Makeup and androgynes

[Nero]

Good evening guys and dolls.

I am curious to know if makeup is included in your androgyne presentation.
If so, how much and what types (mascara, shadow, lipstick, etc) of makeup provide what you consider to be an androgynous look?

Is there a certain amount or type of makeup that you feel is contrary to an androgynous look?

Your inquisitive friend,
Nero

[Mia and Marq]

What little makeup I actually have or use is mostly simple and rather subtle colors and shades that compliment instead of stand out. I rarely though feel any makeup is necessary because I'm beautiful just the way I am. And besides Marq doesn't like make up all that much if its going to stand out. I think what I'm saying is if you can obviously tell its there then maybe its too much.


Mia and Marq
What do you mean theres only 1 donut left?

[Kendall]

Makeup views are going to be different for genetic born girls, boys, and intersex.

For me it depends on weither I am in a masculizing or feminizing mood.

Masculine: No makeup
Mascara is my first layer of makeup. Sometimes I just add that and its good.

Next layer or step further is foundation.

I also do some lip care with moisturizers and sometimes plumpers.

Androgynous: Those 3 are the extent of my androgynous look for me. Mascara, foundation, and lipmoisturizer/plumper.

Feminine: Adding lipstick, liner, and shadow is more my feminine mode mood, for me. Together with the mascara, foundation and lipcare.

Is there a certain amount or type of makeup that you feel is contrary to an androgynous look?

I am sure genetic born females would feel more likely to dislike makeup and opt for a more masculine look, or only slightly feminized with very little makeup.

If I am crossdressing I opt for more extreme feminization or masculization look.

Of course 50% of androgynes according to the poll androgyny influences appearance and clothing. The other 50% will likely say appearance doesnt matter nor reflect their psychological androgyny.

[Pica Pica]

i don't, but i have often considered having my eyelashes dyed a bit darker.

[no_id]

That's a pretty funny question since I'm allergic to a lot of types of make-up. Even when going girl:mode (for work) you won't catch me with more than masscara, eyeliner, a touch of lipgloss and if necessary some foundation (the only brand I'm not allergic to) which is rather dark so I have to mix it with white eye shadow to match my pale skin tone.

Otherwise (outside of work) I often don't have any make-up on apart from some masscara every now and then and a hint of black and white eyeliner to make my eyes look bigger (big, blue eyes are pretty no?). Coloured lipstick is a big no-no since it makes me look more corpse/vampiric-like than I already do, and definitely overly femme... Therfore you could say I only use make-up as a tool to accentuate and prettify.

However, getting back to the initial question; what is an androgynous look concerning make-up I'd have to say it very much depends on your scene; your personal style. Just look around you; there are more than enough punk and goth boys wearing eyeliner and painting their nails[...] Additionally, although the popular answer may be neutral I definitely don't want to rule out Visual Kei whether it's sported by a natal female or male. I, for one, wouldn't hesitate going Visual Kei if the event was suitable[...] And then there's still Fashion; the uprise of the Androgynous look wherin borders of feminin and masculine wear are fading. I don't see how that should be any different for make-up: if the colour matches, wear it. 

[Laurry]

Make-up?  Depends on the mood/mode.  Here is what I wear:

Work (Guy mode): No make-up or fingernail polish (though my nails are buffed to be shiny, and worn longer than most GMs)

Normal Public (Androgenic?):  Usually wear eye shadow (muted colors like plum or earth tones) and mascara, and sometimes with just enough lipstick to add just a hint of color or just a bit of gloss.  Fingernails are polished with a pink-based translucent (Ulta Sweet-Tart is my current fav)

Normal Home:  Usually add lipstick to the Normal Public.

Fem (Girl mode):  Concealer, Foundation, Lipstick, Bright (very noticeable) fingernail polish...pretty much what every girl wears when dressing up except for eyeliner (still haven't got the hang of it and I like my eyes much better without it)



Having said all that, the original question was How much and what kind of makeup provides what I consider to be an androgynous look?  I agree with no_id that it depends on your scene and personal style.  I would add that, for me, under normal day-to-day circumstances, if it is glaringly obvious I am wearing makeup then I have too much or the wrong type on and am not presenting completely androgynous.  Your face has to look somewhat male (which normally means no makeup) yet look smooth and nice enough to belong to a female who is wearing very little makeup.

These are my opinion of how an androgynous look works for me.  They may or may not work for someone else.

......Laurry     

[krys]

It depends on time, usually at work I don't worry about makeup as I have to get up at 5:15 in the morning and don't feel the overwhelming urge to spend 20 minutes in front of a mirror. When not at work though, or if I'm not in work early I have a strong sense of aesthetic. I use foundation to get rid of blotches and imperfections in my skin (I have imperfections?  ) as I don't have fantastic skin naturally, and also sometimes a touch of khol (I have dark eyes and it makes the most of them) and clear nail varnish. I also dye and shape my eyebrows, as they are naturally light relative to my skin and eyes, so do not look pleasing, and darker eyebrows appeal to my aesthetic.

