So I had this epiphany tonight as I was walking out the grocery store...

Makeup is like tools. I have a ton of tools. However, when I look back at how I acquired all those tools it was never all at once.

I'm guessing makeup is much the same way. You'll have to make a small initial investment, but the rest is gathered over time.

However, one of my struggles right now... Liquid or powder foundation? How do I pick a base color? How do I match concealer to foundation?

I don't have a lot of makeup wearing female friends, and my sister (who is willing to help is a busy mom of 3) so I'm coming to you ladies.

Please help. I don't have a lot of disposable cash right now otherwise I'd go see makeup specialists. I just need a general color palette, YouTube will tell me the rest. [emoji16]

Thanks ladies
Loves [emoji182][emoji173][emoji182]


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Hi Alora!

It is impossible to make specific makeup recommendations without seeing your face in person. One way to work around seeing a specialist, though you can usually see one for free at a high-end department store, is figure out your 'seasonal color'. This is based on seasonal color theory, which is derived from color theory and French Impressionist paintings from the early 20th century...

There are a lot of sites that will guide you to your seasonal color, which will tell you the palette most appropriate for not only your makeup, but your clothing, jewelry, and hair dye.

http://www.thechicfashionista.com/your-best-perfect-colors.html

Once you know your colors, there are sites that will help you decide which makeup is better for your skin type..

http://www.paulaschoice.com/expert-advice/face/_/how-to-determine-your-skin-tone-and-undertone

It is VERY easy to waste a LOT of money guessing, the best approach is to know your color palette and skin tone before buying anything. Cheap makeup wears poorly, but you needn't spend a fortune, either.

There will always be some trial and error. For example, I can't wear liquid eyeliner, it doesn't sit well on my eyelid skin, and pencil is too rough. I find that eyeliner that is in a magic marker type pen works best and is a breeze to apply. I am a light summer, and so black is too harsh, so I use deep blues or reddish purples with nice results.

Rose pinks are great for me, but peachy pinks look orange..

Knowing your seasonal color is like knowing the key of a piece of music. Once you know your palette, anything in it will 'harmonize' with your complexion, eyes, and hair..

Hope this helps..

Missy

Speak to someone at a cosmetics counter for advice with your skin type etc...  takes notes ask for samples to try out. Most high end brands gives sampkes like Sephora for instance will. Then you can try those out and in the meantime if money is an issue you can research online for dupes of those products or ones similar to what you need. One thing to remember though a price tag doesn't mean something is good or will work for you. Sometimes a name is just a name. I think probably the best thing to invest in when getting into makeup is lotions primers syrums brushes. Skin care is very important when wearing makeup.

As well if you have a library card it might be worth it checking out Kevyn Aucoin's books. He is a phenomenal makeup artist and he actually worked on some MTF in his books as well as male friends he did up as females. When I was a teenager I actually used his book to learne how to do makeup. They are very descriptive and educational.

Makeup to me is more like proper shaving kit for a man... not a mach 3 and canned shave gel; but a straight blade razor, shave soap and proper aftershave. And who's the person you see for proper selection and technique of a shave kit? You father or the barber. For makeup if you're not going to get the tips from your mother, then I'd see an aesthetician. It is what they do after all...

You are absolutely right about the way little girls learn about makeup, Alora!  Mom usually introduces her by painting her toenails or fingernails for fun when she is 2 or 3. When she is a little older, she will sneak in to play with mom's eye shadows and lipstick when she isn't watching. Mom will probably get the little girl get her very own lip gloss by the time she goes to elementary school and show her how to use pastel eye shadow by 3rd or 4th grade. Everybody is wearing makeup til middle school and the arguments start with Mom over how much you can wear and if you can pluck your eyebrows.

Color palettes and concealers is pretty advanced stuff. Don't let that hold you back from having fun developing your look with clean healthy skin, mascara and lip gloss. Learn the basics and how to take care of your skin first. The rest will all follow.

If I had to name the one person I'd say was the most important person in my transition, it'd be my makeup artist.
Prior to seeing her, I watched so many videos online, bought dvd's, etc...not all bad advice, but I never had confidence to go out in public.
I googled "makeup artists" in my city, and contacted them one by one via email. In my email, I said who I was, and what help I needed.
This wonderful woman who is a professional makeup artist took me on as nothing more than a new client. She asked that I bring all my makeup with me.
I showed up at her house as "the guy," looked at my makeup and tossed it into the garbage. She said it was all wrong for my skin colour, texture, etc.
For four hours, she took me step by step how to apply makeup properly. What brushes to buy, how to care for my skin. The one thing I learned is that "less is more." I laugh when I think how much I used to P ut on. I had done my eyeliner wrong, done my lips wrong.
After those four hours, I looked in the mirror...and couldn't believe what I saw. I brought a wig and clothes and dressed there, she was very impressed...couldn't believe the change.
That day, I got in my car, went to the gas station as Nina for the first time. It was so exhilarating. I even went out on the town with a friend.

Makeup today takes me 20 minutes...my hair about five minutes.
If it wasn't for that first makeup session, I really doubt I would have had the courage to go out in public.

