How to apply a flawless foundation(2)

Everyone asks me how to do their makeup better, and I’m certainly no expert, but I’ll tell you what I’ve learned over a few years of doing it. And it all starts with foundation (or coverup, same thing).

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I’m going to fly in the face of modern dermatology here, but you’re going to want a good thick cream foundation. Everyone these days uses powders or liquids or whipped foundation because they are lighter and let your natural skin color show . . . and they don’t clog your pores. But they also don’t cover up stubble. And I’m not talking about “I didn’t bother to shave this morning” stubble, most modern foundations won’t ever cover “I just shaved 5 min ago” stubble. Unless you are lucky enough to have really fine hair, in which case ignore everything I say.

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Don’t fret too much if you need cream coverup, you probably don’t wear it often enough or long enough to worry about clogging your pores – remember most gg’s wear the stuff 12 hours a day every day! The only trick is finding the stuff (and in the right color). Look for makeup in a compact, not in a bottle or jar. And make sure it says “cream”. Neutrogena makes a pretty decent one if you need a place to start looking. Or you can try Ultima II which is available off of Amazon, but it’s a bit light on coverage for a cream.

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Colors have semi-standardized names, so you can guess a little bit, but your best bet is to go into a store and compare the color sticker on the package to the skin on your wrist (palm side). You’ll probably want something just a tiny bit darker than your skin if you’re in between shades, otherwise get the closest match. If you’re guessing from the names, here’s a basic guide. “Ivory” is the lightest shade and has little color in it. “Natural”, “Amber”, or “Nude” are light skintones with some color in them (not color as in tan, but color as in more yellow than grey). “Buff” and “Beige” are usually medium tones but with a bit less yellow (leaning towards grey). “Golden” and “Honey” are medium tones with color. “Tan”, “Almond”, and “Cocoa” are exactly what they sound like. And of course there are combinations of the colors like “Natural Ivory”. And then sometimes the colors just make no sense. If you’re just looking at the colors on your computer screen though, err on the light side – most people guess a little too dark, and because your screen is backlit colors will look brighter than they are in real life. 

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Before you apply your new makeup, take a shower. Seriously. And wash your face, but don’t over-do it – you want to get any dead/dry skin off, but you don’t want to dry your face out and create new dead skin either. Stay in the shower for awhile with pleasantly warm water . . . makes a great time to shave your legs too. Now, if you want great makeup, apply a quick and thin coat of foundation while your face is still damp (not dripping, just damp). The moisture will keep the makeup spread out thin. Go cool off and dry yourself off, letting the foundation set up. Obviously don’t touch your face for a few min or stick it in a towel!

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When you’ve got your foundation in hand and are ready to apply it (this goes for the base coat if you put one on, or your “topcoat”), use a sponge or cotton pad – lots of coverup will come with a sponge anyway, which is great. Cotton pads may leave fuzz if you have course hair. “Brush” in the direction of hair growth as a general rule, unless you find a little hair that you missed when shaving in which case go over it in the opposite direction first and then in the direction of growth. Spread the foundation out thin at first, you don’t want cakes of it, and you can always go back over and add more if you really need. Keep it off your eyebrows and hair, because that just looks funny. Feel free to go over your eyelids and lips though, as that will help keep your eyeshadow and lipstick in place when you apply them overtop the foundation. And don’t forget the little places, like the undersides of your eyes, and underneath your nose. Take the foundation all the way down your neck, but spread it out *really* thin towards the base of your neck – you want it to cover any stubble down your neck, but the color needs to fade out to your natural skin gradually. Don’t rub it in, just gentle strokes in one direction.

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That’s it, all there is to it  Ok, that plus a LOT of practice. But you’ll get the hang of it. And don’t worry, it may not look like much, but you’re well on your way to being one hot crossdresser 

Courtesy:  http://thecrossdresser.org/2009/01/how-to-apply-foundation/

For Long Lasting Lipstick,Foundation

  

For Long Lasting Lipstick:  First apply a lip liner using a lip pencil with color just slightly darker than the color of your lips, completely filling in your lips, rather than merely outlining them.  Apply your lipstick, then redefine your lips by outlining them again.  Blot with a tissue and reapply lipstick.  Use "matte" formula lipsticks for longest wear.   

Apply black powder eyeliner along the top of false eyelash to help emphasize the eye.

Wear gloves when you put on nylons, especially if your hands are rough or your nails are long.

Thank you Leza for the following:

My biggest issue with being a CD was always makeup removal, especially in an emergency - being unexpectedly interrupted by wife, girlfriend, roommate, whatever and needing to clean up FAST. Plus, when I first started, I bought various pricey makeup remover products.

one word (well, two): BABY OIL

The most fantastic, cheap, moisturizing, all purpose (mascara, eyeliner, etc, takes it all off in a couple swipes) ever made. Plus nice to use in the shower or bath to soften the skin, and I personally love the scent.

