GenderLife Forum: The Information Exchange

Has anyone bought and or used the GenderLife makeup and makeup application DVD?

If so what do you think about these products?

The internet is a MTF's transitional dream. I don't buy "self-improvement" products off of the net; all the help/info I need can be gotten off of the web for free. I just type pertinent words into my search engine and PRESTO—everything I need appears on my Mac screen. The cut-throat-capitalism-stone-ages are over. A new paradigm is forming out of necessity. . . .

This guy's GREAT--->

Wow, I didn't think of this:

Two good and informative videos, thankx...

As I cautioned when you posted this video in another thread: I'm leery of tutorials from gay men who do not wear female makeup themselves on a daily basis. It tends to be heavy and overdone.
I watched about half of the video and concluded that his methods are incredibly time consuming and not at all useful for day-to-day makeup.
Useful for a show or a prom, perhaps - but not ordinary daily activities (like work; people will wonder why you've done up like, well, a whore).

What videos? I have dial-up at 56K so no videos showed up for me. But, having read Vexing's post the last thing I need is advice from a gay guy whose make-up is for a totally different reason than mine! I want and need advice from T girls like me who know what I've been through and the challenges I face every moment, of every day. When it comes to make-up it's imperative for ME it's NOT over done! I want as natural a look as possible so my make-up choices and application must be very subtle. I DON'T want to draw attention to my make-up which leads to further scrutiny. That's why I'm going to get Calpernia's Make-up kit as SHE's been there and done that! Just my 2 cents worth. YMMV

Learning to do makeup that looks natural should come as an instinct, I think. It's pretty simple: it makes your skin look more even, accentuates your good points, but doesn't look like you have makeup on.

It shouldn't take more than a bit of experimenting to get that. It's basically applying just enough to look natural and just hide anything you may not like much. Unless there is a beard shadow, of course, and that changes things completely.

Otherwise, why the prejudice? The best makeup artists in the world are all guys (probably gay guys, too). Kevyn Aucoin, an acknowledged genius of makeup, was a flaming homosexual guy, the kind who goes to fashion shows with two boyfriends and a pink cape.

Those videos can be used to learn some things for more complex situations. Even people who love the natural look (like myself) are forced from time to time to wear more makeup, for a special occasion.

And, by golly, what woman wouldn't want to have at hand someone like Scott Barnes or Michael Key for a big night in town? Doesn't matter if they show up in leather SM outfits and with three boyfriends each, who cares?

The issue, Marcella, is that the vast majority of gay men learn their makeup skills for drag. Having observed a number of my gay friends applying drag makeup, it's a completely different skill set.
However, if you want to look like a man in drag, then by all means, use these chaps as mentors.

I would think the difficult part would be getting the colour shades right for ones flesh tone. No?

Experiment at home. This whole thing is supposed to be fun.

And it has nothing to do with "autogynephilia" or such BS.

It's what all women do to find what shades look good on them, what dress colours go nicely with what shoes, and what scarf goes with what bag.

I personally think that the best thing to do make-up wise is to go with the absolute bare minimum that you can.From observing and talking to my mother and two sisters about this...as you get older the shades of make-up should lighten,and avoid foundation for anything more than small spots that need to be evened out.Heavily applied foundation past a certain age just makes wrinkles and fine lines stand out,which makes you look older.My mother and sisters current make-up regimen is..A touch of foundation in small spots,very light mascara aplication,and very light lipstick,or just a light coat of lip gloss.Blush is only used for special occasions(a very light application/shade).That"s my 2 cents worth

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply that I couldn't learn make-up from a gay guy who does girls or is a professional. I was referring to gay guys who do excess make-up for shows and such. Sometimes what I'm thinking and feeling doesn't come out right on the keyboard. That's why you may notice I do a lot of editing of my posts.

I learned make-up tips from going to the counters at the malls. I started doing it in guy mode too. The outcome was great. They made me look so pretty and the public walking around stopped and watched me go from guy to pretty female in minutes. My then wife, who knew by then, watched it happen and walked off. Hours later, we walked and shopped in the mall, she finally noticed I had make-up on. It was that natural! I also know drag queens that gave me pointers too.

The deep stealth store makeup kit seems fair. I guess it's main benefit would be to a complete utter novice who has no clue about makeup and is planning on learning from their instructional dvd's but you can do that on youtube.

I'm a trained makeup artist and studied alot when I was in my teens. For someone wanting to learn to do good makeup I'd deffinately say don't be afraid to experiment and make the most of the youtube tutorials online.

Instead spend your money on a good skincare line, and hair removal if needed that way you wont need as much makeup in the long run.

Dont worry about forking out for expensive products in the beginning. Their not worth the money unless you can apply them properly and appreciate why they are superior to others. Many cheap brands can do just a good a job as the big names in cosmetics.

However you may find you have a certain need that isn't being met by a cheap product that you will have met from a more expensive product. Thats the only time I'll fork out extra money for something. Ie my foundation I'll spend big money on, Eyeshadows I wont cause you can get some great pallets cheap with some real great colours too.

I like MAC pigments but cause I don't work in makeup anymore or rarely now it's more of a passion I only buy MAC samples cause I myself wont go through a single eyeshadow myself for years! So I don't see the point in investing the money in one pigment when I can get many samples or even more non brand shadows.

