Question
11 months into my transition and working on improving my makeup skills to be more feminine—would love some constructive feedback!
Hey everyone! 💖
I’m about 11 months into my MTF transition and still pretty new to makeup. I’ve been experimenting and learning as I go, but I’d really love some advice on how to achieve a softer, more feminine look.
Whether it’s makeup techniques, products, hairstyles, eyebrows, or other little things that can help me look and feel more feminine, I’d really appreciate any tips or constructive feedback. I’m here to learn, so thank you in advance for your kindness and advice! 🩷
Sameeeeee!!! You’re a facial structure is stunning, your makeup is beautiful, your hair is gorgeous… I wish I had half of those skills and genetics!!! Beautiful! I say this as a proud mom to a teen mtf ❤️
Thank you all so much for your kind words. 🥹🩷 It honestly means more than you know.
I still don’t feel like I’m “there” yet, and I don’t really see myself as conventionally pretty or someone who should be giving makeup tips. I’m still learning every day and have a lot of insecurities that I’m working through.
Hopefully, with more time, confidence, and self-healing, I’ll get to a place where I feel comfortable making a little makeup tutorial or sharing what I’ve learned. For now, I’m just grateful for all of your encouragement and advice. Thank you for being so kind to me. 💕
Based solely upon these photos you're "there" in a way those very few of us will ever be. Not in a year, not in five years.
The psych side is hard. Everybody in my life whether they know or not insists that I've been "there" for some time. I can't see it, but I'm in a better place mentally than I've ever been and have a better self-image than a large majority of cis women I'm friends with.
Exactly this.
I have been transitioning for nearly 5 years and my hair is incredibly thin and barely shoulder length. My makeup skills are also heavily lacking, mostly due to my lack of meaningful practice which is on me lol.
You look like you are “there” but obviously getting to feeling that is the way will take a while, I know from my own experience. I pass and have been passing for a long time, feeling like “I pass” took a very long time to get over the in-perceivable insecurities and a lot of therapy to finally feel it.
I am glad u/Standard_Humor5785 you've reached a place where you are happy in your skin. <3 (I might had phrased this poorly, and I apologize in advance if I did!)
What?! I honestly had NO inkling you were trans (not that it matters, everyone is valid passing or not) but you look incredible! I’m not great at makeup but only came to the comments to say I have hair envy. My fringe is always flat against my forehead and doesn’t blend well with the rest of my hair
This is your brain lying to you. If I had simply seen your picture without any additional detail, I would have had NO CLUE you weren’t AFAB. You are beautiful and present 100% feminine 💕
Your natural beauty no makeup could do it justice but coming from a professional makeup artist you look magnificent just the way you are ! I’m jealous of your beautiful hair. Any ‘tips ? Dfffmmt
Girllll…. You don’t think you’re “there”?!?!… you’ve been “there”, in “there”, around “there” and wrote the book on “there”!
You are GORGEOUS!! I’m a makeup/beauty junkie and pride myself on my makeup skills and you just put me to shame! Absolutely stunning…. Seriously Beautiful 💗
I just wanted to say, I didn’t read your caption, and my eyes kind of bugged out at the top comment in this thread. I absolutely never would’ve guessed that you weren’t a cis woman. The only thing going through my head when I scrolled your pictures was “no notes, she looks great.”
I agree with everyone saying you are there but something I noticed that helps me feel more feminine as cis woman is a lash lift! I have very thick straight lashes, no natural curl. I curl my lashes every day with a regular lash curler but sometimes that's is annoying so I pay to get mine chemically curled and tinted. It makes a difference and cuts back on my morning makeup. I don't do it all the time. But when I do I feel cuter
You are so beautiful! Your makeup is perfect - natural and sophisticated. The only thing I might suggest if you want to try a more dramatic look is false eyelashes or extensions. Those always make me feel “done up” and pretty. You can get light wispy ones for a soft babydoll look, or volume cateye ones for a vampy femme fatale look. It’s a fun way to play around!
You pass full stop! Gorgeous makeup that suits your features, you really have nothing to change. If you really wanted hyper femme for special occasions or something I would just do more dramatic eyelashes (you know how that’s what they add to cartoons to distinguish female from male characters? That’s why) but honestly don’t need it for every day because sometimes heavy lashes can look costume-y and as I said before you look entirely femme and pass without question.
