Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hi, i don't have a lot of good make-up and i have a little mustache shadow is more like it actually, that i would like to temporarily make disappear out of sight when i go out instead of what i get when take pics (a little darkness above my upper lip).

 Shave as close to the grain as possible then apply a good foundation.

Dermablend covers up beard shadow really well. If your facial hair is really dark and thick then i'd go a shade darker then your normal shade just in case.

If you apply it in layers then your beard shadow shouldn't show through the makeup.

After a few laser sessions you can get away with less foundation.

Honestly Bareminerals has covered the best by far for me.

I have to agree on Bare Minerals, especially if you use it as a setting powder for a liquid foundation (unless you have extremely oily skin or it's hot outside). You'll have total coverage without getting too heavy or cakey.

I use Colorstay by Revlon.  It covers fine.  You can also try Dermablend.  And blend, blend and blend some more.  Light coats, don't go heavy.

I have a heavy coarse beard. I use MAC a rich cream base "full coverage foundation," and "select sheer/loose powder." About $30 US each. In tandem they do an excellent job at covering five o'clock shadow. I am a MAC girl!

Jamie

I'll second using MAC; I tried a lot of different things before starting laser cause I had a very heavy and coarse beard that seemed to grow like weeds. It's since thinning out quite nicely but prior to that I fell in love when I started using MAC's studio sculpt foundation. Its fantastic and I didn't need a lot at all

here is an old drag queen trick that worked for me until laser/electrolosys did job. Goto target or costume store and buy Clown White use the clown white first on uper lip chin and upper neck. use a liquid base foundation and blend in face really well.  -- make sure the white sits for 3 to 4 minutes before applying foundation. This really does work and can let you get by with using some of the cheaper foundations.

MAC or Dermablend...  both should do the trick..  My best cover up? LASER!  lol. 

hi mandyh92,great tip, I remember a long time ago I had some clown white,but never knew how to apply or use properly, i tried electrolysis,school, waxing,depilatories and all, this is a woman's main stress is her face,and it consumes alot of our time,my hairs got worse, now the shadow is like everyday, no matter what, i will try your tip to let it dry after 4 minutes then apply liquid foundation, i will note that they sell 2 clown whites at Ricky'sNYC, one is like a cream, and the other is a liquid, these are in different sizes and prices vary, the small 2 oz is $5.50, I heard different people try the red lipstick method and then some people use" No No" it is a device from an infomercial, search google or youtube, but it all boils down to what a woman can afford, cause we all still have to eat and have car fare,LOL,but seriously.

Love From,

CD

electrolysis is not overnight especially on the mustache.  I think laser works best but electrolysis is kill shot.

You need to work on the mustache every week to minimize regrowth shadow.

I used Dermablend. I have dermablend on in my profile pic. If you do it right it looks amazing. And let's put it this way...before my laser I could grow a full beard in a week. When I was presenting male I had to shave twice a day just to look decent.

The best way for me to get rid of my shadow was laser. Spent 900 dollars for 9 months worth. This was three years ago and I haven't picked up a razor yet. I picked laser because it was a fraction of the cost with electrolysis. Electrolysis would have cost me around 5,000 dollars.

Plus, I have a lifetime guarantee for laser touchups if I need it.

I'm going to have to try dermablend. I've been using some orange lip stick the opposite color on the color wheel to my beard color. I don't like having to put so much on my face to cover my beard.

Dermablend

I have the same problem with "shadow". Mine is my upper lip, chin (gotee area) and sides of my face (dark hair). My skin is a light color, so I was wondering what foundation I should use, and I have a problem with oily skin. Do I use a lighter color foundation, followed by powder or do I do something different?

Thanks for any help! 

I actually just pluck it. Lol. I was using a concealer before but can't afford designer makeup and anyway I could still see it a little bit 'cause all my hair grows really deep in the skin for some reason.

