Comments on: Wearing Makeup: The First Time and Now http://www.mycdlife.com/2010/01/wearing-makeup-the-first-time-and-now Exploring the social taboo of being oneself. The life of a crossdresser - there's a lot more to it than just appearance. Mon, 06 Sep 2010 22:46:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Gabrielle http://www.mycdlife.com/2010/01/wearing-makeup-the-first-time-and-now/comment-page-1#comment-752 Gabrielle Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:23:34 +0000 http://www.mycdlife.com/?p=4811#comment-752 Thank you for your kind words and sharing your experience, Erin K. :) It was very cool of your girlfriend to help you get started and offer side by side lessons like that. There's nothing easy about getting started and those early results can really be discouraging. I think that's an important point to share, though. I don't have the opportunity to practice as much as I'd like to, either. That's why it takes as long as it does to complete the job and the results, although far better than when I firt started, are still hit or miss. Thank you for your kind words and sharing your experience, Erin K. :) It was very cool of your girlfriend to help you get started and offer side by side lessons like that. There’s nothing easy about getting started and those early results can really be discouraging. I think that’s an important point to share, though.

I don’t have the opportunity to practice as much as I’d like to, either. That’s why it takes as long as it does to complete the job and the results, although far better than when I firt started, are still hit or miss.

]]> By: Erin K. http://www.mycdlife.com/2010/01/wearing-makeup-the-first-time-and-now/comment-page-1#comment-751 Erin K. Fri, 08 Jan 2010 03:47:48 +0000 http://www.mycdlife.com/?p=4811#comment-751 My first "real" makeup experience took place on a Halloween with the help of a former GF. I thank her for the help then, but my thought was "this will never work". I don't blame her for a bad job though, what happened was A: a slight reluctance on her part, B: never having dealt with making up a male face before, and C: using her colors on me. Long story short, I pretty much gave up on "passability". Since that time, I have learned quite a lot. My wonderful GF was not only accepting of me, but basically put me on the path to venturing out. She helped teach me the basics by applying makeup (my colors this time) on herself and coaching me side by side at the mirror. This helped to teach me not only the "how" but also the "why". I have since tried to practice as much as possible (that means nowhere nearly enough) and can confidently do it myself and drive over to pick her up and go out for the evening. That does NOT mean that I am good at it, just good enough for starters. I like your makeup G, you do a good job and your lips look fantastic in the new pic. Keep up the good work and thank you for this post. My first “real” makeup experience took place on a Halloween with the help of a former GF. I thank her for the help then, but my thought was “this will never work”. I don’t blame her for a bad job though, what happened was A: a slight reluctance on her part, B: never having dealt with making up a male face before, and C: using her colors on me. Long story short, I pretty much gave up on “passability”.

Since that time, I have learned quite a lot. My wonderful GF was not only accepting of me, but basically put me on the path to venturing out. She helped teach me the basics by applying makeup (my colors this time) on herself and coaching me side by side at the mirror. This helped to teach me not only the “how” but also the “why”. I have since tried to practice as much as possible (that means nowhere nearly enough) and can confidently do it myself and drive over to pick her up and go out for the evening. That does NOT mean that I am good at it, just good enough for starters.

I like your makeup G, you do a good job and your lips look fantastic in the new pic. Keep up the good work and thank you for this post.

]]> By: Gabrielle http://www.mycdlife.com/2010/01/wearing-makeup-the-first-time-and-now/comment-page-1#comment-750 Gabrielle Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:35:05 +0000 http://www.mycdlife.com/?p=4811#comment-750 I'm not all that skilled with makeup either, Erin P. I do ok when I take my time, but the problem is that it does take a good deal of time to do a good job. Much faster than I was back in the spring (when I started doing my own makeup as opposed to my wife doing it for me) but still very slow in comparison to a genetic woman. I think my teens and early 20's body would have been excellent for Gabrielle... much better than today because I didn't have bulky muscles (bulky for a female, anyway) to try and hide back then. My legs look better today, but my body as a whole, looked more <em>feminine</em> in my teens and early 20's. I’m not all that skilled with makeup either, Erin P. I do ok when I take my time, but the problem is that it does take a good deal of time to do a good job. Much faster than I was back in the spring (when I started doing my own makeup as opposed to my wife doing it for me) but still very slow in comparison to a genetic woman.

I think my teens and early 20′s body would have been excellent for Gabrielle… much better than today because I didn’t have bulky muscles (bulky for a female, anyway) to try and hide back then. My legs look better today, but my body as a whole, looked more feminine in my teens and early 20′s.

]]> By: Erin P http://www.mycdlife.com/2010/01/wearing-makeup-the-first-time-and-now/comment-page-1#comment-749 Erin P Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:03:09 +0000 http://www.mycdlife.com/?p=4811#comment-749 Though I am still not good at putting on makeup; I did put on makeup as a child, preteen, a couple times as a teenager, and my tweens (early 20s). My issue then was my body. I guess there might be truth to younger face being easier, I don't remember rightly... maybe I focused on the negative then. However the older body... my older body has more curves. And I do enjoy that more. I guess it is a trade off in a sense. Though I am still not good at putting on makeup; I did put on makeup as a child, preteen, a couple times as a teenager, and my tweens (early 20s). My issue then was my body. I guess there might be truth to younger face being easier, I don’t remember rightly… maybe I focused on the negative then. However the older body… my older body has more curves. And I do enjoy that more. I guess it is a trade off in a sense.

