Susan's Place Transgender Resources

How did you learn how to apply makeup?

Do you have it down (about right) now?

How long did it take to get to that point?

I'm trying to figure it out. Wasn't getting it, got discouraged and quit.

The Salon I go to for my eyelashes and brows is an LGBTQ Salon and they will teach you makeup as well. They will teach by appointment and have held classes in the evening on occasion. I think that was more directed towards trans youth though. Look for a similar Salon or even group in your area.

I watched a LOT of YouTube videos.

Tried different things with horrifying results. Then I bought a makeup mannequin head and practiced on her.

I look carefully at pictures of women's faces that I think are beautiful. I studied how they did their makeup. Then try to achieve the same effect.

One thing I learned is that the whole "smoky eyes" look does not work on me.

It took me a couple of years to perfect it, but only a few months to get the basics.

I have had compliments, so I think I did okay with it.

Some of you have seen my pics, so I'll let you decide.  ;D

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on January 20, 2025, 03:43:50 PMHow did you learn how to apply makeup?

Do you have it down (about right) now?

How long did it take to get to that point?

One day in the mid 1990s, I walked into the makeup department of the Robinson's May Department Store in Canoga Park, California. I walked up to the Clinique counter and told the young woman working there, "I'm a cross dresser, can you please help me pick out makeup?" She stared at me for about 30 seconds, then snapped out of it and did a full make over on my face even though I was in boy mode. She explained what she was doing and how to recreate the look on my own. She then sold me a couple hundred dollars worth of cosmetics. After that she was always happy to see me walk in the door because I was an easy sale.  Asking for help and guidance at Clinique and MAC counters became a regular habit for many, many years after.

The woman who first helped me at that Robinson's May all those years ago later told me that the reason she stared at me for a long moment the first time I approached her is because the store is across the street from a high school, and she thought I was a high school student who came in to prank her. Once she realized that I was serious, she got excited for the challenge and for the big sale.

Now I'm getting old, and 2 years of Covid lockdowns completely broke me out of the makeup habit. Anyway, I'm just as cute without makeup; my wife says so. 🥰

❤️
Miharu

Quote from: Miharu Barbie on January 21, 2025, 04:36:45 PMOne day in the mid 1990s, I walked into the makeup department of the Robinson's May Department Store in Canoga Park, California. I walked up to the Clinique counter and told the young woman working there, "I'm a cross dresser, can you please help me pick out makeup?" She stared at me for about 30 seconds, then snapped out of it and did a full make over on my face even though I was in boy mode. She explained what she was doing and how to recreate the look on my own. She then sold me a couple hundred dollars worth of cosmetics. After that she was always happy to see me walk in the door because I was an easy sale.  Asking for help and guidance at Clinique and MAC counters became a regular habit for many, many years after.

The woman who first helped me at that Robinson's May all those years ago later told me that the reason she stared at me for a long moment the first time I approached her is because the store is across the street from a high school, and she thought I was a high school student who came in to prank her. Once she realized that I was serious, she got excited for the challenge and for the big sale.

Now I'm getting old, and 2 years of Covid lockdowns completely broke me out of the makeup habit. Anyway, I'm just as cute without makeup; my wife says so. 🥰

❤️
Miharu

You do look cute!

Chrissy

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on January 21, 2025, 05:24:22 PMYou do look cute!

Chrissy

💋

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on January 20, 2025, 03:43:50 PMHow did you learn how to apply makeup?

Do you have it down (about right) now?

How long did it take to get to that point?

My mom taught me the basics and then I just watched a lot of YouTube videos. I think I have it down now, but I don't really wear it bc a dude with a full face isn't what I'm going for. I think it took me maybe 3-4 years to get it down. Now I use my magic skills to get rid of my no sleep look.

After earlier years of starts and stops exploring my identity,
I then very seriously began my transition journey and started HRT
when I was 35 years old in early March 2015.

I was very fortunate to have a few very accepting cis-girlfriends that
provided me with great advice and assistance, not only with makeup, but
also other grooming details such as nails, hair, and clothing choices.

Both of the cis-girlfriends were about my size and build and we had a lot
of fun times with me exploring how to dress... we swapped outfits frequently.