I use Clinique Stay-Matte Oil-Free Makeup. It's what the lady at the boutique recommended because of my poor skin condition. I just tap it in until everything offensive is covered up. Probably not perfect, it's just a foundation, after all, but it gives good coverage and looks fairly natural. Some moisturiser before.

they make color correcting concealers that can be used to fix things such as beard shadow.  you'll want to choose an orange shade to counteract the blue tinge of facial hair lying beneath skin.

personally i just use an orange lipstick.  mac has a shade called called morange that is perfect for the job.  i just apply a little bit using a finger or a small stippling brush.

i used to use ben nye's loose white powder on top of that and then cover fx on top of that and then mac's studio fix on top of that but i got sick of looking like i was wearing a lot of makeup so now i layer both mac's studio fix and studio tech over the concealer in whichever order strikes my fancy.  one is a powder and one is a cream; sometimes i feel like setting the concealer with the powder before adding another layer of cream gives me greater coverage.  anyway i really recommend mac's studio fix - which is the powder one - as it has great coverage but looks so natural, and you can use it as a setting powder over any liquid or cream foundation to boost its power.

Before I got lasered, I tried a lot of different products and dermablend seemed to do the job the best.

Base Dermablend Vichy - Comercial - Farmagora (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmrMrvJc2n8#)

...I'll have to try it!

Dermablend is a transwoman best friend, especially when there still is still a shadow.

  This discussion finally pushed me to go out and buy some Dermablend.  The girl at the cosmetics counter simply asked if it was for me and then she tested a couple of shades on my face to get the right one.  The manufacturer considers it a unisex product anyway.  This was a simple, low stress way to begin my cosmetics-buying adventures but overall will have the most dramatic effect on my face and neck.  It was enough to cover day-old stubble and spreads astonishingly far using a small amount.

  I was quite pleased with the effect of applying Dermablend alone without any additional makeup.  My experiment did continue however with a hint of blush, lip gloss, eyeliner and eyeshadow.  My attempt was actually very good, although I think my eyes don't look so good surrounded by too much dark.  In future I will use lighter colours there.  I prefer to have as natural a look as possible.  I hear subtlety is an important lesson for all when it comes to make-up.

You always hear Dermablend mentioned, but I always assumed it wasn't something they sold in regular stores and you'd have to buy it online.

So, as I like to buy things in shops where I can see and try things, I never looked into it.

I just googled it again now though, and I discover that actually they do sell it in stores. So I shall have to have a look next time I'm in town now.

I do wonder quite how thick it is though - looking at that advertising video with the skeleton guy, I'm inclined to think you might disappear entirely if you put too much on, lol!

On the Dermablend note... How have you been putting it on? It just seems too thick for a brush, just with your finger or a foam make up sponge?  What seems to to the trick the best? Thankfully laser has gotten most of my beard, however the "muzzle" is still holding out on getting cleared, and of course it's the most noticeable place... Grr.. >:( but I pick up some dermablend and it seems to be a good match to my skin tone, it's just the application I'm working on.

I've been using dermablend and it seems to be working so far but my face gets kind of shiny and that looks yuck, how to get the shine off without losing the cover-up (i tried power but my power's are too light and i have no money).

I read this thread and was trying to get out of work in time to make it to Ulta so I could pick up some dermablend, but alas a rather testosterone amplified coworker kept me there 2 min too late... when I showed up at the store in WeHo they had JUST locked the door- it was 9pm on the head!

Dior BB cream has been working for me, but the shadow still comes through at the end of the day! Ugh. Sounds like dermablend will fix that. I cannot wait. I also have my third laser session in less than a week, so I'm hoping this will be the last couple of months I even have to deal with covering a shadow. Fingers crossed.

Ohhh well... guess it will have to wait until tomorrow. **SHRUGS** :D

Thanks for this thread, I have been getting more and more dysphoric about noticing any bit of beard shadow visible on my face. Yuck.

Seems like susans has the ability to read my mind. Anyone else feel like that going through transition??

Hi everyone. If you can afford it Laser (here in Oz called IPL) is the way to go. I have had hundreds of hours of Electronlysis on my chin, throat, face, but never got to the Upper lip and lower lip because of the pain. I kept putting it off, but late last year went to my Beauticians in Melbourne and started on IPL. I have had 6 treatments, over 12 weeks and i wax. The results are amazing. The last session was 2 weeks ago and I still haven't needed to shave the upper lip. There is still just a few tiny hairs there now and I have one more IPL session then its just once every two months for remedial work. Oh and the best bit - no blue shadow!.

The only downside is I had to raid the savings for the $1000 it cost me, but think of al the money I am saving in makeup and girls I can tell you it has done wonders to my confidence and ability to pass.

