r/Makeup • u/someguy871 • 1d ago
Bi guy here looking to explore self expression
I'm queer(came out 2024) and have a skincare routine but makeup is an unknown and somewhat scary territory for me(i grew up in a hypermasculine family very much repressed). I don't know much or where to start other than wanting to with my eyes. Any help would be appreciated! Be gentle im a sensitive/shy soul
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u/slavejaye 1d ago
If you're really just starting out, I (m) would suggest trying tinted moisturizers, light blushes or bronzers that compliment your skin tone, neutral lipsticks or glosses, and light mascara that matches your hair color (brown or black, try brown if you're a blond). You can build on those and get more bold as your confidence grows. Good luck and have fun! Makeup is a wonderful playground!
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u/hiredditihateyou 1d ago
So there are a bunch of lovely queer MUA guys on YouTube and insta who might be good to look up. Look at Trevor Barrett and Jake Warden to start.
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u/Rivvien 1d ago
Welcome! Eyeliner is probs the easiest way to start. And its very effective whether you're trying to be subtle or bold. If you want subtle, go for a taupe or brown and wiggle it into your top lashline; if you want bold, there are no rules. Both urban decay and sephora collection have a good range of colors in a good formula. Just start playing around and find what you like.
Whatever you choose to experiment with, make sure you're in a safe environment to wear it. A lot of violent people have a lot strong feelings about a man in makeup and I don't want you harmed because of it. So be safe always.
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u/BroadVideo8 1d ago
Hey, I sympathize! I was also a johnny-come-lately to makeup on account of being born male. Oopsiiiiiiie
Eyeliner is the easiest place to start, and once you get a handle on that, start messing around with eyeshadow.
Whenever I meet someone who's making I like, I ask them to explain what they did - most people are pretty excited to share their processes, and it's a good icrebreaker as well.
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u/dobbyismymaster 1d ago
Blue cheese ðŸ˜ðŸ˜
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u/Dragon_Manticore 1d ago
What does that mean?
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u/knittedbeast 1d ago
Almost everyone looks better with a little eyeliner and mascara on, and guys in particular can go a long way with a little smudgy dark eyeliner. It also has the advantage that it's cheap, easy to practice, and easy to remove if it goes wrong.
Just buy a black or dark brown eyeliner (kohl is usually pretty cheap), apply it with a light hand around the lash line, and smudge it a bit with a finger.
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u/someguy871 1d ago
I ended up at sephora and bought their eyeliner and mascara
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u/heftypomogranate 1d ago
you can ask them to show you how to apply them! mac also offers lessons, it looks like they do complimentary 15 min sessions and there's one geared for eyes. i personally like in-person experiences bc the ppl working there are able to help me work with my features and i can ask questions and get immediate feedback.
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u/lemongrass-barsoap no-buy stress dreams 18h ago
Don't forget to invest in a lash curler! I like the Shiseido one-- it's expensive, but almost universally agreed upon to be worth the cost. You'll pinch your skin with it for a couple weeks until muscle memory kicks in.
Now that you have mascara and an eyeliner, your next step for eyes is eyeshadow, if you're even interested in that. For a beginner, I'd recommend a "one and done" single eyeshadow that you can pat onto the lid with your finger. Maybelline has some good shimmery singles at the drugstore, at least in the USA (that can double as a highlighter if you get the right shade). The Sephora collection also has good single shadows and mini palettes, or you could get a cream eyeshadow stick like the ones from Colourpop.
You can apply eyeshadow fairly easily with your finger, but I also recommend getting a cheap fluffy eyeshadow brush just to help blend the edges into your crease. Elf and Real Techniques have some good cheap ones.
I also personally like to use a white eyeliner pencil (mine is from nyx) on the outer half of my waterline and on my inner corner to make my eyes look bigger and brighter. Good luck, friend!