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
I have several struggles with makeup:
1) Getting my eyes just right. I can never get the eye shadow on my upper lids just right and the eye liner on my upper lids.
2) Finding the right foundation. I’m really not sure what shade to get that looks natural. It seems to me I sometime get something too dark for my complexion.
3) Finding the right “look” for the shape of my face.
People tell me I look good with my makeup, but I guess I am just too overly critical of myself!
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Teri
Terri, if it’s any help, your lipstick could be a little
darker (a burgundy or maroan) definitely not red –
that would destroy your looks, stay away from blues
and purples, again destroy your looks.
I think you look very lovely. you have a natural look about you.
For eyes the first thing you need to know is your eye type and shape. Your face shape follows similarly; shape and complexion. There are many guides online that can help you figure out these two details about your eyes and face. Once you have this info finding tips that suit your eyes/face should be a lot easier.
For foundations I use a shade lighter to highlight my face, and a shade darker to contour my face, of course blending the edges. I usually use a BB type foundation for the extra things it does, like moisturizing, sun-block, etc.
You look like the lovely young lady I am sure you are
Just wanted you to know how beautiful I think you are, dear. At 72 ,this yr. 73 to. It’s tougher every year to maintain my GIRLISH FIGURE and look as good as in the past 50years. Been out in public since the 1960’s. Glad to see this generation you represent as thriving in the Daylight, nothing hiding in this shadows like we had to do.
ENJOY BEING YOU GURL!!
T.J.
Looking at your beautiful face it is without that you know what you are doing. Keep up the good work
You look stunning.
About foundation, I really like this one.
SKIN79 HOT PINK Super Plus Beblesh Balm Triple Functions BB cream.
It is easy to work with, I put it on just like a normal cream, it works really good if one don’t have to much beard, and on that part you look like you don’t have that problem.
Well I like the natrual look, but on party day I find the big color pallet and play around.
But yes the brows can be a pain in the … I only have the problem, that I make them too perfect, so i often get the question “are they tattoo?” my answer is “no I only use about 30 minutes to make them”. I say, take your time and make it fun to do, then the time doesn’t matter!
You’ve got a great face Nickie, your lucky.
There’s better faces on clocks than mine.
I have also found that the right makeup helps immensely. I use a mineral based makeup that works great. Very important is to wear your makeup according to where you are going and when. Night/evening makeup is much more bold than day makeup. A big mistake that I used to make is where what I should where in the evening during the day. I would suggest going to a makeup specialist who can help you learn what to wear and how to wear it. The makeup counters in the mall usually have experts that are willing to help. Just find one that is friendly.
Definitely the eyes – I have always had trouble applying eyeliner and mascara, but part of that is due to my aversion to things too close to my eyes. I also lack depth perception that close so it’s hard to be precise. Of course, if I had the freedom to practice it might be better… Toodles, Tina
By far, the thing I struggle with the most is eye liner. Especially when it’s liquid. Please help. Tiffany
my biggest concern is finding the right foundation. I have no idea what type of skin I have and I have so many large pores, my face could be be a stand-in for the moon, lol.
I consulted a Mary Kay rep a few years ago and she applied a liquid foundation that she SAID looked perfect on me…but when I checked in the mirror it looked like my skin looked really artificial, like plastic.
Ever since then I occasionally ask other women for their advice and they say it’s normal to look like you’re wearing foundation. That just doesn’t sound right to me–and is a real deterent for me wanting to wear it while incognito as a guy.
I really wanna cover up my flaws…but the idea of someone calling me out on wearing makeup while in guy-mode just scares me to death!
This is my normal day to day makeup yet all bar 1 of the women I have shown have said that I would pass, yet none are willing to say why. Can anyone give any suggestions?
Because you look pretty
Your look is pure natural the way all females should look
Don’t change a thing just enjoy yourself girlfriend
I alaways look too white to myself afyer I apply foundation. Maybe try a darker shade?