]]> By: Gabrielle http://www.mycdlife.com/2010/01/wearing-makeup-the-first-time-and-now/comment-page-1#comment-747 Gabrielle Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:05:08 +0000 http://www.mycdlife.com/?p=4811#comment-747 You make a good point with the credit card thing, Lynn. lol Speaking of which... my wife surprised me today with a new pair of stylish winter boots. :D Wear and enjoy now... pay later. It's like magic... until that bill arrives in the mail! :o You make a good point with the credit card thing, Lynn. lol Speaking of which… my wife surprised me today with a new pair of stylish winter boots. :D Wear and enjoy now… pay later. It’s like magic… until that bill arrives in the mail! :o

]]> By: Lynn Jones http://www.mycdlife.com/2010/01/wearing-makeup-the-first-time-and-now/comment-page-1#comment-746 Lynn Jones Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:50:29 +0000 http://www.mycdlife.com/?p=4811#comment-746 <i>I’m envious – you got to see yourself in full makeup in your teens</i> Please don't be :) Younger doesn't mean better and with age, comes experience... and credit cards :D I’m envious – you got to see yourself in full makeup in your teens

Please don’t be :) Younger doesn’t mean better and with age, comes experience… and credit cards :D

]]> By: Gabrielle http://www.mycdlife.com/2010/01/wearing-makeup-the-first-time-and-now/comment-page-1#comment-745 Gabrielle Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:31:10 +0000 http://www.mycdlife.com/?p=4811#comment-745 <strong>@ Lynn</strong> - Another fitting metaphor, Lynn. :) You're absolutely right with calling makeup "tricky". I have good makeup days, and I have had plenty of <a href="http://www.mycdlife.com/2009/08/the-cost-of-a-bad-makeup-day" title="The Cost of a Bad Makeup Day" rel="nofollow"><strong>bad makeup days</strong></a>. :( I'm envious - you got to see yourself in full makeup in your teens. How I wish I could travel back in time and see myself in makeup at that age! Bet I wouldn't have had to cake it on so thick back then, either. <strong>@ Gina</strong> - I was in several plays during my (grade) school years. I never played a female character, but the stage makeup that they used on me did give my face a bit of a feminine look (up close). Oddly enough, I didn't care to look feminine back then - I was too busy hating this aspect of my life at the time and wishing I could just be "normal" (note the quotes). You also got into female at a much younger age than I. I waited far too long to allow myself the experience. Better late than never, right? :) There are those who deny <em>who they are</em> their entire lives and <em>that</em> is very sad. @ Lynn – Another fitting metaphor, Lynn. :) You’re absolutely right with calling makeup “tricky”. I have good makeup days, and I have had plenty of bad makeup days. :(

I’m envious – you got to see yourself in full makeup in your teens. How I wish I could travel back in time and see myself in makeup at that age! Bet I wouldn’t have had to cake it on so thick back then, either.

@ Gina – I was in several plays during my (grade) school years. I never played a female character, but the stage makeup that they used on me did give my face a bit of a feminine look (up close). Oddly enough, I didn’t care to look feminine back then – I was too busy hating this aspect of my life at the time and wishing I could just be “normal” (note the quotes). You also got into female at a much younger age than I. I waited far too long to allow myself the experience. Better late than never, right? :) There are those who deny who they are their entire lives and that is very sad.

]]> By: Gina Vizavi http://www.mycdlife.com/2010/01/wearing-makeup-the-first-time-and-now/comment-page-1#comment-744 Gina Vizavi Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:10:03 +0000 http://www.mycdlife.com/?p=4811#comment-744 Gabrielle, While I did quite a bit of experimenting with Mom's lipstick as a youngster, it wasn't until college while performing in plays that I got experience with a wide variety of "looks," beginning with a "blank canvas." It was those experiences that I saw the potential for a more feminine face. If only I had the nerve to pluck my eyebrows back then! Now, in my dotage, it's more or less a "warts and all" approach; lining plucked brows, a little eyeliner and bright red lipstick. Gina Gabrielle, While I did quite a bit of experimenting with Mom’s lipstick as a youngster, it wasn’t until college while performing in plays that I got experience with a wide variety of “looks,” beginning with a “blank canvas.” It was those experiences that I saw the potential for a more feminine face. If only I had the nerve to pluck my eyebrows back then! Now, in my dotage, it’s more or less a “warts and all” approach; lining plucked brows, a little eyeliner and bright red lipstick.

Gina

]]> By: Lynn Jones http://www.mycdlife.com/2010/01/wearing-makeup-the-first-time-and-now/comment-page-1#comment-743 Lynn Jones Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:38:02 +0000 http://www.mycdlife.com/?p=4811#comment-743 Lucky you eh? :D See also: "it is better to travel in hope than to arrive." :) I think it's difficult for something you've been yearning for, to live up to the level you might build it up to. Make-up is tricky at the best of times and I think we've all had those days when it just doesn't sit or feel right. I remember trying on lipstick when I was quite young - probably 8 or so - but I didn't try a full face of make-up until I was in my mid to late teens. With two sisters in the house, there was never a shortage of magazines to learn from :) Not that it meant I was any good at it :D You can read all you like, but there's no subtitution for actually doing it :D Lucky you eh? :D

See also: “it is better to travel in hope than to arrive.” :) I think it’s difficult for something you’ve been yearning for, to live up to the level you might build it up to.

Make-up is tricky at the best of times and I think we’ve all had those days when it just doesn’t sit or feel right.

I remember trying on lipstick when I was quite young – probably 8 or so – but I didn’t try a full face of make-up until I was in my mid to late teens. With two sisters in the house, there was never a shortage of magazines to learn from :) Not that it meant I was any good at it :D

You can read all you like, but there’s no subtitution for actually doing it :D

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