Buying makeup for the first time tomorrow!

[supergirl23]

Hey everyone!

So I have decided that I will be buying makeup for the first time tomorrow! Is there anything I should know before I do?

[SamanthaNJ]

It's all about the brushes! Don't buy cheap brushes and the rest is gravy

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[Michelle_P]

Good brushes!   Definitely!

I'd suggest a pore-reducing primer like Benefit, a color-matched concealer foundation that brushes on easily, and a red-orange corrector for that blue-ish beard shadow down deep in paler skin if needed.

Play with that stuff first, then you can add eye stuff as appropriate.

[sarah1972]

Same here... Tuesday was the big day. Found some lipstick almost matching my natural color and brought up the courage to wear it in the office today. Forgot that we have white paper coffee cups.... Guess no one noticed.

Still trying to figure out Mascara. The Neutrogena I bought has a too big brush and I am struggling with that part. Looks so easy on YouTube...

[CrazyCatMan]

Make sure to get setting powder, make up remover and face lotion. Setting powder will help your makeup stay on longer and not look greasy. Makeup remover and lotion is super important if your skin is dry and damaged your make up will not look as good. A natural light mirror is a must have.

Also match your foundation to your under forearm or pick one that is a little lighter than the skin on your face, this will prevent your face from getting that redish look, and If you have blue/purple under eye circles get a cover up that is yellow tinted (for using just under your eyes).

[Alex Forbes]

Lots of good advice here. Definitely find a good moisturizer that won't make you break out. Also, I highly recommend a primer for eye shadow - this keeps your eye shadow in place, since the metallic particles tend to vanish over time as your eyelids open and close.

I think a makeover is a good idea, or at least some color advice from an expert at MAC or Sephora. The folks at those places are sensational and can be very helpful - foundation color in particular can be difficult to nail down without expert advice. I nailed it down myself, but I went through beaucoup bucks before I settled on a shade!

[supergirl23]

So I did go out and buy some makeup at sally beauty as I am on a limited budget, but I'm going to return it all soon. Each time that I used a makeup tutorial I don't get that feminine look. I just look like my self with a lot of makeup on. I suspect that is because the associate at the store who helped me had me buy a liquid highlighter instead of a contouring pallet. She was trying to save me as much money as she could and she was just an awesome person so I can't complain. Does anybody have any suggestions?

[Dena]

Ask them if they will help you go through a trial application with what you have. It takes time to learn how to apply makeup lightly and correctly. A little instruction might go a long way.

[EmilyMK03]

I wasted so much money trying different types of foundation in different shades in an effort to find the right one.  I tried all the drugstore brands - Cover Girl, Maybelline, etc.  But none of them worked, even though I bought every possible shade for my skin tone (I'm Korean).  I then tried buying foundation online from makeup brands that are formulated for Asian women (yellow undertones), such as EX1 Cosmetics, but that still didn't work for me.  All of their shades were too dark.

I finally gave up and went to a MAC Cosmetics store and got colormatched.  I'm not too happy with having to spend $40 for foundation, but all the cheaper brands just didn't work for me.  I should have just gone to MAC in the first place!

Incidentally, Shisheido foundation also works for me, but that's even more expensive than MAC.

[SashaGrace]

Uch MAC, I hate (and I use the word lightly) MAC makeup for their brutal animal testing but that aside the basics for makeup as far as I'm concerned would be a good primer, anything decent to help the makeup adhere, also if you haven't had any laser etc done with smooth out your skin. You could get a concealer for a really flawless look but not essential. I use a krayolon colour wheel which is cheap enough and amazingly good tbf. I don't know if they sell Clinique makeup where you are but their primer is one of the best IMO. As for foundation there's two I go for depending on what I want to achieve, either Dior Airflash which is amazing like an airbrush effect for flawless skin or Estee Lauder doublewear which is also incredible and layerable. Either one of them when you visit the counter will colour match you for the best result. After that look at some simple eye stuff, liquid eyeliner and some good brushes, some false lashes if yours are a little short and some eyeshadow. To top it all off some nice blusher and some lipstick to match your outfit. I deffo agree on quality brushes, makes all the difference

Consider having your eyebrows waxed or threaded for a more feminine shape if you haven't already. 

[supergirl23]

Uch MAC, I hate (and I use the word lightly) MAC makeup for their brutal animal testing but that aside the basics for makeup as far as I'm concerned would be a good primer, anything decent to help the makeup adhere, also if you haven't had any laser etc done with smooth out your skin. You could get a concealer for a really flawless look but not essential. I use a krayolon colour wheel which is cheap enough and amazingly good tbf. I don't know if they sell Clinique makeup where you are but their primer is one of the best IMO. As for foundation there's two I go for depending on what I want to achieve, either Dior Airflash which is amazing like an airbrush effect for flawless skin or Estee Lauder doublewear which is also incredible and layerable. Either one of them when you visit the counter will colour match you for the best result. After that look at some simple eye stuff, liquid eyeliner and some good brushes, some false lashes if yours are a little short and some eyeshadow. To top it all off some nice blusher and some lipstick to match your outfit. I deffo agree on quality brushes, makes all the difference

Consider having your eyebrows waxed or threaded for a more feminine shape if you haven't already.

