photo credit: Jesper Särnesjö
photo credit: Jesper Särnesjö

While most people grow up believing that there is a certain type of behavior that is attributable only to girls and another appropriate only to boys, gender is not as simple as all of that.  While it is generally true that physical sex can be determined from chromosomal differences (although not always, approximately 1% of babies born every year are actually classed as intersex,) gender simply isn’t that simple.  Cross dressers comprise many different points along the gender continuum.  Consider the spectrum as such – on one end you have extreme femininity, the opposite end is extreme masculinity, and in between is every possible mix of the two including the middle extreme of displaying no gender.

Psychologically speaking, Jung was the first to point out that people all have a need to develop both their masculine and their feminine sides.  How people navigate this development varies widely from person to person.  Some people work very hard to cultivate attitudes or feelings that are often contributed only to the opposite gender.  For example, a genetic female may work to develop assertiveness – historically considered a masculine trait in the Western World.  While a genetic male my work to develop his ability to care for other people and show compassion.  Are these traits actually genetic?  Its very difficult to tease out what is an actual physical difference vs. what is due to the very different ways in which our culture raises boys and girls from infancy on.

Cross dressers typically fall in a few different places along the gender spectrum.  There are three major reasons that men decide to begin cross dressing.  The first reason is when a person knows that they have been assigned the wrong gender based on the way they have always felt since childhood.  Chromosomes do not always match up with experience and aren’t always the best way to assign gender.  Why this is no one is completely sure, but we do know that throughout history this has always been true.  Terms used to describe this group of cross dressers are either transgender or transsexual.  Generally the terms are interchangable and are set by professionals.  Transgender is current term du jour per the organization – WPATH (World Profession Association of Transgender Health Inc.).  Transgender people cross dress in order to feel more comfortable as themselves.  In addition, many transgender individuals wish to permanently change their physical sex through the use of hormone therapies and potentially gender reassignment surgery.

The second category of cross dressers do not feel they have been assigned the wrong gender, but do wish to experience life from the perspective of the opposite gender.  Cross dressing provides the means to temporarily be a member of the opposite sex.  This group has no sexual motivation for cross dressing per se and has no desire to permanently change their physical sex.  The majority of male cross dressers fall into this second category.  Sometimes in medical literature this group may be referred to as “transvestites.”  Cross dressers are most often straight men, although the practice of dressing in “drag” is also common in the gay male community and to a lesser extent in the lesbian community.  Straight women are not typically labeled as cross dressers – mostly due to a wider range of clothing options being socially acceptable for women.

The last category of cross dressers are those that find sexual pleasure or arousal through the act of wearing clothing belonging to the opposite gender.  This is sometimes referred to as sexual fetishism.  The act of cross dressing may be limited to a single article of clothing such as panties, bras, or high heels; or may involve an entire outfit.  People who cross dress for sexual pleasure tend not to do so in public and it is difficult to estimate how prevalent this category truly is.  It is important to note that sexual fetishes are not considered “unhealthy” unless they provide psychological distress or are harmful to another person.

The gender spectrum is much more varied than what your typical high school health text will suggest.  The current social climate continues to stigmatize variation by labeling differences in the gender spectrum as “mental disorders.”  These classifications, however, should not provide the excuse to stigmatize difference, but rather the opportunity to receive support – especially through medical treatment for transgender individuals who wish to correct their physical gender assignment.

Everyone that has ever worn foundation has made several common mistakes. These mistakes include choosing the wrong color, ending up with foundation that looks caked on, and sometimes even accentuating the flaws that you are trying to cover up!

So how do you apply foundation for the perfect look while cross dressing? You will need to choose the correct color and learn to apply and set your foundation correctly.

How to choose the perfect color.

The range in skin colors is truly astounding. Honestly, there is no way to pick a foundation at the store, hold it to your face, and choose the correct color. It is best to sit down with a makeup consultant and test the colors on your face. Natural sunlight will give you the best reading of whether the color is a match or not, and florescent lights will give you the WORST. Don’t waste your time checking the color on your hands or wrists. If your complexion is light, you should check the color on your neck and jawline. You want the color to match where you will blend it in at the neck. For those with a darker complexion, you will want to match your foundation at the cheek and jawline.