Use contact cement to apply artificial nails(AN). Coat the inside of the AN and your own nail.  Let dry for 5 minutes and then apply.  Do several nails at once to minimize the time.  This process does take extra time, but nails  hold well.  Soak in water to get off.

Apply false eye lashes before other makeup, then before going out check to make sure they are secure. If there are an gaps touch up with lash adhesive on the corner of a small piece of cardboard about the thickness of an index card.  The cardboard gets easily into any cracks.

Best WHR waist to hips ratio is 0.7 (waist 30" hips 42", waist 35" hips 50", waist 26 hips 37)    Journal of Sex Research

When applying lashes, use a thin line of lash glue, no more than twice the thickness of the lash ban.

A big smile and bleached teeth is a huge plus for feminizing the face.  Prices start at $15 and go into the thousands.

Always carry two or three safety pins in your purse.

Always use lotion or face cream before applying makeup.

To stop a run in a stocking or pantyhose dab clear fingernail polish at the top of the run.  Carry a spare pair in the car or your purse.

For Long Lasting Eye Shadow:  Apply concealer to your eyelids, before applying your eye shadow.

For Long Lasting Eyeliner:  Apply pencil eyeliner to your eyes.  Then brush the same color powder eye shadow over the eyeliner.  It should last all day.

For Long Lasting Foundation:  First apply a moisturizer throughout your face.  Then apply a liquid foundation, making sure to cover your entire face.  Apply a concealer under your eyes and to blemishes.  Then apply generous quantities of pressed or loose powder to lock in the foundation, making sure to brush away the excess.  If you have oily skin, use an oil-free foundation.  If your skin is dry, use a moisturizing foundation.  If your foundation still isn't lasting all day, your moisturizer may not be optimal for your skin.  If your skin is oily, your make-up may be traveling, and you may need an oil-free moisturizer.  If your skin is dry, it may be soaking up your foundation.   In this case, you may need a cream moisturizer in addition to a moisturizing foundation.

Don't store make-up in the car are other places that may get hot.

Makeup should only be used for about three months after that there is a risk of infection.

Clean brushes and sponges regularly.

Don't apply makeup while driving.

If you use duct tape, be prepared to suffer the consequences.

If you use glue-on nails, do not rush taking them off.

Apply a coat of nail polish to nails, let dry then apply glue-on nails.  The nails will come off easier at the end of the evening.

Don't have pierced ears?  Sharon DeWitt cuts the post off earrings and then puts a drop of fingernail glue on the back of the earring and applies the earring to her earlobe.  This gives the appearance of a pierced ear and stays on all evening.

A step-by-step makeup makeover

	1 Begin by applying the stage makeup in your shade all over the face and throat with a sponge, adding extra coverage where needed by patting extra foundation over those areas. Next, add depth and contouring to the face by applying the next darkest shade of stage makeup to the left and right sides of the forehead, under the cheekbone, to the sides of the nose, and along the jaw line(be sure to blend the contoured areas, so they don't look like stripes!). Finally, to prepare the face for color, set the entire application with loose powder using a powder puff or powder brush.	1
	2 Its now time to add a little color to the face and brighten up those cheeks! To do this, you must first find the perfect shade of blush to compliment your skin. To brighten myself up, I take the blush brush, load it with Mild Pink Blush, and sweep the color over the top of my cheekbones (not under), and work the color back to the hairline. The blush should be brightest on the "apple" of the cheek (the part of the cheek that sticks out when you pucker your lips), and should fade as it heads toward the side of the cheek bone.	2
	3 Now onto eyes! Start by applying a brightening shade all over the eye lid (from lashes to brow) with a wide shadow brush. I recommend using the shade "Oyster" to give the optimal brightening and a little shimmer as well to reflect light and open the eye.	3
	4 Now we're going to give the eye a little depthÖand mystery! In this photo, I have taken the "Sangria" shadow and applied that shade on my lid and crease using an angled shadow brush.	4
	5 It's now time to give the eye a little more intensity. I have applied "Mauve" shadow just on the lid (the little area below the crease), sweeping it across my eye all the way down to the lash line.	5
	6 No eye is complete without liner and mascara. For the perfectly defined eye, apply the "Jet" eyeliner to the top of the eye, by sweeping it in short strokes across the lash line area, making sure that the liner touches the base of the lash line. For a "lifted" look, I always make my liner thinner towards the nose, and thicker as it goes outward. Dot the liner on the bottom of the lash line, and smudge it with a liner brush. Finish the eye by applying two generous coats of "black" mascara all over the lashes (I must tell you, I have tried many mascaras, but this one is the BEST!!!!	6
	7 Lips can make or break a look. Often times, the lip liner is either forgotten, or not used to its full potential. To make my lips look fuller, I start by drawing a "V" in the center of my top lip, using the "Plum Brown" liner. I then start at each corner and work my way up to the "V", lining just above my lip line. Finally, I trace the liner across my bottom lip, again, just outside my lip line.	7
	8 I find that when I fill in my lips with liner, my lipstick stays on longer, and my lipstick looks more "3-dimensional." To do this I pick a lighter lipliner to fill in with. A shade such as "Pink Glaze" does the job perfectly!	8
	9 A beautiful and flattering lip shade can brighten the face, and soften the features like nothing else. I love to finish my lip by applying "Prom Pink" lipstick to the entire lip area with a lip brush, sweeping the color within the lip. A lip brush is essential for the initial application, as it truly does give a more professional, polished look.	9
		10 As you can see, a little subtlety all over really creates a flawless face. Minor details, such as the ones I have listed above, can really create the look you are seeking. With TG Cosmetics, you can truly become the woman you have always wanted to be!	10

