Some makeup questions

[Jennifer (Tink)]

Hi all,

Forgive me if this is in the wrong place (I can never get the sub-forums right).

I have two questions regarding makeup.

1) Does anyone have any good suggestions about selecting a nice neutral nail polish color ? I am using clear for the time being while getting used to doing my nails. Cleaning up the nail, cuticle etc.. Plus getting used to actually putting on nail polish. I want to start adding a little color. Nothing over the top like electric green or orange (well for now anyways lol).

2) I have really bad sags under my eyes. Trying to look into some techniques for helping to not look so exhausted everyday. Even on the days I am wide awake and ready to hit the mountains I look like I just want to fall asleep.

I guess what I am asking is does anyone have some good makeup tips for a complete newbie in this area? Advice, websites, reading material, anything would be welcome.

Thanks

:hugs:

-- Jenn

[Trinity]

A base that matches your complexion will help under the eyes, mine are almost black from sleep deprivation. Heavy base, kind of a concealer, with powder over it, then if desired, blush.

After a close shave it can do wonders to really make things work. You have high T levels, but right after the shave, that should help you.

I use Sarah Hanson "hard as nails" clear polish exclusively, but grow them out as far as I can. longest was a half inch from the quick. I need the strengthener and I need long nails clear polished to offset dysphoria, its important for me personally, we all have our needs there. Any clear polish that is tinted will give you the results you are looking for, use a clear base coat and go over the top with the tinted clear polish.

[Jennifer (Tink)]

Aug 26, 2016 21:24:58 GMT 8 Trinity said:

A base that matches your complexion will help under the eyes, mine are almost black from sleep deprivation. Heavy base, kind of a concealer, with powder over it, then if desired, blush.

After a close shave it can do wonders to really make things work. You have high T levels, but right after the shave, that should help you.

I use Sarah Hanson "hard as nails" clear polish exclusively, but grow them out as far as I can. longest was a half inch from the quick. I need the strengthener and I need long nails clear polished to offset dysphoria, its important for me personally, we all have our needs there. Any clear polish that is tinted will give you the results you are looking for, use a clear base coat and go over the top with the tinted clear polish.

Oh ! I never knew there was such a thing as tinted clear polish. I have a Revlon Multicare Base Coat + Top Finish. So far thats been working wonders but I could use the second pass with a tinted clear polish instead of the clear top coat. Which would be wonderful.

Thanks !

[Valerie]

When it comes to foundation you gotta be sure you get one that matches your skin tone! Otherwise if you get one too dark or too light weeellll you could enter fake tan, or pale vamp land.

If you go to a Sephora, they can give you a free color iq, and they give you a color code for your exact skin tone for foundation, concealers, etc.

As for your bags under eyes I agree with Trinity, about using foundation. I use Maybelline age rewind instant foundation, and it gets rid of like tiredness under my eyes.

Also tip, if you use a liquid foundation, damp your foundation brush a little and use the brush in circular motion to apply liquid foundation.

Now as for eyes, I've found its easier if I do my eye makeup first then foundation afterwards. That way if any fall out is easy to clean up without taking off foundation. Also, for me when it comes to eyeliner I find it easier to go from inside of eye to the outside. I feel like it gives me more control, and just easier. Although, I mostly just use crayon type, I tried liquid eyeliner and omg it's hard to control, and I just need better practice.

If you ever do lips, always be sure to use lip pencil and line the outside of your lips first before any lipcolors, that way because the lipliner keeps the lipstick from bleeding out all over your lips! Trust me it happens easily.

That's all I know so far! I still in need of tons of practice and experimenting! Like I really want to leArn how to contour and practice contouring.

Also just to warn you makeup is extremely expensive! I easily spent $180 at Sephora one time. But there's also E.L.F. (Eyes. Lips. Face) Which is pretty cheap makeup, and you can find that brand at like target or Walmart.

Maybe you could ask your daughter for tips? If I remember correctly she was supportive of you, And giving you shaving tips. Who knows you two could have a day of makeup hunting!

Ps. Ohh as for nail polish, I always love black, and some purple shades! I have soooo many different shades of purple it's ridiculous.

[Jennifer (Tink)]

Maybe you could ask your daughter for tips? If I remember correctly she was supportive of you, And giving you shaving tips. Who knows you two could have a day of makeup hunting!

I was just thinking that myself lol. I have to pick her up from work soon so maybe on the car ride home.

[Deleted]

OK shaving is no big deal as long as you let your skin get used to it. OK so the face sux. So it is like shaving twice. Once with the grain and the other against. But make sure you allow you skin to get used to it.

The legs is the same way. Until you get used to it, the more irritation you will have. Especially the bikini line. and if you are gonna' go totally "linoleum" then go sideways outward. I can't go totally against the grain and 24 hours of totally smooth will give me 48 hours or total irritation. Sideways and outward still makes it smooth but stubbly in 12 hours.

The legs? You are just gonna' have to get used to it. It may take up to 3 months if you shave everyday. I mentioned shaving because that takes a while to get used to.

As for makeup though. Shave the face twice. I use conditioner and shaving cream first with the grain and then rinse and use conditioner only against the grain. Like others have said, make sure it matches your natural skin tone. Depending on summer or winter you may 4 different tones. OMG I have seen a lot of women that don't change tones with the seasons so either the foundation and the concealer is too light or dark depending on winter and summer. With bags under your eyes then makeup and concealer are your friends. As for all the other shit like eyeliner, eyebrow pencils, mascara, lipstick, lip liner, eye shadow and how to blend the different colors then either ask you daughter or go on youtube.

