Makeup Tips for Transgender Women
For transgender women looking to enhance feminine features, makeup can be a powerful tool. By understanding some key techniques and products, you can achieve a more feminine look that will help highlight your natural beauty. Here are 10 tips and tricks to help you on your journey. Much love & solidarity!
1. Figure Out Your Skin Type
Determining your skin type is essential for tailoring an effective skincare routine. Knowing your skin type is effective for several reasons:
- Product Selection: Knowing your skin type helps you choose products that will benefit your skin and avoid those that might cause harm.
- Targeted Treatment: It allows you to address specific skin concerns like acne, dryness, or oiliness more effectively.
- Routine Optimization: Understanding your skin type ensures that your skincare routine is tailored to your skin’s unique needs, enhancing its overall health and appearance.
- Preventive Care: It helps prevent future skin issues by using the right products and treatments from the start.
2. Come Up With a Skincare Routine & Do Your Best To Stick With It
In order to create and repeat the perfect makeup look, you have to take care of your beautiful canvas. This is why it’s essential to establish a skincare routine. Everyone’s skincare routine will look different, and you’ll have to do some homework, as well as trial and error, to find out what works for you specifically. To start, keep up with the basics: cleanse morning and night, moisturize morning and night, and protect your skin with SPF every morning. This will create a smooth canvas for your makeup and help keep your skin healthy and glowing.
3. Understand the Key Differences Between Masculine and Feminine Features
Masculine and feminine facial features exhibit distinct characteristics. Understanding what those characteristics are can be super beneficial. Here’s a brief comparison:
Noses:
Male noses are usually larger and more robust than female noses. The nasal base and the nasal bridge are typically larger for males. Female noses are generally smaller and more delicate with a narrow bridge. In order to make your nose appear smaller, contour is key. Apply bronzer in two lines (typically you’ll want something a couple shades darker than your skin tone) to the sides of your nose. In other words, take a contouring brush to bronzer and draw a line from the front of your brow to the tip of your nose on each side. Then you’re going to want to highlight in between. *Pro tip: The thinner the area you highlight, the smaller your nose will look. Also, don’t forget to apply bronzer to the tip of your nose as well to achieve a smaller-looking nose.
Eyes & Eyebrows:
Female eyes tend to look a bit larger than a males would, this is often because they have a higher brow with more of an arch. The skin around the eye tends to be darker for women than men. Men’s eyes are more likely to have a deep-set and appear narrower. As for a man’s brow, it tends to be straighter and bushier. A simple way to achieve a larger eye look, is to line only the outer corners of your eyes. Also, darkening your crease. Go for neutral colors that aren’t too dark. Maybe a medium taupe? With eyeshadow, the choices are endless, have fun experimenting! Lastly, define your brow and give it an arch.
Lips:
Like the skin around the eyes, female lips tend to be naturally darker than males. Female lips are also more plump and closer to the nose. Go for a rosy-colored lipstick. In my opinion, the rose color is your best bet because it will give your lips the effect of looking darker, which is feminine, without looking too bold which can sometimes take away from the femininity. Also, lip plumping gloss is your new best friend!
Cheeks:
Prominent cheek bones are considered a feminine feature. Female cheeks also tend to be higher and have more fat composites, giving their face a rounder and fuller look overall. Experiment with blush, a rosy color is again, in my personal opinion, your best bet. But you could also go with a soft pink. I personally like to match my blush with my lips, but that’s just a personal preference.
Chins:
Men tend to have more square and rectangular chins, as women will most commonly have an oval or heart-shaped chin. Again, contouring is key for this one. Apply bronzer to the jawline.
Lashes:
Women tend to have thicker and longer lashes than men. Fake lashes are the obvious tip here. Or, simply using lengthening mascara and always be sure to curl your lashes! Even fake lashes.
4. Prime and Set Your Makeup
In order to assure your makeup lasts throughout the day, don’t forget to prime before applying. Check out my personal favorite primer, here. Also, use setting spray to set your makeup! If you don’t have a setting spray, hairspray works for this too.
5. Highlight and Contour
Highlighting and contouring can help feminize your facial features. Use a lighter shade (a couple shades lighter than your skin tone) to highlight areas such as the center of the forehead, under the eyes, and the bridge of the nose. Use a darker shade to contour the hollows of your cheeks, jawline, and temples.
6. Experiment With Blush
Blush can add a healthy, youthful glow to your cheeks. Choose a blush color that complements your skin tone and apply it to the apples of your cheeks for a natural flush.
7. Embrace Earthy Shadows
Like I mentioned before, women tend to have darker skin around the eye area. Like the lips, you’ll want to find the perfect balance of darkening the skin around your eyes without going too bold and remaining soft. Earthy tones are perfect for this – specifically medium browns, taupe, burnt sienna, and sage. Like I said before, with eyeshadow the possibilities are endless!
8. Add Mascara for Volume
Mascara can make your lashes appear longer and fuller, drawing attention to your eyes. Apply a few coats of mascara to both your upper and lower lashes to achieve a more feminine look.
9. Define Your Brows
Well-defined eyebrows can frame your face and enhance your feminine features. Use an eyebrow pencil or powder to fill in any sparse areas and create a more defined shape, focusing on accentuating that arch. Remember to choose a shade that matches your hair color.
10. Have Fun
Remember, makeup is a form of self-expression, and there are no hard and fast rules. Feel free to adapt these tips to suit your style and preferences. With practice and experimentation, you’ll find the perfect makeup routine that helps you achieve a more feminine look! Don’t forget to have fun. I can only imagine how liberating it must feel, as transgender women, to finally allow yourself to be who you have always been inside. Don’t let the haters get you down and remember to enjoy this process. Makeup is truly so much fun!
