Guys and Make-up

I sometimes suspect pretty much all men wear makeup but don’t admit it. Men and makeup are as normal a combination nowadays as men and beer.

Every celebrity, actor or sports hero that guys look up to wears makeup, at least some of the time. And when they’re modeling or appearing on TV or in film, they always do. Cameras pick up every flaw and blemish so without compensating for it, men wouldn’t look flawless, or even as if they had amazing skin. They would look like aliens.

And, in fact, men were the first people to wear makeup, long before it was common for women. Yes ladies, they beat you to it.

It all started in the theater at a time when men were the only ones allowed to appear on stage so also had to play female roles.

Here are some tips on how a guy – gay, bi, trans or straight – can use makeup to make sure they look like a naturally beautiful man.

But remember, less is better if you don’t want to show you’re using makeup. Yes, you are still men, so don’t worry.

Start with a bit of powder foundation in your skin shade, but never use too much. The use of a transparent powder and foundation is a must if you want to keep the skin looking as natural as possible. Keeping it matt will help it blend in.

You can use skin base make-up as it will give you the coverage. It looks amazing on camera – just like skin! Always make sure you go for your natural shade or a shade that matches your tan – fake or real. Don’t be afraid to pop into a store and have a skin match with a makeup artist. I'd usually go for the brands where the sales assistants are very friendly and see a lot of men, whether they gay, bi trans or straight, on a daily basis. They’re there to help, not judge.

Eye shadow? Why not? But don’t use purple or pink eye shadow if you want the fresh, masculine look. A good idea is to use the same powder you used on your face, but one or two shades darker. Put this on with your fingertips in the crease as this will help give you more of a wide-open eye.

Mascara? Or should we say Manscara? As long you not try to create the false lash effect it’s ok. A tip is to put it on, let it dry and brush it out. Or paint your lashes and use eye gel to give them some lift for a more wide-awake look.

You can also use guy-liner if you want more of a rock image – or to just frame the eyes – but apply it very subtly.

Blusher? Some men can handle this, some of them cannot. It needs practice to put it on, because a bit too much makes you look like a woman. So if that’s not the look are going for, be careful. Again use a powder that is two or three shades darker than your foundation. Use it on the cheekbones or even under the cheekbones if you want a more contoured, chiseled look. But don’t try to make it too dark if you still want to look macho.

And you should also never use too much on your neck – your shirt will not look like it’s supposed to when there is makeup on the collar. Fade it out, but just a little.

A touch of olive oil or coconut oil on the lips can make them look irresistible and soft for when you go in for that kiss. Don’t overload it though as it will start to look like you have lip-gloss on.

If you’re more of a bronzed-look kinda guy, then using matt bronzer can really help warm the face up – but still keep it looking natural. A key is to always use matt products if you want your skin to look like skin.

There is no wrong or right way when it comes to makeup. So if you do want more of a fake look for a guy then that’s perfectly fine. You should always feel comfortable and be you.

And if all this is a bit too much then here’s a nice simple skin routine you can use to help your skin look amazing: Cleanse, tone and moisturize.

Use a nice, simple cleanser to get rid of dirt on the skin. It will make an instant difference and help in the long-run too. It’s even more crucial when you wear makeup.

You will prevent spots and worse. The makeup which hides itself in your pores, visible or not, can’t resist sunshine! So if you skip this you risk pigmentation problems in these areas in the long term. Three times a week use a scrub, and once a week use a face mask and you’ll be fighting the ageing process.

Toning the skin really helps close and tighten the pores which keep dirt out. Moisturizer is a key for anyone it hydrates the skin and also helps stop the ageing process.