I had so many questions and it was nice to have the answers and advice
from those that stood by my side as I went full speed into my journey.

Danielle [Northern Star Girl]

Probably one of my favorite books on makeup techniques is "Making Faces" by Kevyn Aucoin. While it was originally published in 1997, the information is still relevant today. Many different looks and styles.  It is available for free download here:
here:
https://oceanofpdf.com/authors/kevyn-aucoin/pdf-making-faces-download/

Just click the PDF icon at the bottom of the page. They request a donation but it is not required to download. I think you can find it used on Amazon for around $15.

YouTube is another great resource for makeup techniques. And then I recommend three things...
Practice, Practice and Practice!

Practice. Lots of  it. I only did my eyes and lips when I finished electrolysis. Got the time  down to  15 minutes. 
I stopped  using  it while  working  as a cleaner and I became  allergic to it . I'm 67 and prefer the natural  look haven't  touched  makeup for over  10 years and can't see myself  wearing  it again 

Just this morning I was at church and I got the other women jealous with how well I did my makeup and the fact that with how pale my skin is I don't need any bronzers or other color counteracters to get the perfect look, and I can just use the classic pinks and reds, especially the deep reds for lipstick and it doesn't make me look like I'm trying to be a drag queen or someone who goes over the top with makeup.  Even the Lavender Skies (Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear) nail polish I had on was working just fine with my pale skin.  And someone asked me how I got to be so good and I just had to say that no one showed me. 

Even a few months ago when I got out of hospital, when I went to pick up my prescriptions a few of my co-workers saw me without my makeup and even days later were telling me that I looked like a ghost and they just assumed that it was because of my hospital stay, but when I told them that I need to wear makeup to not look like a bloodless ghost, they were shocked that that was how pale I am.  I even removed some of my makeup one day in front of them and they couldn't get over just how much just my foundation adds (and I just use Soft Honey from Covergirl which is a pretty pale foundation color) to give me that "white woman" coloring.  However, thinking back to when I started HRT and my changes over the last 3.5 years HRT most likely changed my pigmentation when it thinned out my skin.

I spent a ton of time watching makeup tutorials on YouTube. A few swipes of mascara, eyebrow gel, and nude lippy, and I'm a happy girl. 😁

I kind of cheated a little bit when I was learning. 😊

I started by having my makeup done professionally at local beauty colleges. It was inexpensive, and I treated every visit like a private lesson. I watched carefully as they worked on me, asked what they were doing and why, and got them to talk through things like foundation matching, contouring, blush placement, and eye looks. Most of the students and instructors were more than happy to explain and to recommend specific products and brushes.

You can do something very similar at places like Ulta Beauty and other large chain stores that have in-house makeup artists. Many of them will do a free or low-cost makeover, especially if you are open to buying a few items they use on you. If you tell them you are trying to learn, they will often slow down, show you how to hold the brush, where to place color, and help you find shades that work with your skin tone. You can also ask them to write down or photograph the products they used so you can recreate the look at home.

For me, that combination of "live, on-my-own-face" lessons plus practice at home was what really made things click. YouTube is great, but there is something very powerful about having someone show you, step by step, on your own features and then building your routine from there.

It takes a bit of trial and error, but once you get the hang of what works best for your face, it becomes second nature — and honestly, a lot of fun. 💄 Practice is the key. When I first started, it would take me 30–40 minutes; now I can do a full face in under 15.

With love,
— Susan 💜

As many have said - YouTube is a big help and also the short video platforms like TikTok or Instagram can be quick and easy to learn specific tricks.
Patience is key and then your mindset. I maintain that the most important cosmetic is your mindset. I've been in phases where I didn't feel feminine and I looked like an ogre in makeup. Then when I was more immersed and feeling like a woman then my makeup looked close to perfect. Mindset is key.

I was fortunate enough to learn when I was very young.

Being involved with the performing arts gave me a lot of insight into cosmetics for different occasions.

I learned how to apply makeup, eye lashes and some contouring which I don't do anymore.

Nowadays, I apply foundation for my skin type, eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara, brows and lip colour, sometimes with a lip liner and sometimes not.

