Beginner Makeup Advice?

[Genny]

I am just beginning to use makeup and haven’t purchased much yet. I really feel stuck at what to choose for color of foundation and concealer. I have white, fair skin, not too pale, with a blend of yellows and pinks. Looking at foundation and concealer colors always makes my mind spin with confusion. Am I Porcelain Beige, Fair Neutral, Fair Sand, Light Sand, Light Beige, do I have Peach Undertones, Pink Undertones, Yellow Undertones, and on and on?... Any advice on how to choose one? It seems like a number of choices sort of look like my skin. I’m thinking of just guessing at something close and seeing how that works. Also I’m seeking advice of what bare basics might be good to start with. I’m thinking primer, foundation, concealer, blush, eyeliner, lipstick and/or lip liner and lip gloss, a few brushes, a sponge, and makeup remover to begin with. ? 

[Carolyn Marie]

In these Covid days it's hard to recommend what I would usually recommend; a visit to a Sephora or similar store for a consult with the cosmetics staff.  I doubt any store is doing that right now.  So your next best choice, assuming you don't have a willing family member to show you, is Youtube videos.  There are a great many good choices, many aimed at trans women.

 

Sephora and other brands have "starter kits" that include the basics, including color pallets for eye shadow and blush.  I suggest a black and brown eyeliner for starters; I like liquid but it can be hard to use for beginners.  The pencil type is easier to apply, I think. I have scant eyebrows so I've always used an eyebrow pencil, but if you have decent natural eyebrows you won't need one.

 

My last suggestion concerns brushes; buy the best you can afford.  They will last so much longer and give better results than inexpensive brands.  Good luck!

 

Carolyn Marie

[Guest]

My wife had me match the foundation with the back of my wrist (where you can see your radial artery). I started out with cheap stuff.....Maybeline and L’Oréal........ because there’s slot of trial and error. I’d reccomend some good brushes for eyeshadow, brows, and a spooly to straighten out the mascara. I’m still a novice at this (mascara running at work) but one thing usually not mentioned is good skin care products and eye makeup remover. I clean and moisturize every morning and evening and don’t leave the house without sunscreen (Colorado ?).

[Jackie C.]

@Carolyn Marie brings up an excellent point. Sephora stores often have "Makeup for Trans-Women" classes. Failing that, I'd find a friend who can give you makeup advice. I got some from the daughter of my therapist. Though is was basically, "Your skin is gorgeous. Maybe a little peach blush, then stop."

 

Then you see youtubers like Samantha Lux. Who I'm pretty sure is a witch.

 

The other bit of advice I got was browse youtube makeup channels. Find a look you like, then try the tutorial. You're going to make mistakes. That's OK. Mistakes are how we learn.

 

Personally I'm still convinced that my foundation color is "White-out."

 

Hugs!

[Ivy]

I've never really understood makeup.  My ex didn't use it so I was never around it much.

A couple years ago one of my daughters gave me some stuff at Christmas.  I was just coming out at the time.  I didn't have a clue what to do with it.  Then my youngest girl was staying with me for a bit and I let her put some on me.  I really didn't like the results.  Admittedly, the lighting was atrocious.

I know it's a girl thing, but I'm still sitting on the fence.  And then sometimes it just doesn't look right to me on an older woman.  

IDK, maybe I should give it another chance.

[Guest]

The you tube tutorials are fun.

 

@Jackie C.we are in a white out here right now! 

 

I’ll have to look into Sephora. We’ve been hitting Ulta and Target now has mini-Ultas. 

 

 

[MiraM]

19 hours ago, Erica Gabriel said:

My wife had me match the foundation with the back of my wrist

The best place to match foundation is across the jawline on to the neck since this is where the foundation is worn.  The foundation needs to blend seamlessly between the face and neck.  Most people are not the same depth of tone on the inner wrist and the face.  Matching the foundation to the arm will most likely not give the best match.

[Sally Stone]

Genny,

 

I did a blog last year about makeup application and it covers all of the basics.  It might be some help to you.  You'll find my blogs (there are 8 parts) on the blogs link at the top of the page, and they start on page 7.

