Summertime is a great time to step out en femme, but let’s face – the warm weather definitely has its challenges.
For one thing, it’s hard to feel your best as you’re sweating off all of your makeup. And for another thing, it’s just too darn hot for shapewear, hosiery, and all the other accoutrements you might rely on to create your perfect feminine image.
The good news is that with a few small tweaks, you can look as flawless and feminine in the summer as you do the rest of the year.
Here are 10 warm weather essentials for your male to female transformation.
1. Sweat-Proof Primer
The best tip for summer makeup is to wear as little of it as possible. The next best tip is to use a primer to reduce shine and keep your makeup in place. Here are 4 primers worth trying:
- Rimmel London Stay Matte Primer
- Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer
- Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer
- Revlon PhotoReady Perfecting Primer
2. Foam Breast Forms
If you wear breast forms, then you know there’s nothing worse than how hot and sweaty they can make you feel in the summertime. Instead of your usual silicon breast forms, opt for foam breast forms for a lighter and cooler feel.
3. Summer Fragrance
Fragrances can change on your body when the temperature rises – making heavy, musky fragrances overbearing in the summertime. Switch to a lighter, fresher scent for the summer like Escada Turquoise Summer or Victoria’s Secret Summer Vacation Fragrance Mist.
4. Blotting Papers
Blotting papers are a girl’s best friend in warm weather. Use them to absorb excess oil from your face instead of adding powder, which can lead to a cakey look. I recommend NYX Cosmetics Blotting Paper (at less than $4 a pop!).
5. Cotton Underwear
Natural fabrics that breathe are the key to staying sweat and odor free. This applies to everything you wear, including your undies. Make sure you have a collection of cute cotton panties for the summer. A cotton bra can also be a lifesaver.
6. SPF Moisturizer
The truth is, you should be using sunblock on your face all year long to protect you from wrinkles and premature aging. But it’s especially critical during the summer months. Olay Complete All Day Moisturizer is a great all-in-one moisturizer with SPF 15 coverage.
7. Flattering Sunglasses
Sunglasses are a summertime essential. The trick is to choose frames that flatter your face for the most feminine look. Since many crossdressers and transgender women have square or strong features, keep these tips in mid:
- Look for sunglasses with a rounded shape to soften your features.
- The larger your face, the larger the frames should be.
- Choose frames that extend past the widest part of your face.
- Avoid anything with a square shape, which draws unwanted attention to the angles of your face.
8. Anti-Frizz Spray
Heat and humidity leads to frizz, which makes summer hairstyling a real pain – whether you sport your own natural hair or wear a wig. To control frizz and maintain shine, use a smoothing spray such as Moroccanoil Frizz Control for natural hair or HD Smooth Detangler by Jon Renau for synthetic hair.
9. Exfoliating Body Scrub
Baring more skin in the summer means more shaving. And that – combined with sweat – can cause ingrown hairs and breakouts. Exfoliating is your best bet to keep pores and hair follicles clear. Use an exfoliating body wash a few times per week. TREE HUT Shea Sugar Scrub is a good one.
10. Maxidress
The #1 rule for dressing in the summertime is to think loose and cool instead of tight and hot. It’s not about baring the most skin, but wearing clothes that allow your skin to breath.
A maxi dress is a summer essential that every girl should own. Choose a style that skims your body to smooth over figure flaws and create a feminine-looking body shape.
Share your summer look!
While summer might bring its own set of beauty challenges, it’s also a liberating time to step out en femme. There’s nothing like enjoying a carefree, balmy evening and feeling the warm breeze around your bare legs.
I’d love to see YOUR summer look, so please upload a photo and share it in the comments below!
And if you have any other summer essentials to add to this list, be sure to share them with us.
Love,
Lucille
P.S. No matter time of year it is, it’s always a great time to be your most polished, feminine self. Learn more with my FREE 3-part Male to Female Makeover Course.
transformation tips?
Heather you can do anything you want! !
At 72 yo ( October ) we mature gurls need need to stick together. ..Enjoy being You!
T.J. PICS enclosed. …
Being that I live as a woman I pretty much do what most other women do. I have learned much from watching and listening. I do sometimes eavesdrop on conversations just to hear what women say about certain things.
1: I do use a sweat proof primer to help keep my makeup from running. God forbid that I look like Tammy Faye Baker! But I do not use the brands that are mentioned.
2: I used to use breast forms but do not need them any more cuz I have developed my own natural C cup boobs. They are completely natural without any inserts of any sort.
3: I still use my regular perfumes but just lighter squirts and they are Giorgio or WOMAN. I use them with my squirt on female pheromones.
4: I have never used blotting papers but will step into the ladies room and dab at my face with tissue. I will give blotting papers a try.
5: I do have cotton bras and panties. I have all types and cuts of panties and my fav are French cut.
6: I do use sun block in the summer but not too often on my face because wearing makeup to look like a woman is more important!
7: I have several pairs of sun glasses. One is a pair of silver wire rimmed aviators, the other 2 are plastic frames, one pink and the other is white.
8: I do have naturally oily hair and do not get to much frizz. I have a longish pageboy cut with my bangs just above my eyebrows and the sides and back go down to my shoulders.
9: I do exfoliate with a loofah and mild face soap. I do this almost daily.
10: When I was younger and hung out with the hippie chicks, granny dresses were popular. Now around the house I often wear one piece women’s swimsuits. My husband likes me wearing one piece suits. I need to buy some long dresses.
Summer is a challenge for me because my current life circumstances demand that I remain in stealth mode. Which means, I can’t shave legs, arms, etc. as much as I’d like in summer because shorts and shaved legs are a dead giveaway to those in my life who wouldn’t understand. How can I best hide hair on my legs in summer?
I love to wear skirts and tops.
I would love to wear some jeans.
I don’t know what size I am in women’s sizes
Man size I am 32″×34″
Please help.
Still working up the courage to go out en-femme
I love being able to wear skirts and light tops. I also wear very little makeup unless I am going for a night on the town.
Toni
Summer is always tougher for me, because of what and how I like to wear things.
I am trying to do things differently this summer, so I hope some of these tips will help.
Lucille, your advice has always been good before, so I don’t doubt it this time!
Thank you as always,
Tracy Leigh
I am now fully comfortable in public every day of my life and have embraced dresses. Dresses are the very essence of femininity. Plus they are so pretty. And I must say, my foam breast inserts are very comfy, lightweight and add at least one full size to my breasts. I had plateaued with a small B-cup after Lucille’s herbal program and these give me a full B-cup appearance which I am very proud of.