so I decided today that it was time to start practicing, nothing spectacular, just eyeliner and mascara. Damn its a lot harder than it looks, though I managed not to look too much like a cross between the bride of frankenstien and an angry panda. hehe
Putting it on is only half the deal, wearing it is the other half, its the touching of the eyes, the batting of eyelashes, thats what gives you that panda look most of the time.
Helena.
Just my own advice.
Start with foundations. Experiment with different tones to get the look right.
With great respect, you're trying to paint a masterpiece, (mistresspiece :D ), on an unprepared canvas.
When you have found a few different tones which you really like, then you can move onto war paint.
This girl does some amazing work. It isn't for everyone, and tends to be party stuff, but she does explain what things do and how to use them.
http://www.youtube.com/user/panacea81 (http://www.youtube.com/user/panacea81)
Personally, I really like her down to earth style as well.
I remember when i was just starting out. I was scared to use 'Make-up'. I tried it once and it's not that hard like it appears, you just gotta find the right color for your skin tone.
foundation is next...but it's a bit more expensive...I was going for the cheap option today. all that it means is that I look more like an emo kid than normal :laugh:
Rather than eyeliner, you may want to try using a lighter colored eyeshadow, especially for daytime. Apply it just at the lash line using a thin brush then blend upwards. Apply mascara lightly then brush or comb. Remember, be conservative as your skin will want to push all that makeup off giving you that over the top look. The idea is to accentuate your features, not shove them in everybody's face. :) Brows are very important as well.
thanks for the tip Kristyn. today was just the first ever experiment so I'm quite happy with teh result. Loads more practice needed though.
I had the good fortune to have done a lot of plays in high school and college, meaning that I had to put on my own makeup. It was a good first step, but of course the makeup was overplayed to be seen despite all of the lights. By the way Kristyn, I've recently become a new fan of Bukowski, reading "Love is a Dog from Hell."
(Sorry, sorry, but I've got to put in my 2 cents)
Eyeliner is something that is hard to pull off. A decent way to use it, without coming off as some emo kid, is just putting it on the very edge of your bottom lid. Start about the middle of the eye, right under the eyelashes, and just to the end of the eye and stop. It's how my mom taught me, and she learned from some Estee Lauder representative.
Mascara's easier to put on. If it clumps, take a q-tip and roll the cotton part lightly under the clump if it's on the bottom eyelash (above the clump if it's the top eyelash) and it should smooth out without removing the mascara.
But congrats on doing it! Just practice and practice!
Oh, makeup. I used way too much of it when I was first starting out, but then I had full beard growth to cover up too (Not a beard but the nasty, black, thick facial hair) and it got to such a position that I believed that I didn't pass because of how much makeup I used. Thankfully, my mum finally decided to teach me a thing or 2. I hated the way she used eyeshadow, made me look, and feel like I was a cross-dresser, so I adapted the foundation methods, and did eye shadow how I wanted to do it.
Now days, I generally go out with just powder foundation on, not liquid under, and powder on top.
But yeah, I have been doing my own makeup since mid January this year. Basically a pro now. Keep at it you'll get there =D
I think it's funny that I used more make up before I transitioned than after (I used to look pretty gothy and androgynous, so for me going out with make up it seemed no deal by the time I transitioned, LOL). I rarely wear it now, except for eyeliner and mascara sometimes, but not always. Anyway, the best way to learn make-up is practice, practice, practice. Youtube has a lot of videos and you can experiment with different looks, etc. Pencil for liner is easier than starting out with liquid. You'll get used to it in no time. :) Get some make up remover, too. No need to over do your make up.
Quote from: Anthrogal on July 03, 2010, 04:28:21 PM
I had the good fortune to have done a lot of plays in high school and college, meaning that I had to put on my own makeup. It was a good first step, but of course the makeup was overplayed to be seen despite all of the lights. By the way Kristyn, I've recently become a new fan of Bukowski, reading "Love is a Dog from Hell."
Good for you! It's nice to see the younger generation appreciating some of the lesser known masters. BTW you should watch Barfly, if you haven't already seen it--he makes a cameo in one of the scenes
And google is good about helping with choosing colors too. Finding the right concealer and foundation is the hardest colors to find for me. (Darn light complexion.)
Some advise I could give from my personal experience: Liquid eyeliner is hard to learn to apply. And it's not very forgiving. :)
Also, once you feel confident enough to go out and pass, I recommend going to a Macy's or something and having them help you figure out the right color pallets. There's also some Spa's that offer makeup classes that will help you learn to apply the makeup perfectly and get your pallet down right. Here in Seattle, a place called Gene Juarez offers those types of services.