[Audrey]

@Genny, I've been learning a lot from my girlfriends who I've come out to. They're just thrilled to teach me how to do my face and we've done girls-night Zoom meetups and talked makeup. I'm starting very simple, just foundation, eyeliner, and mascara. I'd do lips too, but mine crack like crazy this time of year so I'm super careful to keep them healthy. I look forward to being able to go into a salon and getting my face done there after COVID-19's behind us. I also found it difficult to match my complexion and online shopping has meant spending more than I needed to in order to find the right foundation for my skin tone. One thing though, makeup is all about experimenting and being home so much because of the pandemic has given me a lot of time to make mistakes in a safe space.

 

Love,

~Audrey.

[Genny]

Thank you for all the suggestions.

[JMG]

I got creative and called the store and asked them of advice, together we came up with a solution. As it happened to be sunny outdoors, I took a selfie in the sun and sent to their mail. That way they could see clearly in daylight and know and they sent me some examples of what to get. (Though I don't know still what my face color is called so I might start an own thread and ask here with that picture). If you did the same and then sent the picture to them they might help.

[dianeT68]

I tend not to use foundation nor concealer. I’m not a big user of make up, I use good quality moisturiser followed by an Elizabeth Arden bronzer. Blackest black baby roll mascara by L’Oréal and a pale pink lippy and that’s me x works for me.

my daughters always try to get me to wear to more make up but I don’t like how it feels on my skin x 

Good luck with your journey x

 

Di x 

[Carly Hughes]

when i started wearing makeup i knew that i would make many many mistakes, so i never bought expensive makeup,

i started getting cheap makeup from bargain stores, they are called £1 shops here in the uk, i just practised alot, plus watching youtube videos helped alot, but your going to make many mistakes, so i just thought dont waste a fortune on expensive makeup while im learning, once you can do your makeup well with cheaper makeup, then start buying the more expensive stuff, one thing i wil say is the more expensive the makeup, generally the better it is, so if you can do your make up well with the cheaper stuff, your be fine with the more expensive brands

[Ivy]

I'm still on the fence on this.  What does work on an older gal?  TBH I'm not much to start with and I'm not sure it would be an improvement.

[Jani]

@Jandi when I do wear make up (its been a long time due to using masks) I use a light application of Neutrogena Healthy Skin liquid make-up.  Then I add a light touch of blush to my cheeks in either a bronze or light pink (depending upon what I'm wearing).  This is not expensive and it takes all of ten minutes to apply.  I get it at Walmart although Neutrogena products are available in many stores.  

[Audrey]

@Carly Hughes I did a lot of experimenting with inexpensive makeup early on and like you made some pretty funny mistakes.  Now I am confident with my routine so I use mostly just liquid foundation, a little concealer, black mascara, and sometimes eyeliner, I use it really to even out my facial complexion a bit and draw some attention to one of my favorite features, my blue eyes. I love lipstick too but I an afraid to wonder how much of it I have wasted smeared onto face masks! I swear by the Aveda brand and I love that they are naturally derived, and the shades work well for my skin tone. The one thing is that the brush with their mascara is really tricky to use well, it is small and perfectly straight so I poked myself with it often early on. I feel like the most important lesson I learned is that less is often more when it comes to makeup.

 

@Jandi Have you tried anything yet with makeup? It is perfectly understandable to be unsure, I know I was at first. Maybe try what I did at the beginning with just one thing. I started with using liquid foundation like what @Janidescribes. It is easy to apply and can have a pretty dramatic effect, and I favored it because it seemed to help make my 5 o'clock shadow less noticeable. The toughest part is finding a good match to your complexion which is best done in person if you are comfortable. Stores like Ulta and Sephora or even Macy's can be friendly places to do this if you have one near you. I hope this helps! ❤️

 

Love,

~Audrey.

[stveee]

My best move was actually going to Ulta and asking a nice sales girl half my age for advice on what at the time was a necessity- foundation- and getting the right color (before I started hair removal), and a starter set of brushes, sponges, lipstick, eyeliner.

I mean to make it a habit now just to browse and be a familiar face.

