Makeup can work wonders to transform and feminize your appearance, but there’s a very important step that comes BEFORE applying makeup – and that’s skincare.
While skincare might not sound as fun or glamorous as, say, applying lipstick or lashes, it can have a huge impact on your female appearance.
In this blog post, I share why taking care of your skin is essential, and cover the 5 most important steps to an MTF skincare routine. Let’s get glowing!
Why Is Skincare So Important?
If there’s one thing that will make you look younger, prettier, and more feminine, it’s good skin. So, it’s essential to ensure that you take great care of it!
Here are 3 reasons why skincare is so important for trans women and crossdressers:
- Skin is the canvas for your makeup. Good skin will make your makeup look smoother and give a more flawless and feminine look.
- Good skin makes you look feminine. Testosterone causes an increase in skin thickness, which accounts for why a man’s skin is about 25% thicker than a woman’s. In addition to being thicker, a man’s skin texture is tougher. By taking care of your skin, you can promote a smoother, softer, more feminine appearance.
- Good skin will ward off aging. Lines, wrinkles, age spots – all the things you want to avoid! A good skincare routine will help you keep your skin looking younger and firmer.
The Ultimate MTF Skincare Routine: Top 5 Steps
Here are the 5 most important steps to an MTF skincare routine. You’ll want to be sure to follow all of these steps, particularly before applying makeup.
Step 1: Cleanse
Cleansing your face is an essential first step in your skincare routine. For one thing, you want to apply makeup to clean, smooth skin.
Cleansing your face is also the first step before shaving your face. This is important for preventing acne breakouts and razor burn.
The quality of your cleanser is critical. Most importantly, you need to avoid harsh cleansers. And never, ever use bar soap on your face. Bar soap has a high pH, which means it’s very alkaline. Bar soap will dry out and irritate your face.
Instead, always use gentle cleansers specifically designed for the face. Cleansers that contain hydrating ingredients, such as ceramides or glycerin, are especially good for pre-makeup skin prep.
Step 2: Exfoliate
Exfoliationdead skin cells
Exfoliation leaves your skin soft and smooth so your makeup goes on more easily. It also cleanses clogged pores, reduces ingrown beard hairs, and boosts circulation for healthy, glowing skin.
There are several different ways to exfoliate your skin:
- Washcloth or exfoliating sponge – Removes dead skin cells through the mechanical action of scrubbing the skin.
- Face scrubs – Contain abrasive ingredients like jojoba beads or ground walnut seeds to buff away dead skin cells.
- AHA/BHA cleansers – Contain alpha hydroxy acids or beta hydroxy acids to dissolve the “glue” that binds dead skin cells.
Regardless of the method you choose, should exfoliate no more than 3 times per week to avoid irritating the skin.
Step 3: Shave
Unless you have had your facial hair removed through electrolysis or laser hair removal, shaving your face is one of the most important steps before applying makeup.
A close, smooth shave will make your skin look smoother and help reduce the appearance of a beard shadow.
However, shaving has the potential to irritate your skin, especially if you shave right before applying makeup. So it’s critical to take care to avoid irritation.
Here are my top tips for achieving a close, smooth shave that won’t irritate your skin.
- Select the right razor. A great shave depends upon a great razor. Gillette Mach3 Razor gets rave reviews for providing a close, comfortable shave.
- Use a fresh blade. You never want to shave with a dull blade as this will irritate the skin and prevent you from getting the closest cut possible. Use a fresh new blade when shaving as part of your pre-makeup skin prep.
- Use a shave cream for sensitive skin. Many shave creams contain menthol and other irritating ingredients. Specifically look for a shave cream for sensitive skin that doesn’t contain menthol, fragrance, or other irritating ingredients.
Step 4: After shave
Taking care of your face after a shave is critical. After shaving, your skin will be sensitive and red, requiring you to soothe it before applying makeup. With a few simple steps, your skin will be less sensitive before you moisturize it.
One of the ways to soothe your skin after shaving is to rinse with cold water. Rinsing your face with cold water helps constrict open pores and soothe any small nicks.
You can also use an aftershave product to hydrate and soothe your skin. Make sure you avoid products that contain alcohol, and instead look for those with soothing ingredients, such as chamomile and aloe.
Step 5: Moisturize
The last step in your skincare routine is to apply a moisturizer. This step is important for restoring hydration after cleansing. Additionally, moisturizing helps replace the water your skin loses throughout the day.
Even if your skin is acne-prone or oily, you still need to moisturize it. Otherwise, you could risk facing oil overproduction to compensate for a lack of moisture. Additionally, acne-prone and oily skin is still susceptible to irritation and dryness.
Choosing your moisturizer is important because it will determine the results you get from your skincare routine. While selecting one, go for a lightweight and fragrance-free option for daytime use. Heavy moisturizers shouldn’t be used under makeup.
You may also choose moisturizers with SPF 15+ to save yourself the extra step of applying a separate sunscreen product.
In Conclusion
The benefits of a proper MTF skincare routine cannot be overstated. Follow these 5 steps and I guarantee that you will love the results!
As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Tell me about your skincare routine and share any other tips or tricks you might have in the comments below!
Love,
Lucille
P.S. Ready to take the next step in your transformation journey? My FREE Male to Female Makeup Mini Course will show you how to properly apply makeup to feminize your facial features.
Get free instant access to the 3-part video course here!