Have you tried Maybelline Pulse perfection mascara? It's a little expensive here (Australia) but it's great. The wand vibrates and really gets good coverage on the lashes. I've also been using Max Factor twin lipsticks, you paint the lips then there is a clear gel that stops the paint coming off, stays nice and 'wet' looking all day.
I agree also with going to the make up counter of a major store and asking for help. OK you may be embarrassed, but that's what the girls are paid for. Advice. That's how I got my foundation worked out.
And practice practice practice. That's what goddess made sundays for, to sit in front of the makeup mirror and practice for a few hours :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: ::)
Cindy
Quote from: ƃuıxǝʌ on July 04, 2010, 02:42:13 AM
It's a gimmick; the vibration does nothing.
I do get lots more coverage. OK I might get the same with several sweeps (?) but this works in seconds. It also seems good on my lower lashes which are short and don't always cooperate.
Cindy
Oh, and I'd recommend Mineral makeup too. (Forgot to mention that in my post above.) For me it was much more friendly to my skin and looks more natural. I found that non-mineral based Liquids and pancake tend to get kinda think and you start looking a bit like a clown if your not careful.
No matter what it is, less is more when it comes to makeup.
But nothing wrong in that clown look either really. Clowns are expected to have wacky, mad-cap antics, and participate in endless amounts of hi-jinx, shenanigans and silliness, and if that wasn't enough (and I'm here to tell you that it is) clowns seriously SCARE people, really, scare them.
In no time you'll be able to apply eyeliner in the dark. It will become second nature.
I recommend the fine tipped twist-up kind. Pencils suck. Bonnebelle makes them for less than $3. Works better than the expensive brands and doesn't run in creases.
There's a misconception that eyeliner will make you look clownish or emo, not true. I wear eyeliner everyday and when I wear anything more like eyeshadow, they say, "Oh, you're wearing make up today". It scares me to think how they would react if I wore nothing because I look half dead without it. The trick is to apply it on or as close to the lash line as possible and don't extend the line to the inner corners of your eyes or it will make your eyes look too close together (unless you already have far-spaced eyes).
I don't know why anybody wears liquid foundation. It only works on people who already have clear perfect skin and these are the people that don't need it. It magnifies the skin's flaws. Concealer is a better option so you can target only the areas needed. I wear foundation powder, it looks natural but conceals redness and blotchiness and absorbs oil. If you sweat a lot, all you have to do blend it back in and reapply, it wont cake. I wear lancome powder, its expensive but so worth it.
I've finally got to the stage where I have confidence in applying make up. I try to avoid liquid eyeliners that have brushes and pencils feel harsh. I use L'Oreal Superliner. It has a thin nib as opposed to a brush and is easy to apply.
It is important that you don't apply to much. A little make up goes a long way. A light touch with blusher is extremely important unless you want to look like you are in an early 1980's pop video.
You learn as you go. You find the colours that suit you. I avoid deep lip colours and as my eyes are quite deep set, I avoid the smokey eyes look as they disappear into my face, a lighter look opens them up. I don't apply liner to the bottom of the eye and mascara on the lower lashes also makes the eyes look bigger.
I really enjoy make up. It's the best thing about being a girl! Well, one of the best things ;)
As others have said - practice, practice, practice!
I've noticed that my own efforts in this area are improving - due to practice!
Although I find makeup fun it took a while to get good at it. I watched the on line videos and read the makeup books but makeup lessons and makeovers did the trick ( I am still not great at eyes ).
I strongly recommed MAC. They are very transgender friendly and most stores have a private room where they will do you makeup and give you lessons. They actually enjoy making you up. They will help you with colors and the right kind of makeup for your skin. They are a little expensive but you get what you pay for and they will keep your items on file. Now that I am passable I occasionally get a dept store makeover which they are more than happy to do even if you are trans. As with most I find simple makeup the best and now I can do a casual but feminine day makeup in about 10 minutes.
Pam
My first makeup intro was my now ex-wife putting it on me. She did a pretty good job considering I probably know more about makeup than she does now, let alone back then.
It took a lot of practice for me.....and god it took even longer for me to have the courage to do blush. I was so afraid (and still am) of looking like a clown.
Even nowadays, for special occasions, I'm afraid to do anything too fancy because I don't want to come off as 'drag'.
Lots of good tutorials online but also the Makeup counters are where I learned the most! =)
I started experimenting with makeup when I was about 12. As they say, it is practice, practice, practice.
Also, fashions change and you need to keep up to date. Read lots of women's magazines - particularly those that are relevant to your age group.
Caroline