Makeup Advice for Men

In response to an e-mail from J.A.:

“Do you recommend men to use some makeup before doing any headshots? If so, what would you use? Minimal concealers? What?”

Let’s face it boys, don’t we all want to look good in pictures? Not to upstage the ladies and take away a bit of the spotlight, but it’s also nice when the light shines on us.  My advice: keep it simple. With the quality and clarity of digital film, if you see makeup on your face in the mirror it will show on camera.

"KISS" obvious makeup goodbye

We all know what it is like to ask for directions, but rules are different at the makeup counter. The ladies are generally more than happy to battle the other sales associates to take a few moments to help you. Go in to the department store with a purpose and a list. As coy as these cosmetic femme fatales may be, they can sniff out inexperience and a credit card with space. Start by finding a lightweight tinted moisturizer that matches your skin tone. You need a color that matches your face NOT YOUR HANDS. Choose a shade that “appears to disappear” on your jaw-line. Generally a tinted moisturizer is enough to even out the skin, but if you have other areas that need a little help such as blemishes or razor burn, a matching concealer can be used. Do NOT use a light concealer, especially under your eyes. You will look like you’ve spent the day on the slopes with a pair of goggles on.

With the skin tone even, I also like to add a gel bronzer such as Tarte’s Sunkissed Gel Bronzer.  Apply the product lightly to the boney features of your face such as your cheek bones, forehead, nose, and a small amount on your chin. Ensure that you blend the product to appear that you have a light tan. You are not trying to achieve a George Hamilton tan.

If your eyelashes are light, you can apply a light coat of mascara to enhance your lashes, such as Kiss Me Mascara in black. Tube mascara will not run or smear on your eyes, and they are easy to remove with soap and water. If you find that your skin is too shiny, apply a light amount of TRANSLUCENT powder in your t-zone to blot the shine.  You don’t need to invest in brushes. Just purchase disposable sponges from your drug store to apply the powder.

Finish the look by adding a bit of moisture to your pucker. Nobody wants to kiss lips that feel like sandpaper.  Use a lip balm, such as Dr Haushka for an intensive daily lip treatment. It helps renew and protect rough, dry, cracked lips without encouraging product dependency.

Use these tips for any day or night that you want to impress the best. Embrace the metro-sexual in you and a whole new bevy of beauties clamoring for your contact info.