Found a story on a New Orleans newspaper's website about a bright, academically-accomplished Mississippi high school senior (and drag performer) who won a scholarship to Tulane with a video essay about male/female gender roles. It features a sped-up makeup application session where he turns himself into his drag persona, Miss Annie Thang:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=If9QoqTOMMY
...and the next link offered by YouTube was this slightly longer video of another drag star, Alexis Stone putting on some serious glamor-face:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt7G43TJPuY
One thing evident from both of these videos is that expertise with makeup is acquired with experience and practice, and one of the most important things to learn is patience in its application. I know my much simpler makeup takes me well over an hour.
Comments
Maybe I'm just lazy
I use a vibrating razor that Gillette makes, and do everything they tell you not to including shaving backward and all that and have been doing that for 30+ years. Unfortunately, when I had full body laser, my facial beard had gone mostly grey so I still have to shave at least every two days.
I use OLAY regenerist on my whole face and then use MAC concealer to cover a wine stain birthmark on my chin. I use a bit of pink lippy. I'm 69, so don't do much with my eyes. Sometimes I'll use some rose blush on my cheeks. Just lazy.
I'm lazy too
I almost never wear skin make up and most of the time go without makeup anyway, just moisturiser especially if it's cold or windy or I'm cycling. I usually use Nivea soft or oil of Olay. Even if I'm dressing up to go somewhere I only wear some eyeliner, mascara and lippy with some brow pencil because my eyebrows are blonde.
It might suit some people to spend hours putting on slap or to contour their face like Kim K but I live in the real world and have better things to do. I suppose as well I can wear makeup any day I want so it's not a novelty any more than wearing skirts and dresses if I wish. Sure it's fun to play and youngsters like to experiment or change their looks. Perhaps I'm just too old to care though I like to think I can still look tidy when the need arises but I feel secure enough in my identity not to worry too much about what other people think - another age related thing or just the experience of being myself for the last thirty years.
Angharad
Same for me
Though I do use a light powder based foundation (and it does not take much time btw) also with some light blush when I want to get dressed up.
Like you said, age matters and I have been full time for 25+ years now.
Though is it just me?
Or am I the only one here that finds this 'femininity in a bottle' thing annoying?
Wouldn't It Be Great...
If it came in ONE bottle? I've lost track of just how many bottles, tubes, sticks, jars, containers and various shaped applicators I've accumulated in the course of trying to figure out how to achieve any look society expects. However, at 20 paces, in dim light, I can almost get away with it.
Ironically, instead of practice making perfect, lately I find it just makes me more insecure, self-critical, and withdrawn. Oh, well.
When I bother
I am -- or, at least, was -- just an eyeliner and mascara kinda gal. Maybe a little lip gloss. I've always liked using makeup as an accent rather than as a way to legitimately change my appearance, though, so that plays into it.
It always made my stage makeup class laugh when they'd see me use the brown eyebrow pencil that came with our class-required kits as eyeliner instead, until they'd see how much softer and more realistic my applications tended to look than theirs in the up-close shots we'd do as examples of our work; not necessarily truly ideal for stage, but I was applying for the actual task at hand. Sometimes it pays to look at the way everyone else does something and just say "nah, I'll do it this way instead."
Melanie E.
Not Lazy, Just Practical
I find myself agreeing with Angharad. I too live in the real world, or as real as some people think Kansas is. Typical uniform of the day is no makeup, baseball cap, sweatshirt and trackies and puff, I'm accepted for who I am without anyone batting an eye. Were I to do the glam thing, I'd stick out like a sore thumb. I have seen that too many times, even when conducting business or visiting NYC. TGs who dress to the nines and go strutting about like the cat's meow might as well wear a neon sign declaring 'TGs B Us.'
Early on in my transition, which now seems like eons ago, I was told you begin to pass when you stop trying to pass. Word of advice, don't take makeup lessons from drag queens unless your goal in life is to be one. Instead, spend time at the local mall and study your competition. If you want to disappear into the woodwork, those are the people whose lead you need to follow.
Any who, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it. Until next time, stay safe and sane.
HW Coyle
a.k.a. Nancy Cole
"You may be what you resolve to be."
T.J. Jackson
Very True!
When stepping into the real world, the only goal should be to look like you belong there. Attracting attention, of any sort, is a bad idea. Normalcy is the goal, as is average, or as near inside the bell curve as you can fit. You don't want people staring at you, mentally critiquing your clothing or wondering where you think you're going made up like that.
For a crossdresser like me, it also means very carefully selecting places where you might feel welcome, or at least tolerated, and safe. That said, I seem to have lost my courage the last few years, along with self-confidence.
I'd just like...
... to be able to get a better shave more easily.
I think part of the problem is age, greying hair seems harder to shave. And I just can't see so well anymore, which doesn't help with nails either.
Makeup?
Lippy maybe, usually just gloss, if I bother. I could never ever do eye makeup anyway, legally blind on one side (since childhood). I know a few GG don't bother with makeup most of the time either, but then I know some who are always made-up to the hilt too. I have also seen plenty of women out in public, who would probably look better without, unless they are hiding some sort of complexion problem.
>i< ..::