Foundation Make-Up

[MelissaAnn]

Good afternoon girls,
I'm looking into buying makeup for the first time, and was wondering about the foundation. Does anybody out there have any experience or knowledge about mineral makeup versus straight out cover girl liquid makeup? I don't have a 5 o'clock shadow as I've already completed my laser hair removal, so just curious which type of makeup would be better? Any help in this area would be greatly appreciated.
Melissa Ann

[Sydney_NYC]

I have tried both and I love mineral makeup. Specifically bareMinerals line from Bare Escentuals. It feels so natural to wear and looks the most natural to me. It's doesn't cover 5 o'clock shadow well which like you I don't have since it's been lasered off. (I still have some white hairs being dealt with by electrolysis.) I still have a slight shadow on my upper lip that is still being worked on with laser, but it's hardly noticeable and I've seen cis women with more of a shadow. On days that it seems to stick out, foundation with a little red lipstick applied very lightly on the upper lip with bareMineral concealers works great.

The first time I went to the store in the mall, I have just gone full time for a few weeks and they showed me how to apply everything. I just simply came out as transgender and that I was having laser at the time. They were great and showed me everything in the store and picked out the right shades to use. I walked out with my face done, and a complete kit for $75 and they even wrote down instructions for me. An extremely positive experience.

[amber roskamp]

I have tried both and I love mineral makeup. Specifically bareMinerals line from Bare Escentuals. It feels so natural to wear and looks the most natural to me. It's doesn't cover 5 o'clock shadow well which like you I don't have since it's been lasered off. (I still have some white hairs being dealt with by electrolysis.) I still have a slight shadow on my upper lip that is still being worked on with laser, but it's hardly noticeable and I've seen cis women with more of a shadow. On days that it seems to stick out, foundation with a little red lipstick applied very lightly on the upper lip with bareMineral concealers works great.

The first time I went to the store in the mall, I have just gone full time for a few weeks and they showed me how to apply everything. I just simply came out as transgender and that I was having laser at the time. They were great and showed me everything in the store and picked out the right shades to use. I walked out with my face done, and a complete kit for $75 and they even wrote down instructions for me. An extremely positive experience.

wow this is something I need to do thanks for posting this. I tried the read lipstick trick and it looked absolutely terrible. but it was because I didn't have any training or the proper make-up. I plan on giving it another try but I need better makeup

[MelissaAnn]

Sydney,
Thank you very much for the post. Bare minerals is the make up that I've been seriously looking at. Just curious though what store was it that you want to? There is an Ultra beauty supply store about two blocks from me. I'm probably going to look there to see if they can help me find the right colors for both foundation and eyeshadows. I want to go with some more natural looking then overly flamboyant or flashy. I have a fair complexion with blue eyes so I'm thinking either a smoky o or Rosie into a purple light purple that is. I'm also going to need to learn how to do eyeliner which I've never done before, so I need all the help I can get. There's no way I can pass right now, as I'm just lining up for informed consent HRT. Are there any stores out there that you know of that are trans-friendly? Thank you very much for advice and look forward to seeing you around the forums. Big hug for me to you!!
Melissa Ann

[Sydney_NYC]

Sydney,
Thank you very much for the post. Bare minerals is the make up that I've been seriously looking at. Just curious though what store was it that you went to? There is an Ultra beauty supply store about two blocks from me.

Glad to help. I went to the one at Palisades Center Mall in West Nyack, NY. It was on a Sunday as malls in Bergen County, NJ are closed on Sundays. (Blue Laws) There is one closer in Garden State Plaza, but it's one of the older smaller store designs.

[whatever]

Sephora and MAC don't bat an eye when you ask makeup advice and are happily to apply samples for you. Their prices can be a bit more expensive but I figure I've saved regardless by being able to negate trial and error with regards to drugstore brands. Being perfectly color matched and getting a product that works with my skin type is just so important to my makeup routine. I am an older transitioner though so I have to be a little more selective when it comes to products.

For reference I use a really nice liquid concealer and foundation from Clinique. Lasts forever. Also don't be stingy and buy a decent foundation brush. I have one from Urban Decay that has seriously never shed.

[Wynternight]

Sephora will give you a makeup tutorial for $50 but they apply that money towards the cost of what you buy. I intend on going to the store here in town sometime soon.

[MelissaAnn]

Thanks for the advice. I too have heard that bare minerals is very light and feels very natural. I am also an older transitioning female. I'm not afraid to go into any store to ask for what I need as I am very confident in who I am, and really don't care what anybody else thinks. It's just that I do want to get some help and some lessons on how to do makeup that's why I'm asking about trans-friendly stores. Because there's no way I can pass right now. The other thing that I was wondering about is the blush because I want to go more natural looking and don't want to look like I have two beacons on my cheeks. But I guess I'll find all this out when I do venture into the store. I have no intention of going the department store route and would think that going to a makeup counter her beauty store would work out better. I've also given some thought to doing something like Mary Kay cosmetics or Meryl Norman cosmetics. I do believe I would much rather go with bare minerals and anything else, because from the commercials and tutorials that I have seen on YouTube, Mineral makeup does seem to be the most natural looking. I believe Mac cosmetics are very highly rated also and will probably look into their product line while looking into bare minerals. I'm also looking into buying my makeup brushes and would like a very good set with no shedding. But first I think I need to decide on what type of makeup to use first then by the appropriate brushes for that type of makeup. Ohhhh, being feminine is a lot more work than I thought it would be but I'm loving every minute of it! Just yesterday I had my legs waxed for the first time, along with the first manicure and pedicure and loved the pampering. I went with just a straight manicure without any colored nail polish. But the toes I went with light pink. ^ Sorry I got a little bit off-topic but it just feels so good to be talking to other people that understand what I'm going through.
Hugs,
Melissa Ann

[Lady_Oracle]

If I were you I'd go to sephora or any makeup store and try them out yourself and have someone help you find the right shade too.

Liquid is easy to blend and doesn't take much, I love it!

[Allyda]

I like the liquid concealers/foundations over the others myself. I've been using CoverGirl products and have had good luck with them and I have facial scars from my accident to hide. These do a very good job coupled with the Maybelline and Loreal powders I use on top. It gives me a very natural look and stays put -an important factor in this Florida heat. I tan very easily so I need two sets, sometimes three sets of shades, one for wintertime and a darker shade for summer, and one for the in between periods.

It's best when your starting out to do as others here have pointed out: Go to any makeup/beauty store, get some advice in finding the right shades for your skin type and try them out for yourself.

Ally

[KittyKat]

I usually apply concealer first then foundation. I just go to walmart or target and get something along the lines of covergirl or whatever is in make up aisle used to need a lot after 6 laser sessions barely need to use any after I shave.

[Nicole]

For something light and everyday, I wear BB cream

[Taka]

minerals feel really nice. compared to other types, it's a bit like comparing silk with plastic. the difference is best felt after a while, when it's still not getting uncomfortable.

the best advice on makeup is what you get at the story. nobody here can tell you what the right colors for you are, or how to apply them. people who work with makeup will only have to look at your face to start suggesting. it's good if you can tell them from the start what type of products you are interested in, they'll find everything you need in no time.

i don't think you need to worry about being trans. the girls who work at makeup stores would probably attack even men if they got a chance. because anyone can look just a little better with some makeup.

[Kimberley Beauregard]

I love Bare Minerals, but I put on a thin layer of primer and Mac concealer before applying powder.  I also apply beard concealer before MAC on the upper lip and chin where beard shadow is the most prominent.

[crowcrow223]

I like Bourjois's foundations tbh