is the makeup counter found in most major department stores. Go to the brand that you favor, for me that is MAC but go with what you like best. The girl(s) there are trained in the use of their brand of makeup and know how to cover up things like beards and bruises and veins. They also know how to do effects from mild to wild (think Halloween). Natal women sometimes need help/advice too! And they are usually more than helpful to us as they understand we have no grounding in basic techniques that many women learn in adolescence. Plus, we buy lots of makeup and they work on commission. You can even get a free makeover if you buy the stuff they used. Tipping is not necessary but is accepted and appreciated. Don't be shy about asking for help!

The other place is a tad more spendy, but can offer advantages to doing it in a public area. Try for a private makeup artist that offers lessons and especially if they have a TG friendly note in their ad or if you call them ahead of time and ask. They can give you an in-depth lesson, take plenty of time and often sell the products they use. They offer privacy and intimacy whereas a public makeup counter offers everyone else a good view! I did my first few lessons and makeovers at a private artist's studio until I got up the courage to go out in public. (S)he is a CD hirself so she understands the special needs we have better than many women-only places and will allow photography before, during and after and even has glamour packages and offers some clothing for you to change and pose in. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post a link to that website so I'll refrain for now. Ask me privately and I'll tell you where this was, look for beauty salons or wedding makeup studios for names and locations of places near you. Expect to pay around $50-100 for a private lesson either in the studio or in your home.

Good luck and follow the advice I got: "Use cheap drugstore makeup for practice, save the quality expensive makeup for going out. If you can make yourself look god with cheap makeup, you can do a better job with the quality cosmetics." Also, to reiterate what has been said several times before, don't overdo it; less is more!

Hugs

Pamela

[Guest Joanna Phipps]

I have found two real places that offer you the help you seek. Relying on friends/family is chancey at best. The best place, and the place that has taught me the most, is the makeup counter found in most major department stores. Go to the brand that you favor, for me that is MAC but go with what you like best. The girl(s) there are trained in the use of their brand of makeup and know how to cover up things like beards and bruises and veins. They also know how to do effects from mild to wild (think Halloween). Natal women sometimes need help/advice too! And they are usually more than helpful to us as they understand we have no grounding in basic techniques that many women learn in adolescence. Plus, we buy lots of makeup and they work on commission. You can even get a free makeover if you buy the stuff they used. Tipping is not necessary but is accepted and appreciated. Don't be shy about asking for help!

The other place is a tad more spendy, but can offer advantages to doing it in a public area. Try for a private makeup artist that offers lessons and especially if they have a TG friendly note in their ad or if you call them ahead of time and ask. They can give you an in-depth lesson, take plenty of time and often sell the products they use. They offer privacy and intimacy whereas a public makeup counter offers everyone else a good view! I did my first few lessons and makeovers at a private artist's studio until I got up the courage to go out in public. (S)he is a CD hirself so she understands the special needs we have better than many women-only places and will allow photography before, during and after and even has glamour packages and offers some clothing for you to change and pose in. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post a link to that website so I'll refrain for now. Ask me privately and I'll tell you where this was, look for beauty salons or wedding makeup studios for names and locations of places near you. Expect to pay around $50-100 for a private lesson either in the studio or in your home.

Good luck and follow the advice I got: "Use cheap drugstore makeup for practice, save the quality expensive makeup for going out. If you can make yourself look god with cheap makeup, you can do a better job with the quality cosmetics." Also, to reiterate what has been said several times before, don't overdo it; less is more!

Hugs

Pamela

Of course it depends on your budget, I dont have the money for private lessons and high end cosmetics so I have learned to make myself as great as I can look with Covergirl and Maybeline

[Guest Donna Jean]

Sure, budget is in effect when cosmetics are concerned..

But, there is a lot of stuff out there! Things to fit most budgets....

And there is no better way to learn than "Hands On" experience...

Books and videos are fine, but you need to apply it and feel how it goes on and what becomes too much and how much pressure to apply for blending (and blending is a VERY important part of make up!)

I was lucky enough to get first hand lessons from my wife when I came out as she didn't want me to "look like a clown!"...lol!

And this fall I got personal lessons from my sweet girlfriend Elizabeth K who has years of cross dressing experience...And she showed Sally and I tons of really cool and useful tricks! (Thanks, Liz!)

I can't tell you how many times I take my eyes off and do it again 'til I get it "Just Right!"

Practice makes perfect!

HUGGS!

Donna Jean

[Guest Charlene_Leona]

The book I recommend is Instyle Getting Gorgeous the step-by-step guide to your best hair, makeup and skin ISBN 1-932273-55-7 This book covers everything that a girl will need to start out. Now for makeup you want to start with a good concealer that matches your skin tone. for me I use Cover-girl stick that looks like lipstick it does the job for me but if you have any facial hair you may want to use a Mac brand. But for makeup I use Bare Essentials Mineral Makeup it is the best makeup for the money. While it is expensive it will last far longer than the other makeup that sells for a cheaper price.

One thing I will tell you stay away from foundation it will out you quick. It draws attention to your face. When I started my transition I literally spent $1000.00 on makeup and most of it was wasted. The Mineral makeup will cost around $150.00 for everything you need for a good look or you can buy a starter box for $45.00 that comes with two brushes that will get you started. Don't buy their brushes though go to Wal-Greens and get Eco Brush's the set runs $12.00 and you will not find better makeup brushes. For your eye makeup I recommend Almays intense I-colors they have a set of eye makeups for every eye color. If you go to Bare Essentials at the mall the too will do a facial for you and show you how to apply the make up, but you do need to spend some money.

When I started my makeup would take well over an hour to apply now it takes a half hour at the most.

Now for the most important tip LESS IS MORE. Don't go hog wild applying your makeup or you will look like a clown and you will be clocked within minutes of going out.

Take Care

Charlene Leona