I just need to work on the deportment stuff.

By the way I wish I could remember who mentioned Diana Ferrari shoes - whoever it was thanyou so much the C wide fittings are just gorgeous and in my size.

Hugs

Quote from: Annah on September 15, 2012, 01:06:10 PM. And let's put it this way...before my laser I could grow a full beard in a week. When I was presenting male I had to shave twice a day just to look decent.

How could that be? Most intersex/Klinefelter people have very sparse, almost next to nothing bodyhair , including very sparse armpithair and  almost next to nothing beardgrowth because intersex/Klinefelter inhibits testosterone production?

I'm probably one of the few who doesn't use Dermablend at all. Nor do I use the heavy oily foundations they sell to women.

Instead I use theatrical/stage make up, such as Kryolan or Leichner with a light dusting of translucent powder. It's heat and water resistant and stays on all day. It costs you up to twice as much as a normal foundation (but is cheaper than Dermablend) and lasts a whole lot longer.

a little while back i ordered this precision flat brush from sigma:
http://www.sigmabeauty.com/Sigma_Precision_Flat_P80_p/p80.htm (http://www.sigmabeauty.com/Sigma_Precision_Flat_P80_p/p80.htm)
with a half-inch diameter, it's GREAT for targeting small areas like the upper lip.  i got it because with my other foundation brush i always ended up with too much makeup in areas where i didn't need it (just outside of my upper lip area, settling into laugh lines ;p ) and because doing any sort of quick touch-up was always difficult (i'd end up with foundation all over my lips too and have to redo those as well).  i also didn't want to be wearing more makeup than absolutely necessary, so being able to control where it is applied heaviest is important.
anyhow, i'm super super happy with this brush. 

i've been using it with kevyn aucoin's sensual skin enhancer as my foundation.  i feel it works really well for this purpose because it can be precisely applied at full coverage but then sheered out (with the help of a drop of cover fx's anti-aging primer to thin it down) really seamlessly in other areas.  this foundation seems expensive but it is *so* densely pigmented and will last you forever.

Noww. Think of this...g
Your making a cake foundation...heavy heavy cover
Which looks worse...

Anyone remember art class?? What if you used some red lipstick
And rubbed it into the shadow first...what color would that turn
Under powder ??

I suspect it will be more natural

http://feminizationsecrets.com/top-5-beard-concealing-tips/ (http://feminizationsecrets.com/top-5-beard-concealing-tips/)

       Enjoy

Quote from: judithlynn on February 01, 2013, 03:09:43 AM
Hi everyone. If you can afford it Laser (here in Oz called IPL) is the way to go. I have had hundreds of hours of Electronlysis on my chin, throat, face, but never got to the Upper lip and lower lip because of the pain. I kept putting it off, but late last year went to my Beauticians in Melbourne and started on IPL. I have had 6 treatments, over 12 weeks and i wax. The results are amazing. The last session was 2 weeks ago and I still haven't needed to shave the upper lip. There is still just a few tiny hairs there now and I have one more IPL session then its just once every two months for remedial work. Oh and the best bit - no blue shadow!.

IPL and laser are different - very different..

Quote from: Kelly the Trans-Rebel on June 18, 2013, 03:12:20 AM
IPL and laser are different - very different..

yes I was just going to reply to this..

The difference is that IPL doesn't work for thick deep rooted beards. The wavelength is not focused enough (it operates on a much more broad spectrum). I wouldn't trust IPL for beard removal, no matter how hard a salesperson tried to sell me on it.

Ipl will just only super heat your skin....

And I mean super heat. ..I did a face with ipl ONCE ..

the king of the hill is diode. ..or nd yag....
After 4 full face passes with diode some spots
Are not growing hair anymore. 

Quote from: xchristine on June 18, 2013, 09:04:32 PM
Ipl will just only super heat your skin....

And I mean super heat. ..I did a face with ipl ONCE ..

the king of the hill is diode. ..or nd yag....
After 4 full face passes with diode some spots
Are not growing hair anymore.

My laser place uses a nd yag. The thing has worked wonders on me.

I haven't read much about the nd yag.

