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 am looking forward so much to absorbing tips and techniques on the MakeUp Program. I have been a little casual with my application of lipstick, and eye shadow… . I am so looking to the professional advice about the appropriate tone (I have dark brown hair and a slightly tanned complexion).
Excellent tips! Even beautiful genetic girls get extra stares/once-overs when they head out with bright red lipstick and heavy eye shadow with extra long false eye-lashes. So I always figure, why would I want more people looking my way, when my goal is to simply blend into the public with the most “everyday” average look? I use some bare-minerals on my chin, above my upper lip, nose, and under eyes, then brush in warmth very lightly and get very natural-looking clean coverage. I keep eye shadow in “everyday” shades, not too dark, never wear false lashes, and do very natural-average mascara with eye liner only under the bottom lashes. I do muted maroon tones with Clinique lipstick and just a small bit of same blended along my cheekbone (no heavy rouge or blusher). I clip my brows very close and use just a hint of mascara to define a subtle arch, then let my long bangs cover my forehead and touch my brows. I also keep nail polish in muted skin-tone pink/off-maroon. My hope is people will simply see a very average office-worker, secretarial, professional businesswoman with that make-up matched to a basic black skirt, dark hose, black flats, nice long-sleved blouse or knit top and maybe a scarf + blazer or sweater-jacket, black shoulder purse.
As a registered blind person, I am going to let someone put the makeup on. If I did it, then I would end up looking like a clown from a horror movie. Without makeup I still scare myself, never mind the little kids (if I did meet little kids on Halloween).
I would love some office makeup tips, blog or video.
Highlights and contours, are what give me the most headaches and have on occasion caused me to have to do a total restart, where do you apply them how much and what with. Also a few tips for eye shadow colours that work together. I buy the sets now but sometimes even with them I feel the colours could be a little better
You are so right I wear just a little nowadays and pass actually more easily
High vs. low intensity colors is also partly situational. Office makeup and makeup for situations like going to church should usually tend toward less intensity. Makeup for a night out can go for the bold.
Well how do you keep it from coming off? I find myself, even with using translucent powder reappling about 1/2 way through my day.
Have you tried a setting spray? Skindinavia is a great one. A little pricey but worth it when your makeup doesn’t have to be reapplied.
I’d say, better quality products? Or maybe you have a very oily skin… then Lucille’s #5 advice is for you!