The aim for me is not to look as if I have makeup, but to please my own sense of aesthetic.

[Nero]

I also dye and shape my eyebrows, as they are naturally light relative to my skin and eyes, so do not look pleasing, and darker eyebrows appeal to my aesthetic.

i don't, but i have often considered having my eyelashes dyed a bit darker.

Very interesting. I've sometimes wondered about this type of thing as I am blond and would love dark eyelashes.
I thought it was impossible because you could go blind or something.
How do you two do it? Yourself or at a salon? How safe is it? What happens when the dye grows out? Is that dangerous?

[Pica Pica]

it's done at beauty salons, i suppose they have special stuff - it's only been an idle thought. I think my mum would like me to dye them, she's quite jealous of the eye lashes

[krys]

Very interesting. I've sometimes wondered about this type of thing as I am blond and would love dark eyelashes.
I thought it was impossible because you could go blind or something.
How do you two do it? Yourself or at a salon? How safe is it? What happens when the dye grows out? Is that dangerous?

I don't think it's dangerous, but you do have to have it done at a salon for obvious reasons. I think the dye doens't last as long as normal hair dye (neither does the dye used on eyebrows) as it's a weaker mix. I havn't tried it myself though.

[sparkles]

when out i tend to wear a little mascara, some bronzer, eyebrow pencil, and lip gloss. and nails with clear gloss. i use make up to try and bring out my best fetures rather than for the sake of just wearing it. when i was more tg id be caked in it and its not a nice feeling, its like wearing a mask.

[Tay]

I like eyeliner.  Lots of it.  It makes my eyes look awesome.

But I rarely wear it cause I always end up smearing it.

[RebeccaFog]

I have never worn any makeup for serious.

i tried some nail polish last year but was too self conscious to keep it up.  I used to want to do a lot of eye stuff but never had the courage.

[shawnael]

I like eyeliner (makes my eyes stand out), but I generally don't wear makeup. It's too much hassle, plus I work in a pool. So that's a dumb idea.

[Seshatneferw]

I've never really worn makeup as such, except for two things.

In my early teens I tried my mother's lipstick a couple of times, but that was enough -- looking back, it's hard to say whether I stopped because I got scared or because it really wasn't my thing. Nowadays it's definitely the latter.

I've always had a thing about taking reasonably good care of my nails. Back when I thought I was male that was mostly limited to filing them in a proper shape and smooth at the end. When I thought I was MtF I tried nail polish a couple of times, but didn't feel comfortable wearing it in public, mostly for fear of being outed. Nowadays I have no problem having my nails trimmed short, but with a little more care and a coat of clear polish on them.

  Nfr

[Shana A]

Early on in transition I used makeup and sometimes nail polish to look more femme, but haven't used any of that stuff in years now.

Zythyra

[Warumono]

I don't know if any of you people have heard of Visual Kei, but that is sometimes my style. (It's an androgynous gothic style originating in Japan.)

So apart from on regular days when I wear no make-up, I do sometimes wear dark gothic make-up ranging in amounts from a little black eyeliner to multiple layers of dramatic paint. I also regularly dye my hair different colours. I hope that answered your question.

[Laurry]

Nice to meet you, Warumono!  Welcome to Susan's

When you have time, you may consider writing a short intro in the Introductions Forum, that way, everyone could "meet and greet" you...or as we say down south, "Swap Howdy's".  Please take a few minutes, if you haven't already, to read the Terms of Service.  The rules for this site allow a lot of lattitude, but Susan does expect all of us to behave.

I have heard of Visual Kei and like the way it looks.  It is not something us geezers tend to wear, tho, so I have never tried it.  (OK, maybe geezer is the wrong word, but based on the "How Old Are You?" discussion, age seems to be as hard to define as everything else in the Androgyne world.)

Do you dye your hair the same color all over, or just in sections?  To quote my aunt who is almost 90, "It's none of my business except I'm curious"

Again, welcome

...Laurry

[NickSister]

I really can't be fussed wearing makeup most of the time. When I was younger I would often go with eyeliner, eye shadow and maybe some lippy, but these days I find it impractical. I'm a bit rough and active and I tend to rub my eyes.

[emmi/andy]

I don't really like makeup. It's okay sometimes, but if I wear it, it's just eyeshadow. I don't wear anything on my lips because I'm a trombone player, and getting lipstick inside my horn is a bad thing. I use a moisturizer to keep my face soft and chapstick constantly, but nothing that smells weird or has color in it. I feel more comfortable without makeup, and I don't like how it smells. If I feel really girly I'll put some on, but I usually feel better without it.

I think the amount of makeup that looks androgynous depends a lot on the individual. I look more androgynous without makeup, but male bodied people look more androgynous with a little.