How to Apply Foundation

There are 3 basic tools that you can use.

Foundation Brush – The brush is the best way to go, and also the most expensive. It gives the most even coverage and blends the best. You must clean your foundation brush after EVERY use or it will get ruined – and depending on which you choose that can amount to a hefty sum over time.

Sponge – These are those little packs of usually triangular shaped wedges you will find in the drug store. They cost less than a good brush does and you toss them out after every use. Not so environmentally friendly, and the other drawback is that they can absorb a good bit of foundation leading to more waste.

Fingers – These are obviously the least expensive! While they are always available to you, your fingers don’t tend to blend foundation as well which can lead to a cakey look. Many people don’t like the feel of foundation on their fingers, but if you are in a pinch they do work.

Set Your Foundation

Loose Powder – loose powder has a very nice feel to it but it can tend to me messy. It provides a little more coverage but isn’t as heavy as pressed powder tends to be. It also doesn’t set into fine lines on your face as well as pressed powder does. If your skin tends to be oily, loose powder is the best choice.

Pressed Powder – Very convenient in little compacts and its good for touch ups during the day because it does give more coverage. If you use too much, though, you will look like your wearing powder. Pressed powder has a heavier feel to it and generally isn’t good for people with oily skin.

Blot – If your skin isn’t oily and its not humid where you live, you can use blotting tissues or facial tissues that don’t have lotion in them. Press the tissue gently to your face and blot softly. This will remove the excess makeup without messing up your foundation.

These are just a few tips to get you started with makeup and cross dressing. Don’t stop here, there is so much more to learn about cross dressing! Get the most comprehensive cross dressing makeup tips.

photo courtesy of k1ng via flickr

Makeup and learning how to do it right is somewhat of a mystery to cross dressing men and many genetic women as well! There are literally thousands of different types and brands that are available. When you are drowning in that much product information, its no wonder that cross dressing tips come in handy!

1- Wash your face first. Your face accumulates oils and other debris throughout the day. When you are washing your face, remember that the skin is actually rather delicate – especially around your eyes. Don’t wash your face in a manner that stretches or pulls the skin. Use gentle, circular motions. Use warm water to open your pores and help remove more of the unwanted gunk. Choose a soap that matches your skin type whether that is oily, normal, combination, or dry. Rinse the soap off with cool water to close the pores up and follow with a toner. Don’t use scented face washing products if your skin is sensitive.

2 – Shave. If you aren’t investing in hair removal like laser hair removal, you will want the best razors you can afford. Shave immediately after washing your face with warm water and before applying the toner. You want the pores to be as open as possible so that you can get the closest shave. Shave first in the direction of hair growth, and go back over a second time in the opposite direction. Uneven skin and whiskers will mess with the best laid makeup in a bad way. Follow up with cool water and toner as above.

3 – Moisturize. If you haven’t been moisturizing up until now, its a good idea to start adding this to your daily regimen. Moisturizing works to smooth out the skin as well as to create a nice base for your foundation. Wait at least 5-10 minutes after shaving to apply any makeup to your face as shaving tends to irritate the skin and any foundation that gets into an irritated spot could spell disaster and further irritation.

4 – Apply foundation. Make sure all the moisturizer is soaked into your skin first. Its a good idea to wait a few minutes in between. When applying foundation, more is NOT always better. You want to choose a foundation that blends well with your skin tone – it should match the color of your neck. Blend foundation in from the outside of your face to the center, not the other way around. If you start from the center, you will tend to build too much up around the nose. Don’t forget to apply foundation gently around the eyes and on the eyelids.

These are just a few tips to get you started with makeup and cross dressing. Don’t stop here, there is so much more to learn about cross dressing! Get the most comprehensive cross dressing makeup tips.