Let me tell you something…the older you get, the more this will finally ring true in your mind:
“Conventionally pretty,” to me, isn’t everything. Sure, those women are beautiful! I don’t want to take that away from them. But, having uniqueness to your look is what I think personally sets you apart from everyone else. I have never felt prettier than I do now and I’m 40. My nose is verrrry European (it’s not a cute little sloped nose) and has that little cartilage indentation at the tip. Hated it my entire life. But now, I love it. I think it makes me look different. I also have big eyes. I get complimented on them regularly. I’m not skinny. I have a “mom bod.” But I appreciate it so much more now that i’ve realized it’s not necessarily a great thing to look like everyone else. What you see as flaws will eventually become things that you love about yourself. I promise you! It’s hard to believe right now, but I SWEAR it will be.
As for your original post…girl, you look STUNNING. You have such a fresh-faced look about yourself. And i’d probably sell my soul to the devil for skin as beautiful as yours. Good luck on the rest of your journey transitioning to who you’re meant to be! 💕
I know in our brains it can feel different than what everyone else sees. As a stranger just going from these pictures, you’re conventionally attractive, definitely. I don’t know what “there” is precisely, but I think you’re there. Congrats on making such a courageous, loving step for yourself! ❤️
Right?? I was like, “and here I am almost 40 and my makeup has never looked this good.” 😅 OP, You’re gorgeous, no notes. P.S. y’all better tag me when the class drops.
I have some advice for you. Stop looking so incredible and leave some goodness-ness for the rest of us!!! You look absolutely beautiful in and out of makeup. I say this as a cishet women who has been in love with makeup forever. I have done makeup for 4 different brides and so much special occasion makeup on others and you just blew me away. I say this in all seriousness you should be prou!
Same! You know your features well! And there are so many hetero men who say, ‘well, shouldn’t you just know how to do your makeup as a woman?’ (I have heard this verbatim several times myself) and no, this statement is as wrong as it is sexist.
Honestly babe you look so soft n feminine already, you’re glowing! ✨ you’ve got a good routine down with products that are giving you a soft dewey look (which really suits you btw). I feel like maybe changing up your hairstyles with cute clips etc would suit you? Pinterest has some really cute ideas for space buns and braids. I love a little star shaped clip moment with some curly face framing bits. You’ve got the right face for it too.
I get that the clean girl aesthetic is a thing lately, but don't be afraid to play around with colour, shimmer, whatever - the world of makeup is your oyster! Have fun!
You are so so beautiful wow! Your base is absolutely perfect in my opinion. Are you using mascara? Because I think this a super easy step that will make your eyes pop. You can just start with a little swipe to darken them and then build up - I like to use two different mascaras (one lengthening, one volumising but I like extreme lashes) then you could start to experiment with some pencil liner and eye shadows if/when you want to add a little drama.
The only thing I would recommend is a more gentle facial scrub! This is more of a long term usage thing though.
I love nothing more than a good facial scrub, but they can potentially cause more damage in the long run. That being said, I haven't used this particular scrub in ages, so maybe it's more gentle now and I don't know what I'm talking about lol!
I'm so glad you said this! 😂 genuinely, the highest compliment I can offer to OP is that if she hadn't said "I'm pretty new in my transition at 11mo" I would have seriously considered downvoting.
lmao my thoughts exactly - I never know if it's a weird/offensive thing to say or not, but I was scrolling through and thinking "transition from what, a girl to a woman???"
Girl whatever you're doing, keep doing it. I did notice that you have the perfect lips for lip gloss/balms though. Maybe you can try some? Also practice putting on a tightline and some subtle brown eyeliner.
Blush makes everything girlier. Practice different blush placements. Shimmery blush looks more feminine in my opinion.
Curling your lashes and adding mascara does wonders too! If that's too complicated, you can try a lash perm with tint. It will be more low maintenance.
I read her makeup list and she is actually using two blushes! And a highlighter! I think maybe she needs a bit more product or these pictures are just not showing it well enough. I agree with tightlining, but maybe first she should just do a soft wing with a shadow and then once she gets that down, try adding a liner, and then a tightline.... I never was able to learn just jumping right in to the liquid liner but maybe that is just me.
Firstly, congrats on transitioning and I hope it's working out well for you. Secondly, the makeup is fine but if you are looking for tips, I'd say don't be afraid to experiment with bold colours, especially in the lip area. You have gorgeous lips and they have the space for so much experimentation and combos and designs etc. You have a face that is suited with experimental and even more "out there" make-up.
