Makeup preferences?

[Baylee]

I've recently thought of experimenting with different makeup techniques since I don't really do much. I usually do mascara and pink gloss. That's really all I felt was necessary until now. I feel I can maximize my look with more makeup to cover up more IN PERSON, rather than just in pictures.

So what I'm really asking is, what do you guys think? What are some of your makeup preferences?

P.S. A little about me (appearance wise) I am 5 feet 4 inches, I have a semi-feminine face, and I'm about 135lbs.

[Mike P.]

Hi Baylee, I like your pic. Anyway, I'm don't have as much experience as other ladies here with makeup, but I do practice at home as much as possible. Mascara is great to make your lashes look longer, but I also really enjoy wearin eye shadow as it brings the color of the eyes out more, so thinning the eye brows a little helps show it more. Besides that, I really don't wear much else besides some lipstick, which I also use for rouge, and like you, lip gloss, which always feels so nice. Also, before putting on makeup, you should put some foundation, and maybe exfoliate before hand. There are lots of great videos, and tips online. Have fun!
Samantha

[Anthony Simon]

Well, CDs are like GGs, in that we want to minimize the features we don't like and maximize the ones we do. So then our makeup preferences are based on what we like and don't like about our faces.

As a guy, I have a somewhat androgynous face which is also kind of young-looking for my age (60). Probably the feature I have which tends most to the feminine are my eyes, so I want to make them as prominent as I can without overdoing it. The standard tools for that are eyeliner, mascara and eyeshadow. Because I have blue eyes, I use brown eyeshadow, which brings them out more.

In terms of makeup-related problems, I absolutely need to cover my beard area or it's obvious I'm a guy. Once that gets covered - with concealer and then foundation - a lot of possibilities open up.

I don't really have any cheeks - but just putting blush on them creates a lot more of a feminine impression. For some obscure reason, outlining my lips with a lip pencil makes them look instantly feminine - that's probably my favourite makeup thing because the effect is so striking. Then I fill them in with lipstick. My impression is that just wearing cosmetics on cheeks and lips makes you look more like a woman.

I'm not very good at this. My technique is decidedly sloppy. And that's one of the problems for me creating a passable look. I simply don't have much fine control. My impression is most women would never present themselves in public looking so untidy.

Just while I'm at it, there are things about my face that makeup won't fix. Like I have a square jaw and need to both soften it and distract attention from it by using relatively full-bodied medium length wigs. My adam's apple needs covering up and my natural brows need tidying up and a quite a lot of reduction before I can get a passable look.

[Baylee]

Thank you both for your responses. I have thought about thinning my eyebrows, I actually really want to, but because I am still "i the closet" its really hard for me to do anything without setting off any alarms.

My life as a male is something I spent many years trying to perfect. Though I by no means am big and intimidating, I do maintain a "alpha male" and "cocky" attitude to my friends and family. A lot of the way I act and look is to keep anyone from knowing, unfortunately.

So I have watched a couple videos on how to do makeup, but I don't really own much and I'm really nervous to buy anything in person, but I'm really picky and want to see it before I buy it. Mascara and gloss was naturally easy for me to get, for I used the "Halloween costume" excuse and my girlfriend gave me her extras she no longer cared or wanted anymore.

I really am interested in eyeliner and shadow, I'm just worried about removal. My dressing time usually consists of 10pm-3am, and then removal is a must. I get so worried that I won't be able to remove the makeup for the next day, and then someone will notice and GAME OVER.

I have naturally good skin, so I never worried about foundation or concealer since most girls use that to cover up any blemishes. And as far as facial hair goes, I still have trouble growing that in as it is so I don't really have any type of shadow to worry about.

[Kelly]

Take a look at http://www.facialfeminizationsurgery.in ... faces.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; which is a pretty good summary of the differences between typically male and typically female faces. The first skill to develop, as Anthony described, is to use make up to either distract from, or hide, some predominately male feature and to create an illusion of feminine feature or to enhance a feature that is already there. For example the eyes in your avatar look quite feminine to me.

Judging from you picture, in fact, you are starting with a great basis. I'm jealous :mrgreen.

I know that shopping can be daunting. Try 'loitering' in the cosmetics section of some store a couple of times to get comfortable. You'll notice that nobody will give you a second look. If a sales clerk does offer help just say no thanks, its their job to be helpful. After these dry runs, taking an item to checkout is less nerve wracking.

The specific recommendations I can give you is to exfoliate often, apply moisturizer morning and night. For day use pick out one that is non-greasy and absorbs quickly. This helps in the removal process and promotes skin health. Finally always use sunscreen before spending any amount of time outside - 3 or 4 decades from now you'll be glad you did.

Kelly

[Davita]

Baylee, not that I am an advocate or plucking, but you could start getting your fem shape to the eye browses just by plucking a few here and there and then a week or so pluck few more and just keep the routine going until you get the shape you want and then continue managing the grow back.

As for going to the makeup counters and hanging out... I can't do that without chatting with the sales folk. Another way to go about playing with the makeup is to go to the brand's web site as they will have tips specific to their prodcuts. Check your stores' return policies and buy a few things and shades of this or that to try. Return what doesn't work for you.

Honestly though, the cosmetic counter girls are all pretty easy going from all my years of experience. You can pretty much ask them any cosmetic question. Heck at an Ulta, the girl sat me down and showed me the tip on me and I was drab. I suspect every one of the girls has put makeup on a guy before -- be it boyfriend or stranger.

[Baylee]

Seriously thank you for your reply. I'm going to read more knot eyebrows before I attempt anything. And today I'm going to attempt to go into a store and buy something, whatever it is, just something lol. Wish me luck!

[Kelly]

Good Luck, Hon. The first time is always the hardest. You'll do fine.

Kelly