And you can boost eye shadow colour and wear with things like primers and bases shade sticks ect. Same thing with bronzers ect. All trial and error and personal preference.

While it may be tempting to go all out and look movie star gorgeous everyday it's not the norm and if you wanna blend keep it natural like most women do.

I hate sponge tip shadow applicators they are disgusting evil crap shit stupid little devices that should be kept for childrens makeup kits lol.

A good set of real brushes makes all the difference. Synthetic brushes really cant compete with sable hair brushes ect. The brushes dont have to be brand nameb brushes just real and with a good cut.

I love Kevin Aucoin I've worshiped his genius since I first learnt about him when studying he's a real icon may he rest in peace. His book face forward and the other one making faces i think its called have been my make up bibles. They gave me a distinct edge over my fellow classmates before youtube tutorials were available.

Drag makeup deffinately is a whole other skill set, while alot of what they do can be used in your own makeup if you so wish to you'd have to SERIOUSLY tone it down like 95% first in order for it to be wearable as day to day makeup. One thing I do like that I learnt from drags and the likes of kevin aucoin ect is contouring it's a real awesome technique and you can combine it with highlighting too.

I do it very subtly compared to the hardcore way that drag queens do. I like that it gives your face a more 3 dimensional real look rather than a flat canvas ie just foundation and no contouring ect.

Natural is deffinately the way to go. Speaking from experience I once was a very made up person when it came to makeup. However as people got used to seeing me with this fully made up pretty face all the time, I'd never be seen without makeup it got to the point I wouldn't leave the house without a full face of make up, I felt UGLY hidieous without it, because I got so many compliments on how "pretty" and "beautiful" I looked when wearing the full on war paint makeup that was my everyday look. It wasnt over the top or drag queenish by any standard but deffinately made up compared to your average run of the mill female. I started to believe I really need all this get up and wore it religiously. After all it helped me pass more, and I looked better.

But what I didn't know was It almost became like a mask! I call it my war paint lol. No I didn't go walking round like a drag queen with glitter falling off my face eww no lol. Just very made up compared to your average female. But because Im good at it from years of experience I work best on my own face cause I know it so well. I could get away with it.

But you know what I learnt? While it's all fun and all playing pretty it kinda fucked me up, like I said I would not leave the house without make up. GOD FORBID I run out of my trusted friend thin lizzy concealer or foundation without my reserves being topped up in my kit. I'd freak lol. Friends would pick up my much "needed" products so I could resume normal life if I ran out, no way in hell would I go and buy it without my makeup on. It sounds extreme huh well it was my reality and I'm just working on fixing it now. I felt hidieous without my makeup up. I'm not ugly... I'm not a natural stunner either. But I'm not hidieous not like I felt.

I felt that way cause my made up face and look was so flawless and done up and pretty compared to my natural just me face that the difference was almost drastic, lol I compare it to seeing celebrities without their make up like how when you flick through the pages of NW magazine ect and they have your favourite stars looking washed out and blah with no makeup! aka human but compared to the usual near flawless look when they are made up that were used to seeing them as then to see them with no makeup dark under eye circles a few zits and uneven skin tone it's like OH MY GOD! what a SHAM! it makes them look ugly when in reality their not their just human like the rest of us but when your used to seeing a person looking a certain way then to one day see them not looking that good infact natural and well like shit compared to what your used to it is a bit of a shock!

Thats what I felt like, so I've been kinda recently since last year working on a more natural look, getting into facial hair removal, I mean why cover with foundation when you dont have to right? Why wear alot of make up when you can just accentuate the good parts ect?

I mean shit thats what I do when I make up clients so why should I be any different?

Most of all I became addicted to the false beauty cosmetics and skillfull application awarded me and the compliments and admiration I got from it. Yes vain I know who doesn't want to be told their gorgeous?

But I want to be told it because I am not because this thin layer of cosmetics on my face has been artfully applied.

I kinda went off topic but oh well. Think of it as one of the dont's in a do's and dont's with any given make up list lol.

DONT GET ADDICTED TO THE FALSE SENSE OF BEAUTY MAKEUP GIVES YOU

it's not real

it's not you

it's a skilled illusion almost


Don't get me wrong, I'll always wear makeup, just working on wearing less and looking more natural and becoming comforable with being seen as normal aposed to "oh my she's pretty!" And being comfortable seeing myself in the mirror without it.

While I could very easily keep up that image and be religious with never being seen without makeup only close friends and the closest of family have seen me without makeup over the past decade or so. I look forward to getting rid of the much hated facial hair issue, and trying a more natural approach to my image and presentation.

I know I won't miss having to have 1.5 hours of getting ready time (NOT ALL MAKEUP LOL!) thats my complete shower makeup dressed and hair done time.

I wont miss feeling suicidal when seen without makeup

I wont miss the devestating depression I go through when I've been seen without makeup. It sounds dumb but I dont like people seeing me without my makeup cause once they see me without it that image will remain in their heads forever I dont look boyish or anything it's just if they see me with no makeup they'll automaticly see how much of my pretty actually comes from my makeup. Like that saying her beauties in her handbag lol aka makeup bag. Not cool!

I sound like a bit of a damaged child lol, maybe I am....

But yeah my 5 cents to your fund