How to apply a flawless foundation

To create a flawless looking foundation, follow these tgcosmetics.com steps to learn the art of skin preparation and applying foundation correctly to create a beautiful look.

1. Wash your face Always start with a clean face. Wash, don’t rub, with a good facial cleanser. Be gentle. Rinse well to remove all the cleanser. Be sure to shave before you apply your makeup to ensure a smooth application. When shaving use a gel or moisturizing shave cream to allow for the closest possible shave without nicks and abrasions. Foundations can cause itching if you have shaving cuts or tiny skin abrasions. Apply a toner to refresh skin. Allow 30 minutes for your skin to recover before you applying your makeup. If you have 10-15 minutes, enjoy a relaxing bath while wearing a tgcosmetics natural clay masque. The natural clay, Kaolin, draws impurities out of clogged pores and minimizes the pore size and helps tighten and refine skin so that makeup goes on smoother and easier. Using a mask gives skin a firmer texture. 2. Shaving A smooth surface is important for a successful makeup application. Shaving right after a hot shower is best because the heat and water hydrates the skin, dilates the blood vessels which open the pores and makes the hair more pliable and easier to cut. Consider using a swivel-head razor and or twin blades for getting a smooth shave. Use a conditioning shave cream and toner to ensure a smooth shave that leaves skin in good condition. If you are not planning to shower before you shave, wrap a hot, moist towel over your face and neck for about two minutes before you shave. Use hot water, not scalding water to create lather for shaving and keep water and lather hot during the entire shaving process. Examine your face closely before shaving to determine the direction that your facial and neck hair grows. It is important to begin your shave with the hair growth rather than against the direction that the hair grows. Shaving first in the direction that the hair grows cuts 80% of the hair and avoids razor burns, ingrown hairs and irritations. Then lather a second time and shave against the hair growth to get a closer shave, starting from your neck working up to cheeks, under nose and chin. Don't apply too much pressure to the razor, this can cause razor burn and doesn't give your a closer shave. After you are finished shaving, rinse your face and neck with cold water to refresh skin and tighten pores. Pat dry, don't rub face dry. use styptic pencil or moistened alum block to stop any bleeding from nicks. The process of shaving removes a very thin layer from the skin surface so it is important to apply a fragrance-free, alcohol-free toner such as tgcosmetics Vitamin C toner pads, to soothe, nourish, moisturize skin, boost skin tone and help generate new cell growth. Let skin settle down for 5-10 minutes before proceeding with your next application step. 3. Moisturize your faceBefore applying makeup, apply a non-greasy facial moisturizer. This creates a thin layer of cream to keep your skin's natural moisture in. Blot off excess moisturizer leaving a fine layer on your skin. Wait a few minutes before applying any makeup. Be sure that you are using the same light in which you will be wearing your makeup. If it’s evening use electric light, if it’s for daytime, use sunlight. It does make a difference. 4. Apply foundation Foundation creates a base by smoothing out the surface of your skin. It allows your makeup to adhere more evenly. If your face is smooth and stubble free, a liquid foundation such as tgcosmetics Aloe liquid foundation can be applied to give a natural, even skin tone. Check for the right shade match to your skin tone by applying it in a streak from your lower cheek to your upper neck and blend in evenly with a dabbing motion. Latex sponge wedges are great for applying foundation. Avoid trying to smooth-over bumps or wrinkles. This will result in caking.  Even after shaving, the hair shadow can show beneath the makeup. If this happens you will need to use a thicker cream cover foundation or a pan cover foundation. When coverage needs more help, we recommend tgcosmeticsStage Foundation ( low oil content) or tgcosmetics CoverBlend Concealing Treatment Foundation which is a highly opaque, smudge-proof creme specifically formulated to give excellent coverage to even out discoloration and hide beard shadow and to create a flawless skin tone. Both of these products work well with oily skin types. Use the heavier foundation on beard and mustache areas and where skin tone is uneven and/or to cover blemishes. Choose the shade that most closely matches your skin tone. Practice using it before you actually go out in public with it