There have been times over the years where I've looked like a two year old hit me with a trowel of makeup with horrifying results and then when I learned makeup artistry I had many compliments saying my skin looked flawless.

Persistence is key and trying some of the following:

*Find out your skin tone and whether you are cool or warm.
Some colours will make you look insipid where as others with look right.
I know I cannot wear oranges / greens / peaches / yellows and other warm colours as I have a blue undertone to my skin.
Purples, some blues, burgundy, scarlet reds, browns and beige look good for me.

* Do you want a dewy moist finish or a matte finish? The finished look can make the difference between fresh and soft and caked on.
Mature skin should avoid matte foundations and setting powders unless you've had cosmetic surgery or Botox and are wrinkle free.
Powders and matte foundations will only age you more by sitting on top of the skin and enhancing all your lines like a 16th century painting!!!

* When trying a foundation colour, apply a little along the jaw line and blend, not the back of your hand!!!
The skin on the back of your hand is much different to your face.
It should give you coverage and match your skin tone, not stand out.
It is looks too light or too dark then it's not correct.
There is nothing worse than having a demarcation line where your foundation stops and your natural skin colour starts.

* When covering your face and neck with foundation, apply some to the back of your hand first then use a cosmetic sponge to apply to the face.
With a small amount, stipple or dab onto the skin to blend, not wipe as this just smears it.
Don't use fingers to apply as this makes your foundation streaky and uneven. Sponge applicator is best.
Keep applying and build up the coverage as required.
(HINT) - Dampen your cosmetic sponge first to help with application.

ALWAYS use a good moisturiser / sunscreen first and let it rest before applying your makeup.

If I can offer any advice or try and help in some way, feel free to respond to this post.

Those are great tips!

Thank you, Victoria.

I haven't done much work on makeup, as I'm mostly closeted and my face makes me feel too dysphoric to want to try, but I went out this week with a friend and wanted to go as myself, so I watched several youtube videos and learned a lot in just a couple of days.

Incredibly, I was able to get my makeup done in about 90 minutes and my friend (trans woman) told me it looked amazing. I was pretty happy to hear that and I'm only getting started, so I'm off to a good start.

Quote from: VictoriasSecret on January 25, 2026, 06:56:20 PMALWAYS use a good moisturiser / sunscreen first and let it rest before applying your makeup

At least one of the videos I watched mentioned this, so I used moisturizer followed by a primer (Spackle by Laura Geller). I really feel this made a difference, with the primer in particular helping to minimize my pores and provide a smoother base for the foundation.

I also took the youtubers' advice and worked to keep the amounts I applied light. I applied an orange concealer over any dark spots on my face and let it set for a minute or two before applying foundation.

Finally, I did some contouring, which is not something I'd usually done. I think it helped to sculpt my face shape.

For me, all of this is practice for what I hope will happen after I have my upcoming facial feminization surgery.

I've only really learnt the basics to use foundation (now use bb cream) and a bit of eye shadow. Occasionally some lipstick. Just checked out a couple of videos quickly online. I don't really want makeup to be a part of my transition, so I'm focusing on more permanent / long lasting ways to feminise like FFS, microblading. Ideally I could be more feminine with no makeup.

Hello,

My trip in this sense has been, youtube, some tutorials online and...

Quote from: Zoey Addisyn on May 08, 2025, 05:07:30 PMPractice, Practice and Practice!

.

Initially I tried the full face make up and messed up, leaving my face looking clowny...so I decided to go step by step and increasing my difficulty.
I played around with foundations and the mixing of reds to avoid the beard black, even after shaving. That has been and still is every now and then a challenge. I am really looking forward to IPL and forget about it.  The blush and face contouring has taken me also a bit of trial and error. But my biggest challenge are the eyes and shadows. I have looked horrible and funny many times hehehehe :D, but I eventually started with basics, then adding a bit, then another bit and trying and failing .

The easy ones were: So mascara was easy and I have to say that I love it. Lipstick 👄 is apparently easy, but it took a bit more practice for it to look right for me, but made it.

In the meantime I have been discovering things that work for me and other that don't.
Last year I used one of these apps that scans your face and based on color of eyes and hair recommends your skin colors and that gave me a little more help.

Love 🩷
Anne