My salon uses 810nm diode laser (LightSheer) and it worked wonders. Also very similar to Alexandrite. Also the same as my Tria at home laser - 810nm diode w/ same laser as LightSheer ;)

Quote from: Jennygirl on June 20, 2013, 04:28:01 AM
I haven't read much about the nd yag.

My salon uses 810nm diode laser (LightSheer) and it worked wonders. Also very similar to Alexandrite. Also the same as my Tria at home laser - 810nm diode w/ same laser as LightSheer ;)

A lot of people have said that the tria doesn't work, but I've had really good results with mine. It's not as quick as going to my laser lady but I'm really happy with it.

I never use Dermablend..

There are alternatives... Theatrical make up is usually cheaper and just as effective as Dermablend.

For example there's cake make up. Or pan cake.

Cake make up came about as a result of the development of Technicolour in the movies. Technicolour was first used in 1916 and its development was patchy until the development of the 'three strip' process using a special camera to record films on red, green and blue negatives in the 1930's.

The biggest technical problem was with make up. Up to the 1930's theatrical make up was mainly greasepaint and powder. Greasepaint was standard because of its abilities to hide facial skin flaws in close ups. However the brighter lighting necessary for the Technicolour filming technique meant that the colours of the surrounding scene were reflected in the sheen of the make up.

The developers of Technicolour were well aware of the problem. A major investor in Technicolour, Jock Whitney, discussed the issue with his racetrack friend, Elizabeth Arden. In 1935 she purchased the DeLong Laboratories and make Up Studio and founded the 'Screen and Stage' division. From this she developed Nuchromatic make up.

However another make up company, Max Factor, took another approach to the problem. They developed the T-D Series of make up. However Max Factor was involved in a road traffic accident in 1936 from which he died in 1938 and his son Frank Factor was put in charge of the development.

The T-D series was first commercially used in the 1937 Technicolour films 'Vogues of 1938' (Walter Wanger Productions) and was highly successful. This new make up was later trademarked as 'Pan Cake' and adopted by all the Hollywood studios. As a result Elizabeth Arden's 'Screen and Stage' division closed down at the end of the 1930's.

Pan Cake became the definition of cake make up. Pan Cake was so successful it financed the entire development of the whole Max Factor range of cosmetics and even today is the model for most make up foundations which are sold.

There are two types of cake make up - dry and moist. Dry cake make up is solid and sold in a tub or 'pan' by companies such as Grimas and Kryolan. You apply dry cake make up with a damp sponge, let it dry, and apply fixative or loose powder to 'set it'.

Dry cake make up covers up blemishes such as beard shadow and is resistant to both heat and water. When applied dry cake make up is much thinner than normal make up and blends in much better with your skin.

The downside to dry cake make up is that you have to have the right amount of moisture in the sponge, use only natural (open cell) type sponges, and develop a technique. For this reason in 1947 Max Factor developed 'Pan Stik', which is still sold today and which is the defining model of all concealers.

Moist cake make up is more like the regular foundation but is generally less oily or greasy than the foundations sold for women. It is applied either by the fingers or a dry latex sponge and also like dry cake make up needs to be 'set' with either loose powder or a fixative.

There is also AA or alcohol activated make up such as the Temptu Pro range. This type of make up is much more fluid than cake make up and is applied by fingers or a sponge. AA make up is both heat and water resistant and requires a fixative or powder. One application of AA make up can last days and it requires a special alcohol solution to remove it.

I use cake make up with loose powder which hides all beard shadow and usually only needs one or two touch ups during the day.

I have also recently discovered Leichner's Camera Clear foundation. At first when I opened the tub and saw the creamy consistency I was sceptical, but have also found it really effective for covering up beard shadow.

You can find any of these cosmetics at at fancy dress or theatrical suppliers (so there's no stigma for those bothered about buying women's cosmetics in a regular store), you can also find these items on E-Bay and Grimas, Kryolan and Leichner have their own websites from which you can order the products.

Sorry to bump but I am curious about something, does theatrical makeup  have any long term negative effects on the skin?

Quote from: EmeraldPerpugilliam on August 10, 2013, 11:44:25 AM
Sorry to bump but I am curious about something, does theatrical makeup  have any long term negative effects on the skin?

I dont think so. I know some drag queens who wear it daily. The spend some good money on the brands they buy, so it isnt cheap though.