Quote from: Nina_Ottawa on January 26, 2017, 10:32:54 AM
If I had to name the one person I'd say was the most important person in my transition, it'd be my a makeup artist.

Makeup today takes me 20 minutes...my hair about five minutes.
If it wasn't for that first makeup session, I really doubt I would have had the courage to go out in public.

As 'males', we were programmed to believe we knew everything we needed to know, we wouldn't stop and ask directions, no matter how lost we obviously were, and if we didn't think of it first, we dismissed all input as unwanted and unnecessary. Some guys are more like this, some less...

As females, we learn to listen closely, learn as we go, and to appreciate trustworthy advice. Assuming we will find parallels to male life in female life is another way we perpetuate our 'male' myths...

What Nina just said, is the absolute best, and ultimately, least expensive way forward into one's best appearance at the fastest rate. 'Buy once, cry once', as they say back in male-dom, lol..

Sometimes it is our mindset that sets us up for failure, not a lack of female features.

Best of luck to you!

Missy

QuoteAs 'males', we were programmed to believe we knew everything we needed to know, we wouldn't stop and ask directions, no matter how lost we obviously were, and if we didn't think of it first, we dismissed all input as unwanted and unnecessary. Some guys are more like this, some less...

As females, we learn to listen closely, learn as we go, and to appreciate trustworthy advice. Assuming we will find parallels to male life in female life is another way we perpetuate our 'male' myths...

Wow Missy, I still trying to learn that one. Very true, just hard to break old habits. 

Nina, that was a great first time out story. I must be emotional today because just thinking of how that must have felt brought me close to tears. Seems like I do that a lot lately.

I barely wear makeup, and I have lots of tools and love making things..?
I only just recently found out there's an expiry date on a lot of makeup (more importantly eyes?)
My tools don't expire, unless I abuse them lol

I simply consider it more of a hobby, like a collection. It's not necessary to my being, but having like 30 different colour nail polishes ect is fun! It's like reaching in to a grab bag each weekend, and picking one out at random. (Something other than cliche black is always nice.)

Quote from: Angela Drakken on January 26, 2017, 06:42:54 PM
I only just recently found out there's an expiry date on a lot of makeup (more importantly eyes?)

This is primally because of bacteria growth and secondarily because of the makeup breaking down. I stopped using mascara years ago when it didn't have an expiration date because I had a batch of eye infections. I can expect one every few years but I was getting them months apart. After I stopped using mascara, the infection rate returned to normal.

Quote from: Dena on January 26, 2017, 08:03:18 PM
This is primally because of bacteria growth and secondarily because of the makeup breaking down. I stopped using mascara years ago when it didn't have an expiration date because I had a batch of eye infections. I can expect one every few years but I was getting them months apart. After I stopped using mascara, the infection rate returned to normal.

Eeek..! O.O

Bacteria is a huge problem. Absolutely NEVER share you mascara with one of your girlfriends! But I am wondering, how do you make your makeup last long enough to expire?!?

Quote from: flytrap on January 26, 2017, 08:36:59 AM
Color palettes and concealers is pretty advanced stuff. Don't let that hold you back from having fun developing your look with clean healthy skin, mascara and lip gloss. Learn the basics and how to take care of your skin first. The rest will all follow.

Concealers, especially color correcting concealers are advanced, as you say, but for those of us girls who can't afford electrolysis or laser they're absolutely necessary. One good peach colored corrector and a decent foundation can hide beard shadow for hours. It doesn't take that long to learn to use them properly. If you buy them at the makeup counter of a department store or at Sephora or Ulta you can usually find someone to help you pick the right one and show you how to use it. I use Sephora's brand of color corrector, the #5. You basically dot it around the areas that need it and blend with a brush. After a few minutes to dry you can put on foundation. I prefer powder because the liquids cause my skin to wrinkle. The powders don't.

The basic rule I follow is add one new makeup product at a time and don't add another until you're getting good results. Also, use the right tools. I happen to like the E.L.F. brand of brushes. The quality is good and they're inexpensive. You may well ruin a few brushes until you learn to properly care for them. Finally look at other women. A common mistake when first using makeup is to wear too much for the time of day.

Quote from: Alora on January 25, 2017, 11:40:03 PM
Please help. I don't have a lot of disposable cash right now otherwise I'd go see makeup specialists. I just need a general color palette, YouTube will tell me the rest. [emoji16]

You will save more money in the long run by going to a makeup expert at Sephora or MAC or wherever.  If you try to 'guess' the correct colors yourself, you'll just end up buying a lot of wrong makeup shades which will add up to more than the cost of seeing an expert in the first place.  Or you'll just wear the wrong shades without realizing how ridiculous you look.

I strongly urge you to see a makeup specialist instead of trying to do it on your own.

To me, nothing is prettier than red lips and dark eyes, and keep it simple. I think having one statement look saves time and energy than investing into 1000x looks (so echo the others; see a well-train makeup artist, and just learn to do one look)... change it up maybe when taste change, aging, or when fashion changes making your look outdated.