So what about contouring? I've been watching male to female makeup videos and every one of them has had some kind of contouring technique. I thought that a simple bronzer would help with that but im starting to think that I need a contouring pallet to get the feminine facial features that I need. And also, should I consider taking a cosmetology course? I don't seem to really be getting the hang of using makeup and the videos seem kind of confusing.

[EmilyMK03]

On Amazon, you can buy a very inexpensive contouring palette ($8) called City Color Contouring Effects.  The package also has a diagram that guides you in application.  I tried it out, and it was very helpful.  And for just $8, it's worth trying out.

But you said yourself that you're just starting out and buying makeup for the first time.  In which case I would suggest avoiding contouring altogether. It will just make things more complicated.  Start with the simple things first!  The most important thing is finding the right shade of foundation.

Most women don't use contouring anyway.  It just takes too much time.  Contouring is something that's done more for special occasions.  For everyday life, you don't need to worry about it.

[SashaGrace]

So what about contouring? I've been watching male to female makeup videos and every one of them has had some kind of contouring technique. I thought that a simple bronzer would help with that but im starting to think that I need a contouring pallet to get the feminine facial features that I need. And also, should I consider taking a cosmetology course? I don't seem to really be getting the hang of using makeup and the videos seem kind of confusing.

The Krayolon wheel has enough shades to contour with but if you can't get one, any cheap contour kit on eBay will do providing it has a few shades between pale cream and dark brown and a pink and a green in it. Green is to hide spots and redness, Pink is to highlight so like the top of the cheek bones etc and the rest is up to you. I use one of the lightest shades around my eyes and a colour 3 shades darker than my skin tone to shape my face with. Bare minimum to contour I would say is highlight under eyes by drawing a v shape underneath them then filling in, between your eyebrows in a v, then fill in, draw a straight line down your nose then 3-4 little whiskers coming up from your mouth over your cheeks. Darken across from where you hair ends by your ears down slightly to chisel out your cheek bone then draw the line vertical down towards the bottom of you face on both sides. I then do a few small lines around the top of my forehead and either side of my nose to thin it out (though my nose is crooked so I don't use a regular technique there) and the pink highlight on top of your dark contour line. Once you've done that, blend it in with a blending sponge or brush and enjoy the difference it all comes down to practice I think, took me a while to nail it down.

These days my routine is Krayolon wheel to contour on top of Clinique Primer then spritz over with Dior Airflash then blend with a brush in circular or dabbing motion then a spot of bronzer over the top to bring the life back into the face followed by some translucent setting power (I use one from Bare Minerals) then some quick eye makeup, lippy and blusher then we're done!! That gives a result something like below



Once you get used to it all it only takes about 10 mins at the most and that includes brushing my hair etc.

[supergirl23]

The Krayolon wheel has enough shades to contour with but if you can't get one, any cheap contour kit on eBay will do providing it has a few shades between pale cream and dark brown and a pink and a green in it. Green is to hide spots and redness, Pink is to highlight so like the top of the cheek bones etc and the rest is up to you. I use one of the lightest shades around my eyes and a colour 3 shades darker than my skin tone to shape my face with. Bare minimum to contour I would say is highlight under eyes by drawing a v shape underneath them then filling in, between your eyebrows in a v, then fill in, draw a straight line down your nose then 3-4 little whiskers coming up from your mouth over your cheeks. Darken across from where you hair ends by your ears down slightly to chisel out your cheek bone then draw the line vertical down towards the bottom of you face on both sides. I then do a few small lines around the top of my forehead and either side of my nose to thin it out (though my nose is crooked so I don't use a regular technique there) and the pink highlight on top of your dark contour line. Once you've done that, blend it in with a blending sponge or brush and enjoy the difference it all comes down to practice I think, took me a while to nail it down.

These days my routine is Krayolon wheel to contour on top of Clinique Primer then spritz over with Dior Airflash then blend with a brush in circular or dabbing motion then a spot of bronzer over the top to bring the life back into the face followed by some translucent setting power (I use one from Bare Minerals) then some quick eye makeup, lippy and blusher then we're done!! That gives a result something like below



Once you get used to it all it only takes about 10 mins at the most and that includes brushing my hair etc.

So basically I would do my makeup like any other woman would? Back in march I had a professional cosmetologist do my makeup for me using the methods they would on any other girl and it looked like I was a guy wearing makeup.

[SashaGrace]

Well that's how I've always done it but I suppose it's differnet for everyone. Silly question but do you know any drag queens?? When in doubt they always have the answer haha, I know some really manly looking guys that do drag and make stunning women and I could probably do even better if I wanted to learn but I've always done my makeup that way as its quick of a morning. There are some m2f makeup specialists that run courses and makeover days, maybe see if there's something like that near you?? Otherwise I'd be after some cheap makeup and keep trying different things I suppose

[Maria77]

Sasha's advice is very good.  Drag queens know about our special challenges such as beard cover.  You might try a guy at the MAC counter-most of them will likely have experimented with painting their own faces.  Also I like PatrickStarr videos on youtube.