Makeup can have an amazing impact on your appearance – IF you apply it correctly.
Many crossdressers and transgender women tell me they struggle with this skill, and that’s okay!
You deserve to feel like your most beautiful, feminine self. To get started, it’s important to avoid a few common male to female makeup mistakes.
In this blog post, I’ll share the mistakes you need to avoid – and what to do instead!
1. Wearing Too Much Makeup
Wearing too much makeup is an easy mistake to make. Makeup is meant to enhance your best features while minimizing any perceived imperfections.
When you overdo your makeup, you end up accentuating EVERYTHING. This isn’t a flattering look, so remember rule #1: Apply your makeup with a light touch.
2. Applying Full Coverage Foundation on Your Entire Face
Even if you have problem areas you want to hide, you should avoid covering your entire face with a thick foundation. Heavy foundation can give your face a cakey and mask-like look.
Instead, opt for full coverage makeup in areas that require it, such as the beard area, and use a lighter foundation on the rest of your face.
3. Using Poor Makeup Application Technique
When it comes to makeup, technique matters. Some common examples of poor makeup application technique include:
- Clumpy mascara
- Mismatched foundation
- Harsh lip liner
- Overdrawn eyebrows
- Cakey concealer
If your makeup skills are lacking, look for makeup tutorials on YouTube or check out my free Male to Female Makeup Mini Course.
4. Not Selecting The Right Makeup Shades
Choosing the right makeup shades is just as important as your makeup application technique.
In fact, the wrong colors can give you a harsh and masculinized appearance faster than anything else.
The most important thing to consider is your natural coloring. For example:
- If you have lighter hair and skin, opt for low-intensity colors like soft brown, blue, pink, or coral.
- If you have darker hair and skin, go for high-intensity colors like deep brown, black, blue, or red.
Candis Cayne – Low intensity colors
Janet Mock – High intensity colors
In addition to your natural coloring, think about the occasion and time of day when selecting your makeup. Typically, higher-intensity makeup works better for nighttime when the lighting is dim.
Finally, your makeup shades should complement the colors of your clothing for a cohesive and polished look.
5. Not Taking Good Care of Your Skin
Think of your face as the canvas for your makeup. If your skin is dry and rough, it’s going to be noticeable.
Keep in mind that male skin tends to be rougher than female skin due to lower estrogen levels. This means that good skin care is critical.
Care for your skin by using a gentle cleanser, moisturizing daily, using sunscreen, drinking lots of water, and getting enough sleep.
Ready to learn more?
Check out my previous article, How to Feminize Your Face Without Surgery, for more male to female makeup tips and techniques.
For more in depth training, consider The Makeup Magic Program to learn all the essential makeup skills every crossdresser and transgender woman should know.
As always, I’d love to hear from you. Do you struggle with makeup or have you mastered this skill? Please share in the comments below!
Love,
Lucille
I think it also depends on what colour wig, style and clothing you wear – make-up needs to match all these as well as skin tone
For someone who is colour blind and has no lady available to assist in make up, what do you suggest? I am a blond, fair skinned and live in the UK.
I have not noticed colour blindness mentioned on this or other sites, so any help would be greatly appreciated as this is obviously a real stumbling block!
Love your site Lucille
Johana
Hi, Lucille! Well, a topic that I think needs its own chapter is contouring to hide a hard, manly chin and jawline, and possibly also to create the illusion of a lesser or absent Adam’s apple.
Hugz!
Mellissalynn
What colors do you recommend for someone with medium to dark hair color and light to medium skin tone?
Thank You!
Makeup is something that is still difficult for me, though I have been living as myself, a woman for over two years now. Blessedly, cis women have said that I can get by without makeup, and that certainly seems to be the case (and they comment that I have beautiful skin, but as much as I struggled with acne since my teens, I find that hard to accept – estrogen did make my acne disappear in days though!).
Usually I wear a small amount of makeup, a touch of foundation and/or concealer where my mustache used to be, and mascara on my upper lashes. Also, I’ll blend a dab of foundation into one of my cheeks which is more deeply developed than the other to lighten the slight shadow. Then possibly if it’san occasion, I may “complete” my (threaded) eyebrows and add some clear lip gloss. I have tried more makeup but it does not seem to fit my “natural” style as an athletic, middle-aged, tall, boyish woman.
You are absolutely right – I am terrified about how to use (misuse?) make-up. And although I am not very bad looking, I am older and probably need this feminine skill more than many do. And to top it all off, I am a newbie to trying to develop my feminine image, and just feel like the proverbial “fish out of water”. I will be traveling on business in the next couple of weeks, so can’t participate in the Make-up Magic training, at least this time, but really need help with this to take the next step in trying to realize my female self. Keep up the great tips and flow of information. I’d be lost without it.
Applying makeup is an art. I find that less equals more for me. Thank you for all of your tips!
you look amazing !
Currently I don’t wear makeup because it is a skill I have yet to master. I hope to learn that skill with “The Makeup Magic Program” that’s coming soon and lots of practice.
But if I did I would rather it be designed to enhance my face rather than be obvious I’m wearing makeup. The “Low intensity colors” model would similar to the look I’m going for, except enhance my natural colors rather than change them.
The end result I hope will look more androgynous, a mix of feminine and masculine.