MAKE-UP TIPS




Make-up is an art. Like all artistic endeavors, you must work at it. It's like the
old Henny Youngman joke: “A fellow asked me the other day, 'How do you get to
Carnegie Hall?' So I told him: 'Practice.' There's no better way to learn how to apply
make-up than to do it over and over again. Over time you'll discover what works best.


LESS IS MORE
The make-up problem we crossdressers face is the need to cover our beard shadow.
So we end up putting on so much make-up we often look like someone wearing too
much make-up. Look around. You rarely see women who cake it on (and those that do
stand out for the wrong reason). The key is to use what you need and no more.
In a nutshell, People Aren't Observant. But take heart. Yvonne - of Yvonne's Place
for Crossdressers - says that most people we encounter probably don't see our
beard shadow as much as we think they do. I suspect that she is probably right.


BLEND
One thing you must do is blend your make-up. After putting on eyeliner, take
a brush and soften it so it doesn't look too harsh. Same goes for blusher. Take
a neutral brush and lighten it with a little powder. Remember, blend, blend, blend!


BUYING MAKE-UP
It's generally accepted that department store make-up is better than Cover Girl
and other drugstore brands. It's also more expensive, but at least you get some
advice if you ask for it. If you need an excuse to tell the clerk, try this one
(because it’s actually true). Most male television reporters and anchor people
are given make-up allowances and most don’t go to the drugstore for make-up.
So just tell the make-up counter clerk you were just hired by Channel 12 and need help
finding a better foundation to better match your skin. That's where real TV reporters go
(a friend of one of our members works for a television station). And if the sales clerk
never sees you on TV, so what, girls. She probably watches another station anyway.


FINAL CHECK
Always carry what you'll need in your pocketbook for quick repairs and
touch-ups. Before heading out, check your make-up a final time in the mirror. Look
for tell-tale streaks. Also, you don’t need to wear red lipstick all the time, girls. It's almost
out of fashion. Experiment with other colors. You'll find out what works best with your skin.