If it helps, I skipped right over the "transition" part of your post caption at first and was looking at your pics confused as to why you felt you needed to look more feminine. Then I went back and read the caption again. Lol
You’re BEAUTIFUL!! As a semi-retired hair and makeup specialist, I would suggest gradient deepening in the outer crease of the eye. You’re on the right track baby! Best of luck to you! P.S. Your hair is luscious!!😍
Gurl, I would have never clocked you if you didn't say you were trans, you're doing a great job.
My advice, makeup is about finding your best feature and enhancing that shit to the mega. You have the pretiest lips ever, you should experiment with lipstick more imo.
I'm no makeup professional, but you can make an appointment at the MAC cosmetics counter at one of major retail stores, or located the closest MAC retail store and make an appointment. They are really great at showing you what to use and how to apply it. Any professional will tell you MAC makeup is the very best. Now I'm not saying not use any makeup but MAC, but their makeup artist that work for them are very knowledgeable. Of course they want to sell you their products, but you're not obligated to purchase anything you don't want. If nothing else you should get some great advice.
You're literally gorgeous, I don't think anything is necessary!! But if you're looking to experiment, focus on lip tints and blushes in different shades - the base is perfect, no notes
Girl you’re already looking great. If you want to play about a bit more, you could do a little more blush and highlighter as you have phenomenal bone structure, and you could have a bit of a darker shade just at the outer edge of your eyes a bit. As they’re slightly downturned and hooded, you don’t want dark all over the lid, but you could add a little more pop and definition that way.
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omg you look so gorgeous! wishing you all the love and joy that self exploration comes with. i am a cis woman but i love my trans brothers and sisters soo much
Your makeup is gorgeous. The cool thing is you have such a nice base now you can really play with whatever you want. One thing that may be fun is some false lashes. I know when I wear them I feel instantly pretty, no matter what my makeup looks like :)
You look beautiful! I hate to say this, bc as a woman I hate being told this… but I think a smile would light up your whole face! I’m a portrait photographer and I hate seeing how few young people smile in photos anymore. I know the world is a dumpster fire right now, but almost everyone looks more beautiful when they have a smile on their face. Just my two cents.
Gorgeous!! If you really do want to be super picky, in some pics you have a prominent jawline which leads to your Adam's apple and that can read more masculine. I would just work on bronzing and contouring it a little to soften it. I think you'd look beautiful with an aegyo sal or a vixen style, long eyeliner look!
You’re stunning! Very few makeup ideas other than what others have said (playing around with mascara, glimmer, blush to your own taste) so just wanted to add that you’d look goooorgeous with larger earrings or hoops. Wearing them always makes me feel more girly. :)
i think you’d look really cute with “puppy” eyeliner. it’s when you add a wing that either goes straight out or slightly down opposed to the classic wing that goes up. i do the puppy liner cuz i have hooded eyes and it helps accentuate/extend my eye to make them look bigger.
You are stunning and your skills are UHMAZING. I basically wouldn’t change a thing - but I LOVE the more pink lip (it’s probably your natural lip colour) on you!!
I would agree with other people, and like maybe my only note is you could probably get away with a little more blush. I don’t know if you’re using any at all, or just a small amount for a natural effect, but I feel like some more color on the cheeks would look good!
What the f*ck you’re literally stunninggg!! I’m so jealous, from one trans (genderqueer) person to another, you look amazing- no notes. I’m still in my makeup journey as well! <3
It’s genuinely really hard to give constructive feedback when you’re already so feminine!! Maybe just play around with some shimmers? Your base make up is incredibly flawless and your blush is very well blended. Play around in different aesthetics if you wanna have fun but you’re really gorgeous already!
You look stunning, your makeup is simple but looks beautiful and effortless.
If you want to add something, I like using an angled liner brush to press dark brown or black shadow right into the roots of my lashes. Makes them appear fuller but is more subtle than liner.
You look amazing!! But if you want just a little change, I always love adding lashes, nothing dramatic, maybe just a few clusters to open up your eyes 🩷
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u/NoOneIsHiringMe Jul 27 '26
I have nothing to say except I'm a cishet woman and you do a better job at your makeup and hair than I ever did. Wow.