on. If you decide to have electrolysis performed on your face, you will only need liquid foundation. Liquid foundations can provide the best and most natural look. If you are considering electrolysis, try a topical anesthetic cream. We recommend our product, Ela-MAX4%. It desensitizes the skin which results in a more comfortable procedure. You’ll find it in thetgcosmetics.com Rx Skin Care section of our site. When using heavier foundation, use a thick blend of the tgcosmetics Extra Coverage Stage Foundation or CoverBlend and liquid foundation over your beard and mustache and uneven skin color areas. Use the liquid foundation over heavier foundation on your upper cheeks, nose, eyes and forehead. Make sure the tgcosmetics pan Stage Foundation or CoverBlend and the liquid foundation are close in tone and basic color. A common mistake is not blending makeup evenly. Remember to blend, blend, blend. When using liquid foundation, dab small dots onto your face across forehead, cheeks, chin, nose and neck first. Then blend with fingers or a tgcosmetics latex makeup sponge to spread the foundation out evenly. Push foundation gently into skin, don't smear it. Don’t make the layer too thick. If you need to make the application thinner, wet the sponge. Cover your entire face with foundation, including around the edges of the lips. A common mistake is to forget to apply foundation to your neck area. When applying makeup you should always consider your neck a part of your face. Also cover exposed areas such as your shoulders and chest so that your complexion will have an overall even tone, Makeup will stain clothing, so be careful to avoid areas where clothing will rub against makeup. Seeing makeup stains on clothing ruins the illusion of a natural look. After foundation is applied, wait for 3-4 minutes to allow your makeup to settle onto skin. 5. Next, use concealer/corrector At this point, you will use concealer tint over foundation to correct, even out your skin tone, hide imperfections, highlight and add contour to your features. We recommend tgcosmetics four-tone or five-tone corrector to correct, neutralize or counteract sallow, ruddy red, dark or blue undertones, hide imperfections and even out unsightly blemishes and discoloration.  Dark - accents, contours and recedes Light - highlighting and bringing areas forward. Orange - counters beard and blue tones. Yellow - counters dark areas, blemishes, under eye circles and discoloration. Mint- neutralize red tones and broken capillaries Lavender - counters yellow and sallow areas     Use the concealer in thin layers alone, over or under foundation to carefully touch-up and accent face to emphacize curves and conceal imperfections. Dark tint contours the face, the orange tine can counter beard areas, yellow evens our dark coloration and uneven skin and light highlights and brings features forward. Use the light tint as a highlighter tone to bring out your cheekbones, forehead, and brow bones. Mint counters reddish areas and Lavender counters yellow and sallow areas. It also lessens facial lines around the mouth and outer coners of the eyes. Here, careful blending and smoothing is VERY important to perfect the illusion of shape. Be sure there are no defining lines between shades. 6. Press in loose powder Loose powder is better to use than pressed powder because leaves a smoother finish. Powder also softens the overall appearance. Using loose powder over your foundation makes your makeup to last much longer. Choose a shade slightly lighter than your foundation. tgcosmetics offers translucent loose powder in light, medium light, medium. medium dark and dark.  TIP: Use the powder puff or soft cloth rather than a brush to apply tgcosmetics loose powder. Gently press powder into your foundation with a pressing/rolling motion. The pressing action will push the powder into the foundation to set and soften the look. DO NOT RUB across your face. Rubbing powder onto your foundation will cause smear marks to show up later.     Voila! Now you have primed the canvas with a perfect foundation, Now you are read to add color to create your fabulous glamour look. 7. Choose the tgcosmetics.com cosmetic colors that work for you from our many cosmetic shades. Or try one of our coordinated glamour kits that most closely fits your hair and skin type and continue to create your classic beauty look. Use our helpful makeup tips to refine and perfect your makeup and style for a fabulous look that sizzles. Enjoy and have fun. TIP: Once you have applied your tgcosmetics foundation, use a hair dryer on a medium warm setting and direct it at your face and neck for a minute or two. This will melt foundation slightly into the skin for a softer, more even look.