Never did makeup... ever

[ChelseaAnn]

Okay everyone,

Last week I admitted to myself I was transgender after 12 years of struggling with my feelings. I have worn my mother's clothing and my wife's. Because I'm married, shaving anything but my face was out of the picture. In addition, I was terrified to try makeup because I was afraid my wife would spot some on me if I hadn't washed it off properly. So, I never even bothered to try.

Overall, I have no idea what anything is. I have an idea to some things, like eyeliner. But, if you gave me a makeup kit, I'd be lost. I guess I want to know what's what. I'm not looking to start using it yet. Actually, my wife doesn't wear makeup much herself. But, eventually, when I'm out, I'm gonna need it to be passable.

Maybe someone could post some pictures of some items they have, so I can start learning. If you have some videos of how to apply stuff, that'd be great too. I will look some up myself, but I'd really appreciate hearing from experience, and any problems you had, tricks you learned, etc.

Thanks ladies!!

[Emily Aster]

I really can't be too helpful except to say that less is more and practice, practice, practice. I have a baby face though since I did electrolysis before hormones, so I don't need as much cover-up, although I do still have a slight shadow on the upper lip.

Probably the biggest tip would be to exfoliate first, then moisturize and let it sit for at least 10 minutes. You may find you get problems with your makeup being flaky and I find that it's actually dead skin doing that, hence the need to exfoliate. Make sure you have a very close shave too because that could cause it to look a bit flaky too.

I just use bb cream on my entire face and just enough concealer to hide the little bit of shadow I have. Other than that, I use a lipstick that's as close to the color of my own lips as possible with a bit of chapstick underneath. It's rare that I do anything with my eyes or eyebrows. I tried in the past several times and couldn't really get them right, then I realized I was one of the very few people in my age group even bothering with that stuff. I would definitely do some searches on "how to apply makeup" though because there are tips I never would have thought of. For instance the type of makeup you're supposed to use is dependent upon the lighting. Some looks better at night. Some looks better in artificial light. Some looks better for photography.

For the nails I'd say that unless you have an extremely steady hand, take a look at the stuff that you glue on already painted or go to a salon. I can get the nails pretty good, but I always end up hitting the cuticles and have to do the cotton swab in remover trick, which of course then I miss again and take off some of the polish and the cycle repeats.

[Devlyn]

Here's some reading material, but practice, practice, practice is definitely the answer! Hugs, Devlyn

https://www.susans.org/reference/index.html#Make-up

http://susans.org/wiki/Makeup

[ChelseaAnn]

Thanks ladies! Keep the tips coming. I won't be doing makeup for quite some time, since I don't think I'll be coming out to my wife until late August. But, I want to be ready!

[Jess42]

Emily got you on the foundation and concealer. I use eyshadow, mascara, eyeliner and blush and like she said less is more. I am not particular on brands but use good quality. Make sure you blend when it comes to the foundation though and try to match your natural skin tone. Eyeshadow is pretty much your preference on color and so on. I have green eyes and try to use a color that accentuates my eyes. The eyliner is kind of difficult for me and takes me awhile because I apply it a little at a time, how much all depends on the look you're going for. Mascara too, little at a time and keep applying small amounts until you get the look you want. With mascare it is extremely easy to clump. As for Nailpolish, I don't use a base coat or top coat and just put it on myself. I can't use the false fingernails because I have to keep them short or they get in the way. I like and use Sally Hanson because it seems to dry a little faster and comes off easier. As for eyebrows, I don't use eybrow pencils. I usually use a tiny brush and darken them with a darker colored eyeshadow, again a little at a time and not too much.

Like Emily said, Practice, practice, practice. If you know anyone that could teach you face to face and explain that will do wonders. That's what I did and it was a lot easier to understand instead of reading how to do it in books or magazines. I don't know how the tutorials are thow. Definately the more you do it the easier it gets to get it just right.