But... Have you plucked your brows to a more feminine or at least neater line? You can find any tutorial on youtube but for women it is usually tapered on the outer edges and the inner line even with the outer edge of the nostrils. Actually thicker brows for women seem to be in now. It kind of sux for me because I like thinner brows. But hey. At least it works. But a suggestion for brows because every time you pluck them it seems that the hair comes back thinner. So a brow razor maybe the way to go especially if you are agender or non binary. It is an everyday thing but will never become permanent.

But Covergirl, Maybelline and Revlon all make good makeup.

But seriously Jenn. Ask your daughter what works best for you or a girl friend or go to a professional. Hell I was the only one with enough courage back in the eighties to go to a professional when we started our band in high school. Everyone paid but I got the full treatment. She showed me a lot of other shit than just the "boys looking like girls" hair band makeup. Hell I think she was the first one I ever told that I wish I was a woman. She turned out to be a lesbian.

[Jennifer (Tink)]

Yeah I had a talk with my daughter and she was overjoyed to go makeup shopping and give advice.

God I love her

-- Jenn

[Valerie]

Omg omg I forgot the most important rule of foundation!!! Make sure you do your neck as well as your face too! That way your neck isn't a different shade from your face!

[Taka]

no, don't apply foundation on your neck. instead, match your foundation to the skin on your neck rather than the face...

there's a specific right way to use concealer as well, if you want baggy eyes perfectly gone. not a half moon, but a deep triangle. you'll find lots of videos on youtube.

brown don't necessarily need feminization, you could just start with plucking any stray hairs with tweezers. that only makes them neater and more pleasant to look at.

but seriously. just use youtube. look for natural and male makeup as well as feminizing tutorials. then paint your face everything from drag queen to very subtle bordering on invisible.

also keep in mind that there are brown mascaras as well. worth trying, since black isn't the right color for everyone.

[Deleted]

Taka is right. You really need to match the foundation with your skin tone. That will change though depending upon how much time you spend outside and the seasons. Summertime I get a little darker and winter time a little lighter so I have three different matches depending on the time of year. It also depend on where you live and how much sun you get. It also depends on how much you tan too.

Pretty much foundation is to hide blemishes so if you do have blemishes on you neck you want to hide then by all means hide them but moles, freckles and birthmarks aren't all that uncommon on a person's neck. and then if the colors don't match and you are wearing a low cut blouse then you have to match that too. I like wearing low cut blouses and tanks so I make sure that the foundation matches my skin tone.

[Jennifer (Tink)]

My daughter was teaching me about making skin tones match. In fact she helped me pick one out that closely matched and taught me how to check it before applying it and how to apply it

[Taka]

it's a good thing that most daughters want their father to be pretty too...

i've a feeling most will be happy as long as you're strong and reliable, but that has nothing to do with gender.

[Trinity]

Aug 27, 2016 5:32:55 GMT 8 Taka said:

it's a good thing that most daughters want their father to be pretty too...

i've a feeling most will be happy as long as you're strong and reliable, but that has nothing to do with gender.

No it doesnt.

Each of my kids has a different comfort level.

Trick is finding them before going too far.

Same with wives.

I am lucky.  But it took 4 years to get here.

[Taka]

kids will have more problems with accepting when they're kept out of the loop. if they're informed before anything at all happens, and talked with, they'll have a much easier time dealing with things to do with their parents.

my ex step father has a tendency to talk about the wrong things and shut up about the wrong things. his youngest daughter barely tolerates him after his and my mother's divorce. his youngest son wants nothing to do with him.

but none of it has to do with the divorce. except that him not being with their mother, gave them the choice, and they chose to no longer care about a relationship that was already bad. playing family roles instead of simply being family just wasn't the right way to do it.

though it's still a fact that most daughters are exhilarated if their dad lets them do his makeup.

[Jennifer (Tink)]

Aug 27, 2016 5:38:31 GMT 8 Trinity said:

Aug 27, 2016 5:32:55 GMT 8 Taka said:

it's a good thing that most daughters want their father to be pretty too...

i've a feeling most will be happy as long as you're strong and reliable, but that has nothing to do with gender.

No it doesnt.

Each of my kids has a different comfort level.

Trick is finding them before going too far.

Same with wives.

I am lucky.  But it took 4 years to get here.

I am VERY lucky to have two children that are so accepting. My daughter said she felt a little weird at first but it was the initial shock. Once it wore off and I explained to her what it was all about she was fine and accepting.

The school she goes to has a large LBGTQA+ presence so she is already acquainted with the subject. She already knew most of the terminology we were talking about. That moment when she realized that she didn't have to solely rely on mom when it comes to makeup, nails and clothes she was so excited.

And like I said, my wife is starting to acclimate to the subject. The fact that I have nail polish, jewelry and a few clothes out doesn't bother her now. Also since my daughters room is next to my office, she would have had a cow by now if she was still worried about our kids.

So I think there is some silent acceptance on her part.

Little baby steps and much love / understanding.

I can't tell you how blessed I am for this family. That includes this community. Without you I wouldn't have had a place to vent, cry, ask questions and most of all gain your knowledge and experience. So thank you as well. I consider you a part of my family.

:hugs:

-- Jenn