The biggest thing is learning your eye makeup and what works for your particular eye shape. I tend to use as less as I can, so light foundation, eyeliner and some shadow below my brow, lipstick and done. 

[Charlotte Ye Ye]

Beginners guide to Nails:

 

Step 1:  Read the instructions on the bottle.  Seriously, read the ******* instructions.  I didn't until my fourth attempt.

 

Step 2:  Cover the entire carpet with painting sheets.  Unless of course the want varnish all over the floor

 

Step 3: Wear a tabard/apron or something or you'll ruin a perfectly good blouse.  I only bought it 3 days ago, I loved it.  Even Vanish won't get it out.

 

Step 4:  Ask someone else to do your nails for you.  

[Robin.C]

Best thing I did was to get my hairdresser who is a makeup artist to do my makeup for the first time I was going out to band gig at a local hotel. I took mental notes on everything she did to make me presentable.

Noone recognised me so she must have done a good job, so at first I copied what she had done. It took over an hour my first time (more like 2 and half).

 

Practice, practice, practice. Watch Youtube videos for your skin and age type. There are even some transgender ones that can help with the dreaded beard shadow (red tint under makeup helps hide mine until I finish electrolysis).

I can now do an okay makeup for general going out and better one for GOING out.

Yesterday I got a lash tint and lift, no need for daily mascara (supposed to last 4 to 6 weeks if I look after them).

 

Nails, sigh. My work meant I can only have on at weekends and even then working around the property means they get trashed so quickly. Patience and good lighting are my tips if you want to get it okay looking.There are some good 60 second drying types that are okay. They still take 5 to 10 minutes to harder properly so beware.

 

On that note I'll finish up.

 

Hugs

Robyn

[Sally Stone]

Makeup is a religion for me because I find it is amazingly transformative.  However, it is still extremely important to be realistic.  Quite frankly, even the best makeup job isn't going to turn Dwayne the Rock Johnson into Arianna Grande.  That said, makeup can produce amazing results.

 

A couple of beginner tips:

1. no facial hair - makeup won't look good over even a hint of stubble
2. be certain to prepare the face properly - cleansed, toned, moisturized and primed
3. eliminate beard shadow as best you can
4. use foundation to create a flawless canvas (an even skin tone that matches your real complexion)- then focus on contouring, blushes and eye color
5. practice, practice, practice and then practice some more

[Guest]

I still have a lot to learn and I’ve made some mistakes, but practice does help. Makeup can be intimidating. Just looking at the selection in the local grocery store can be overwhelming. Eyes are a great place to start since eye shadow and mascara are easy to get the hang of. Eyeliner is another story……,oi vey! I tend to keep things simple though I spend at least 30 minutes every morning in my face and hair.

[LaurenMichelle]

This is definitely a personal topic for me.  Being “new” at this I’m pretty much a clueless wonder when it comes to makeup.  I attribute it to that whole growing up thing pretending to be a guy but from choosing what works to how to hide/cover this awful facial hair to then applying it so it looks decent (and I don’t end up looking like a clown) is over whelming to say the least. I’ve been told videos and practice..practice..and more practice is the key and it’s a skill I can learn.  

[Artpetal]

I would personally start with lipstick since I consider it beginner level. Picking out the best color that matches with your face. Sometimes it's a color that blends in, sometimes it's a color that stands out.

[Ticket For Epic]

Is it me or does makeup for gingers have its own set of rules?   I am so lost and overwhelmed with the whole makeup thing. 

[Jackie C.]

16 hours ago, Ticket For Epic said:

Is it me or does makeup for gingers have its own set of rules?   I am so lost and overwhelmed with the whole makeup thing. 

 

Whelp, I'm "can use white-out as concealer" pale, so I think I feel what you're saying. On my skin, a little bit goes a long way. I usually just do some eyeliner, MAYBE some eye-shadow, lipstick and then call it quits.

 

As a ginger, if you're freckled... you've got two choices: Either do what I do, or run concealer over everything to cover them up. Personally, I adore freckles but you have to do what feels right for you.

 

Hugs!