Makeup can have an amazing impact on your appearance – IF you apply it correctly.
Unfortunately, this is a skill that many crossdressers and transgender women tell me they struggle with.
You deserve to be your most beautiful feminine self. To begin your journey, it’s essential to steer clear of some 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
Make up is tricky Ive watched hour on you tube. The big cosmetic maker have tutorials too. The biggest thing is learning how to highlight and shadow. I have a skin disease and have a huge nose High lighting and shadowing is a must .Im hoping to have it corrected it affects my sleep too.
You have to find the right shade of base or concealer summer, winter then different shades powders when it comes to eye shadow is key every one puts on too much and the wrong color. Eye brows need to trimmed and shaped. The biggest one is what shape of eyes do you have will determine how you apply your make up I have hooded so I cant do certain styles and colors. I have three different color of foundation I use three colors of powders and a three different bronze-rs.
Although I don’t think I’ve done a bad job any tips or pointers will be well received, thanks in advance.
Love
Davina xxx
Although I am Caucasian I wish to look and dress Oriental (UK English) Asian (US English). In other words I would like to look and dress Japanese or Chinese. Are there any make up tips out there that show how to make my eyes look that way without surgery. Also the colours seem to be more subtle than Caucasian make up. If that makes sense. Also I am fat and getting quite down about not losing weight
Good morning girls:)
My biggest goal is to begin seeing a gender specialist, and start the road to full time transition. I am a complete beginner and find this site to be of great benefit. I have a day at home with hopefully no interruptions today, so I plan on shaping my eyebrows, and just some basic spa time that I have denied myself for a long time.
Thank you for the tips, advice, and general love and support.
Alexis
Hello Lucille, I meant to have sent this a long time ago…………… however last Christmas , I appeared as a woman in a private Panto` for some children. My lady friend who I had just met did my make-up and I was astounded how well she did it. Her secret is ” little is MORE ” . Also I believe many men make the mistake in confusing with make-up for transforming into just a female with Drag make-up ! There is a vast difference.The only thing to let me down was the wig .
Does anyone else have trouble with mascara, is there a better
brush and surely there must be more color shades than black.
Are there any burgundies or maroans for people with lighter
skin.
I have brown to red coloring in my hair and eyebrows. I have found a brown mascara that I love to use when I’m trying to have just a “Saturday afternoon” amount of makeup on. it is a nice complement and not overpowering like black is for me.
Thanks for your point Marybeth.
That’s why I asked if there were other colors.
Black is too heavy for me.
I have found, through experience, that one should NEVER skimp on purchasing good mascara. It makes a huge difference, and there are many applications in each tube. Buy the best you can afford, it is definitely worth it!
i do not whish to look like divine my make up has to look perfect whithout th shaving rash
Wouldnt mind getting some comments, whether im doing some big DONTS with the makeup here
Hi hun, my advice which is not a criticism is to go for a lighter shade of brow colour, normally for dark hair you’d use a lighter colour and blonde hair a darker 🙂 also try shaping the a little to make them slightly less fuller xxx
Martina, I think the top of your eyebrow arch is a bit wide, otherwise everything else looks great.
First off- Good job with the foundation! That one can be tough.
-Eyebrows are too dark/bushy. I understand that plucking isn’t always an option if one isn’t fulltime, but soak those fuckers in foundation and paint in new, finer eyebrows. There are some great tutorials on youtube including gluesticks:)
-Eyes need MORE. More liner, more mascara (don’t forget to use primer!) If you haven’t mastered eyeshadow yet, don’t fret- just brush on some bronze on the first 2/3. Its universally flattering and doesn’t require crazy skill with blending and creases and whatnot.
-Lips look good, but honey- lose the black lipliner. Use a shade that matches your lip color.
-Hair looks great! Brush your bangs a little to get a less piece-y look, and pull the wig further forward to get a little length in the bang area. Baby bangs are adorable, and we all want them, but at some point we all have to concede that the only three women , living or dead that have been able to pull them off without looking like an underwater sea creature have been Audrey Hepburn, Alyssa Milano, and Halle Berry:)
Have fun and keep practicing!