An Intro to Men’s Makeup

Makeup. Even for girls the thought seems intimidating when they first get started. When it comes to makeup, we think dramatic eyeliner, glittery eyeshadow, and bold red lips. Yes, makeup can be that but it’s mostly about enhancing what’s already there. We as men have this misconception that makeup is about masking our faces but it’s the complete opposite, especially when it comes to men’s makeup. In this post, I’ll take you through the what’s what in men’s makeup and why you shouldn’t be embarrassed to want to try these products out.

Let’s go step by step through a typical makeup routine. Whenever one applies makeup, it is essential to start with a base. Some people use a moisturizer but a primer is ideal. Primers prep your skin for makeup application and different primers can also address various concerns. Tinted primers can colour correct the skin while others hydrate or mattify or fill in your pores.

Next we have foundation. Men’s foundation is meant to even out skin tone and conceal smaller blemishes and imperfections. This is the product that can help you achieve a truly flawless look (with a bit of practice and experimenting). Foundation can be sold as powder (lightest coverage), liquid (medium to full coverage), and cream (full coverage). The type you choose depends on your skin type and the amount of coverage you hope to achieve.

Then there is concealer. This was the first ever makeup product I picked up because I wanted to correct dark circles and conceal some blemishes, hence the name of the product if you haven’t already figured that out. Concealers come in either a cream form, which is pretty dense but becomes more pliable as your fingers warm up the product, or a liquid form. Cream concealers give the most coverage while most liquid concealers are lightweight and formulated for the delicate under eye area. Most guys will only need this for an extra boost of confidence as they go about their day.

Finally, there are BB and CC creams. The holy grail of makeup for both men and women. BB (Beauty Balm) and CC (Colour/Complexion Correction) Creams are skincare and makeup all in one. These products offer amazing skincare benefits while offering some coverage to even out the skin tone and brighten the skin’s appearance. Most of these products also have built in sun protection and can also act as a primer should you want to add foundation or concealer over it.

All in all, makeup is nothing to be scared of or embarrassed about. We all have skin concerns and things we wish we didn’t have on our face and makeup can give us the confidence to hide those imperfections and enhance our overall appearance. It’s easy to achieve a natural looking makeup look as a guy. Don’t let anyone or their misconceptions stop you from creating the most confident version of yourself! Good luck and have fun with it.