Makeup plays a big part in your feminine transformation. That means having a well-stocked makeup kit is a must!
Since I’m often asked about what makeup to buy – and since it’s easy to blow your budget on one Sephora shopping trip – I’ve put together a checklist outlining the must-have MTF makeup items for your collection.
I also created a downloadable shopping list that you can save to your phone images and take to the store with you. Download it here!
Makeup Brushes
First, a word on makeup brushes…
If you’re going to splurge on one thing, it should be a good set of makeup brushes. You’d be amazed how much better your makeup looks when you use proper brushes rather than the tiny applicators that come with your makeup.
You can find makeup brush sets at the drugstore or online for as little as $10-$20. Here are the brushes you should own:
- Angled eyebrow brush
- Eyeliner brush
- Flat eyeshadow brush
- Crease brush
- Bullet brush
- Foundation brush
- Concealer brush
- Powder brush
- Blush brush
- Lipstick brush
Supplies
- Q-tips – Use to clean up under the eyes
- Cetaphil – Use to clean up mistakes and remove makeup at the end of the day
- Cosmetic wedge sponges
Eyes
- Eyebrow pencil or powder – Note: You can also use matte eyeshadow as eyebrow powder
- Eyeshadow base (optional) – Use to neutralize discoloration in eye area and help your eye makeup last longer
- Eyeliner – Either a gel eyeliner or eyeliner pencil
- Eyeshadow – Get a palette with at least 3 colors: light/medium, medium/dark, and a highlight shade
- Mascara – Get black unless you are a fair blonde (in which case, go for brown-black)
- Clear mascara (optional) – Use to groom thick eyebrows
Skin
- Primer (optional) – Use to smooth out your skin and help your makeup last longer
- Color corrector
- Fair skin – Get a pink and green corrector
- Medium/dark skin – Get a yellow corrector
- Foundation – Get medium coverage foundation that matches your skin tone exactly
- Translucent powder – Get loose powder that is the same or slightly lighter than your natural skin tone
- Foundation powder (optional) – Use if you need additional coverage in the beard area
- Light/dark cream concealer (optional) – Use to contour the face. Get a concealer that is one shade lighter than your skin tone (to highlight the face) and a concealer that is one shade darker than your skin tone (to contour the face)
Lips
- Lip liner pencil
- Lipstick
- Lip gloss – Choose a thick clear gloss to seal your lipstick
Cheeks
- Contouring powder – Use to contour the cheeks, jaw, etc. Get translucent powder or a no-sheen bronzer that is one shade darker than your skin tone
- Blush – Choose a powder or cream blush
While this list might look long, the good news is that you DON’T have to go out and spend a bunch of money on expensive cosmetics. In fact, you probably already have most of what you need. And what you don’t have, you can find inexpensively in any drugstore.
Let’s talk makeup!
The great thing about makeup is that no matter what your skill level, there are always new techniques to try and colors to play with. And as Coco Chanel said, on a bad day, there is always lipstick!
So let’s hear from you…
What are your favorite must-have makeup essentials? Do you do most of your shopping in drugstores or are you a Sephora-kinda gal?
Please share in the comments below!
Love,
Lucille
P.S. While the right tools are essential, good makeup is all about technique. My FREE Male to Female Makeup Mini Course will show you exactly how to transform and feminize your face with makeup.
Get free instant access to the 3-part video course here!
i cant download my makeup course???? HELP MEEEEEE!
ladies, if i dont get my course downloadable pdq im going to reverse the cc charge…
hmmmmm?
istill cant
Hi Leah
I’m sorry to hear that. Let me know to what device (computer,phone, etc) you are trying to download to and I’ll send through instructions to help you download.
– Valerie (Lucille’s assistant)
come ON please, tried diff email, still “…cant use that email address”.
again????
thankyou,
its a macbookpro high sierra ver 10.13.3
leah
sigh
Hi, I have an online store, if you are looking for hair extensions, breast inhancers, booty enhancers, false eye lashes.
If there are products you would like to purchase that are not on my online store, please send me an email and I will add those items for you!
Well I agree with most of you girls and would like to thank our host and head of our Sorority Miss Lucille, we are so grateful for what you include and I would love to offer my notes on “Financing Your Female Life, A Transgender Money Guide”
Also any questions that are finance or investment related, please don’t hesitate to ask me?, I’m a qualified UK based Accountant, Stockbroker, Investment Manager and Independent Financial Advisor.
rachelle.dufrans@gmail.com
I love this sight! My significant other is at the beginning stages of transitioning Mtf, she’s know for a while but she’s just now starting to embrace it. But anyways… I’m always looking for ways to make her feel feminine and beautiful (and to make her smile); I really enjoy spoiling her and this sight gives me so many ideas it makes me giddish. Thank you ^m^
Kat your attitude is exceptional and it’s lovely to hear…well done you
I love makeup very much. I do not go anywhere without makeup on. i must always have eyeshadow on, masacra, lipstick, foundation.eye liner and I must always have my nails painted
Your tips are a true blessing for those of us struggling to be the woman we are hoping to be. Thank you. You are a beautiful person.
Although I can probably improve my selection of facial tools I use what have which seems to work for now>my list makeup medium tan color two shades of lipstick lip gloss mascara black eyeshadow colors blue purple multi mixture once in awhile use lipstick for eyeshadow face cream only two pencil pads different colors of nail polish one shade at time eyeliner
That one person said any type of friend that they like in regards to makeup so I will go ahead and give my 2 cents. I am transgender MTF before coming out I was a drag queen and makeup artist. This article does start off at a good point but in my personal opinion it’s missing a general nod towards the better makeup companies. If you do not have kyrolan TV paint stick you need to go to their website right now and order your regular color a lighter color and a darker color I have seen so many people use this product not only just as cover up or concealer but I’ve seen many people use it to feminize the face. If you live in Chicago they have a store off of Halsted I believe they have other locations listed on their website and you can go into their store and get a free color match they are so nice and so great when it comes to finding the right makeup from their brand. Another must-have is the ben nye translucent powders to allow you to be able to set and start baking the makeup and you just wait and then you just a little off and it really makes it pop. Matte lipsticks specifically Jeffree Stars or Nyes a really good for pumping the lips up when using a lip liner and when you do your lips you want to start on the outside dark going into light.