Makeup tips for beginners: Part One

By Christine (704)

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Introduction

Lets look at some basic first before applying any make-up: Skin care, shaving and having the optimum conditions to apply makeup.

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Skin Care

Before we even get to applying make-up, lets look briefly at skin care.

As men, we were never taught much about skin care as most women are. However, many men these days are now buying moisturisers, avoiding excessive sun and generally taking better care of their skin. This is particular important if you are a crossdresser.

Good skin care involves cleansing, toning and moisturising, at least once and preferably twice per day. This routine is a must after removing make-up. Never go to bed wearing make-up. Apart from making a mess of the pillow and sheets, it is not good your skin, clogging your pores.

For day-to-day use, stick with moisturisers designed for male skin, ones that are more water-based than oil-based, which women tend to use.

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Shaving

There is a saying among crossdressers about the beard:

"If you can feel it... you can see it"

The face should be as closely shaven as possible without damaging the skin. Here are some pointers to getting the best results for a smooth face that will last for up to 8-10 hours:

1. Some people (like me) find shaving in the shower, using shampoo are the lubricant, to be the best as the skin and beard will be softer. Others prefer to do it in the sink using shaving cream, jel or oil. It is a personal preference, so do what works best for you.
   
   
2. Never shave with a blunt razor. Do not use the same blade for much more than a week. Before a big night out, use a new blade, but some people recommend having a shave with a new blade the day before a night out, so that it is not so sharp that it nicks your skin.
   
   
3. Use a multi-blade razor, as they give a much smoother shave and you are less likely to cut yourself.
   
   
4. Use a different razor on your face to the one you use of the rest of your body, such as your legs. This reduces the risk of skin infections, such as folliculitis.
   
   
5. Double shave. That is, shave once with the grain of the beard, then re-lather and shave gently against the grain.
   
   
6. Never apply strong pressure or drag the razor when shaving, as you are more likely to cut yourself or get a shaving rash. Gentle slow shaving is better for your skin.
   
   
7. Immediately after shaving splash cold water on your face to close the pores. I use a toner which is quite astrigent to do the same job.
   
   
8. Moisturise the whole face thoroughly, but with special attention to the newly shaved beard. As you do this, you will find areas of the beard where you can feel stumble. Gently touch up these areas with your razor until you can feel hardly any beard. You made need to moisturise again before you finish.
   
   
9. Do not overlook places, like just under the nostrils and around the Adam's Apple, that can be easily missed.
   
   
10. If you are out for the whole day and then in the evening, you will need to shave again and reapply your make-up, to look your best.

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The Right Conditions

A well-lit comfortable postion makes applying makeup much easier. Doing it in a car at night in a rear-view vision mirror is much harder. A good magnifying mirror is a big advantage. Ones with their own built-in lighting usually offer no advantage. Applying makeup is easier in the seated postion with elbows resting on a bench or table.

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Part Two - Building a good foundation

This website was designed by and is maintained by Christine Parker (Member 704)