Male to Female Makeup Checklist: Everything You Need
Pride month is nearing, and whether you’re gay, transgender, an ally, or just interested and eager to support your LGBTQ+ friends, male to female makeup can play a big part in this fabulous celebration of freedom and love.
However, makeup discussion doesn’t need to be limited to the glamour and grandeur of pride month, as it can help you or a friend become more accepting of yourself and others. Additionally, makeup can be useful to anyone. Transgender individuals may use makeup to assist in their personal appearance, and others can use makeup for the same reason. It’s a small physical change, but can make a big overall difference for those interested in adjusting their appearance.
Sadly, there’s not much information out there about male to female makeup, as it is definitely a new and emerging sector of the beauty industry. This is made evident by the numerous makeup fans and LGBTQ+ individuals that are finding their own platform to discuss male to female makeup options.
Due to this lack of information surrounding male to female makeup options, we have created this article to delve into the new industry and explore the makeup choices available on the market in 2019.
Makeup Brushes
Alright, so you’re seeking that perfect male to female makeup transformation look. Don’t know where to start? Well, one of the essential tools that you will need in your makeup arsenal is a quality set of makeup brushes.
You’re probably thinking that the tiny brush that comes with your makeup kit will be just fine, but trust us, you would be amazed at how much better your male to female makeup will look when you utilize a set of proper brushes. You can find a makeup brush selling at the drugstore or online for as little as $10-$20.
The male to female makeup brushes come in sets, but you can buy them separately if you are willing to pay the extra expense. Here are the different types of brushes that will assist in your male to female makeup transformation:
- Angled eyebrow brush — easily fills in the brows according to your preference
- Eyeliner brush — delivers an even and fine line so you can achieve precise results
- Flat eyeshadow brush — allows smooth and precise application of eye shadow
- Crease brush — applies eyeshadow precisely into the crease of the eyelid for an expertly blended look
- Bullet brush — applies eyeshadow in the crease, to the outer corner, to the eyelid, and to highlight the brow bone
- Foundation brush — for applying foundation with a smooth and flawless finish
- Concealer brush — for correcting your spots and achieving an even complexion
- Powder brush — for dusting your face with loose or compact powder
- Blush brush — for blending makeup on the apples of the cheeks, while eliminating the chance for harsh lines to appear
- Lipstick brush — allows effortless application of color and shine to your lips, create lip definition, and achieve a polished look
Eye Makeup
Just as supermodel Tyra Banks famously said, and we quote, “Smize!” The eyes are an important part of the male to female makeup process, as we use them for seeing and catching the attention of others. Everyone knows how intimate eye contact can be, in any situation. Here are some eye-related male to female makeup options:
- Eyebrow pencil or powder – used to fill in and define the eyebrows; you can also use matte eyeshadow as eyebrow powder to color in your eyebrows. Be creative!
- Eyeshadow base (optional) – prevents the deposition of eyeshadow in the eyelid crease and makes eyeshadow powders intense and brilliant; can also be used to neutralize discoloration in eye area and help your eye makeup last longer
- Eyeshadow – adds depth and dimension to the eyes, plus it enhances and accents the appearance of the eyes; grab a palette with at least three colors: light/medium, medium/dark, and a highlight shade. The combination of these palettes will give you an array of eye shadow colouring options.
- Eyeliner – either a gel eyeliner, or an eyeliner pencil that is used to emphasize the eyelids and/or to change the perceived shape of the eyes
- Mascara – enhances the appearance of the eyes by thickening, lengthening, and usually darkening the eyelashes; get black unless you are a fair blonde (in which case, go for brown-black)
- Clear mascara (optional) – use to groom thick eyebrows; will also help brow powder or pomade set, and it will define and shape the individual eyebrow hairs
Face Makeup
Choosing the best face makeup for you is important; the face makeup will cover the majority of the visible skin area, so be sure to find the product that works with your individual skin tone. Here are some quality options for male to female face makeup.
- Primer (optional) – smooths out wrinkles, makes the skin matte, narrows pores, and helps your makeup last longer
- Color corrector – helps to mask more severe shortcomings: pimples, scars, spider veins
- Fair skin – Get a pink and green corrector
- Medium/dark skin – Get a yellow corrector
- Foundation – helps to protect your face from the negative impact of the environment, makes the skin smooth, and also helps to hide the flaws and defects of the skin; find a medium coverage foundation that will match your skin tone accurately
- Translucent powder – a quick, light dusting of powder that sets makeup and controls shine; get loose powder that is the same as or slightly lighter than your natural skin tone
- Foundation powder (optional) – has a higher concentration of pigments to conceal flaws like uneven skin tone and blemishes. This product is useful if you need additional makeup coverage on the beard area.
- Light/dark cream concealer (optional) – can hide pigmentation on the face, like bruises under the eyes, redness, and light wrinkles; can also be used to contour the face
Cheeks
Cheeks are a make it or break it category for male to female makeup, as they allow the profile of the face to be reshaped into a much more feminine look. Here are some quality options for cheek male to female makeup.
- Contouring powder – a few shades darker than your skin tone to shade areas you’d like to define or reshape, like your nose, forehead, chin, and cheekbones
- Blush – look for a warm tone to add a touch of color to the apples of your cheeks; use it in moderation for that natural glow
Lips
Get those kissers gorgeous and plump with products that have the right ingredients to avoid irritation. Otherwise, you may end up looking like a duck! You can experiment with tons of colors, from natural to bold and crazy hues. It’s all up to you!
- Lip liner pencil – can be used to shape your lips and fill it in, plus it makes lipstick lasts longer
- Lipstick – adds color and hydration to the lips; go crazy with the abundance of color choices
- Lip gloss – seals the color of your lipstick in, and adds a shimmer to it
Other tools
Practice makes perfect for the male to female makeup look, so here are some miscellaneous tools that will help the transition go smoother and aid you with your mistakes along the way.
- Q-tips – used to clean up under the eyes, and shape your eyeliners to perfection
- Cotton balls or disks – Used to clean up errors and remove makeup
- Cetaphil – use along with cotton to clean up mistakes and remove makeup at the end of the day
- Cosmetic wedge sponges – for the under-eye area, and to conceal blemishes; great for applying an even coat of product on the skin
- Tweezers – clean up any stray hairs around your brows that sprout up
There you have it: our male to female makeup checklist. Don’t worry if you think you’re going to have to spend a lot of money, as many of these male to female makeup tools you will find lying around your house. Additionally, many affordable options are available at your local grocery or drug store.
Whatever your skill level is at with the male to female makeup transformation, just remember that there is no right or wrong image. Try out the different makeup tools that are available to you, and find what works for you as an individual. Make sure to be patient as you create a unique look that you really identify with.
Just as Bobbi Brown said, “The right makeup can be pretty powerful.” So go on and let the world see!