I would definately go toward the cheaper makeup until I got it to the point that I was satisfied with the results. I would apply it, wash it off and reapply until I was comfortable with it. Then I went to get the quality stuff.

[ChelseaAnn]

Ok. Just one thing: I still have no idea what any of that stuff looks like. Tell me to put eyeliner on or blush, I'd probably grab the wrong thing

[xchristine]

No such thing with  make up kit...
Yes all girls have tools all others have....

Some use a liquid foundation...I prefer powder...
Some use eueshadows....with brushes styro ends...
I use my pinky with tissue paper around finger...

We all have a pencil sharpner..earn to use it...
Some times some pencils need a very sharp point ..
Some never get sharp and leave a smudged smoky look
Some pencils of varying colors....red black brown...
All can be used for lips also.....am outline before lipstick
Some usr brushes to apply lipstick. My personal favorite and a
Shiny gloss layer over lipstick...

Some use a powder and brush for blushing...I don't usually...
For clubbikgn out I use whites over eyes and down my side of eyes to
Curve around to my cheeks ..veryigjtly. .than dust with glitter.

Some use mascara and a eyelash Curler...many types...

So with that you have a functional kit that can have color blended
It's a practice thing to not look like a qween...and even
Young girls learn the hard way.  But I noticed with hrt it's
More natural to do make after.  Ike I used to do sub 5 minute
Faces...and it all fit in my purse...
Tools...
Tweezers...
2 pencils one red one black
Tiny shapner...
One dark red lipstick..
One eyeshadow wirh blacks browns and another with blues pinks.blend them
One little glitter white base pot...

Read a book....all make up follows geometry and you
Need to learn to make your eyes pop out..and your lips...

[ChelseaAnn]

I think I'm gonna try makeup sometime soon. What do I use to get it all off, so my wife doesn't catch me too early

[Eva Marie]

They have makeup removal wipes for that. I had some eyeliner that would not come off no matter how much i tried and my wife took pity on me and went and bought some of those wipes and the eyeliner came right off.

The kind she got me is called "almay" and it's in a small round container. You should be able to find these wipes anywhere.

[Beth Andrea]

My suggestion is to try one thing at a time, and learn how to apply that element well, before moving on. You might scare yourself if you put it all on at once, and not know where the failure started...(I'm speaking from experience LOL)

Foundation (I use liquid, Cover Girl)

eta: oh yeah, makeup removal wipes (thanks, Riven1!)

Powder

Eye shadow

Eye liner  <--this is a lot of fun to play with, if you can...I have "hooded eyes" so I can't. 

Blush (also known as "bronzer", just a different spectrum of color...blush is on the red side of things (think cold cheeks = red cheeks; bronze cheeks = tanned in summer)

Lipstick (anytime, but for me it was the last thing to practice...although I did use Chapstick before any "real" lipstick)

Feel free to use Google and YouTube on "make up basics" etc, and when you go into a drug store (much less expensive than dept stores), feel free to ask the clerks, "Hey, I'm kinda new to makeup...tell me what "foundation" is, and how do I find what shade is right for me?" Trust me, they've heard all the alibis before (you're getting it for a friend, for your wife, for a Halloween party, for a Bachelor/ette party...they know it's for you, and they won't laugh)



Good luck!


Btw, you can de-hair your body without your wife's permission. You can tell her "I was just curious. Don't worry, it'll grow back." And then keep it off, and say, "I'm sorry, I guess it didn't grow back."

Try not to laugh too hard saying this to her, or it'll tip your hand. 

[ChelseaAnn]

Great to now. Thanks

[xchristine]

The most sure and thouroufh way is using an
Oil ....oil cleansing method. ..Google it...

Also cleans your pores slowly and softens skin..

Otc make up removers...I'm not sold on them..

It's fast easy way...

[Beth Andrea]

Also...start moisturizing your face and skin. Do it daily, you will notice a difference over a short period of time, but even more so as the years go by...

And USE SUNSCREEN! That's probably the biggest aging factor in old skin (never mind skin cancers)...too much sun/not enough protection.

[Lyric]

The process of applying makeup skillfully is not unlike learning the basics of drawing or painting. Most anyone can do it, but you need to practice and give yourself time to develop the skill. Just assume that your first few tries won't have satisfactory results.

You have an advantage over a lot of us who took this stuff up long ago-- YouTube. There are probably almost as many makeup instruction videos on YouTube as funny cat ones. Do a few searches and you'll find a lot of them. The more specific the search the better-- like "eyeshadow tutorial" or something.

Just don't expect to be an expert overnight. Little girls spend hours playing with makeup (and dominating the bathroom) before blossoming into glamorous women. Giver yoursef a lot of practice time.

~ Lyric ~

[xchristine]

         

              http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/

Cleana makeup....clears pores...and its oil...sinks into skin..
And makes a natural barrier for soft skin

Try it for a month...you all will love it..

[Joanna Dark]

The first thing you should learn to do is to pluck your eyebrows. You're going to need to look up a YouTube tutorial since you have never done it and always pluck from the bottom. it may be helpful to go get a professional waxing as that will make it easier to pluck after that but you are prob not at that stage yet. People can notice it but as long as you don't go crazy who cares. Tons of guys do their eyebrows now in some fashion. It's really no big deal.

After that find what foundation matches your skin tone and get on it. You may have great skin and don;t need I don't know. But show me a girl says she doesn't use at least some foundation or powder and I will show you a liar lol most girls do and the whole "girls my age don't use makeup" isn't true. Yeah they don't use makeup just foundation, a teeny bit of liner and some lip gloss. I maybe know one girl who maybe didn't use makeup and she was the prettiest girl i have ever know and she knew it. She said she didn't have to cause she is naturally pretty and she was right.

Good luck. And depending how ingrained masculinity is in you, makeup may feel really weird. I have been doing it since forever so yeah. But I could understand how some people would be a little apprehensive. If you going to transition, you should learn though. Its obviously not a requirement.

[barbie]

As I am not good at wearing makeup and I do not have enough leisure time, I just sometimes wear mascara for my eyes. For face, foundation and infrequently powder. For eyebrows, just trim a little bit. And wear lip gross. These are all I can afford to do. And, it does not require any skill or practice.

barbie~~

[Jess42]

Btw, you can de-hair your body without your wife's permission. You can tell her "I was just curious. Don't worry, it'll grow back." And then keep it off, and say, "I'm sorry, I guess it didn't grow back."

Try not to laugh too hard saying this to her, or it'll tip your hand. 

What Beth said is quite easy to do. In my case it's far more hygienic. I started doing this after hitting puberty because becase I was getting infections under my arms. A doctor actually suggested it. There are quite a few excuses for doing it non trans related. You can even tell her a guy friend was talking about for the hygeine. In my opinion, genticmales got the short end of the hair removal aspect and in fact more and more cisguys are starting to do it.

[Emily Aster]

One more tip. There are probably trans friendly makeup artists in your area somewhere. The one near me not only does glamour shots, but she also does a one-on-one class where the first half is used to have you watch her apply makeup on you along with an explanation of what and why, and the second half is you trying to replicate it. Much more useful than Youtube in my opinion.

[SarahLynn]

Makeup specialists are great and generally understanding. I found a local spa that does makeup lessons for teens. They show you how to apply, have you do half the face, and find colors that work for you.

I personally wouldn't pluck, find yourself an esthetician and ask them to clean up your brows in a gender neutral fashion. That's how I did it. It helped my confidence level tremendously. The hardest part is actually walking in the door.

Most people that work in hair or makeup have seen customers like us before and it doesn't bother them. Actually I consider the ladies at my spa to be like big sisters. They always take such great care of me and always make me feel like a woman.