Secret to good make up, is a close shave

The secret for a cross-dress to look passing is to start with a good shave.  Here are ten steps for a close shave.

Shaving           

1.     Avoid shaving first thing in the morning. Most people wake up with slightly puffy skin in the morning. You will get a closer shave if you wait 20-30 minutes for the skin to tighten, exposing more of the hair shaft. The first step is to obtain the closest shave possible.

2.     Prep your skin. Take a shower or wrap a hot, moist towel around your face and neck for several minutes before shaving to soften your beard and open up the hair follicles. The trick is to use water as hot as you can take (do not burn yourself though) and soak the razor in the hot water before you start.

Get in the shower, run your face under the hottest water you can tolerate for at least a minute, then cover your face in a good hair conditioner. This softens the beard and makes it easier to shave..

3.     Always exfoliate. Use a washcloth or an exfoliating scrub on your face to eliminate dead skin cells and raise hair stubs for a closer shave. Wash off and scrub with a fine skin exfoliate (the anti-spot cleansing type with small beads is best). This prepares the skin and helps stop nicks and cuts

Wash face with ProActiv, it does a great job keeping breakouts to a minimum. Follow it up by using the Toner and Repairing Lotion make sure to moisturize. Use L’Oreal Futur-e Moisturizer.

4.     Use a regrowth slowing shaving cream. For a long lasting shave, use a shaving cream, such as, designed to slow hair regrowth. Avoid shaving creams containing menthol, as they can dry out the skin.  Shave using a moisturizing shaving cream and use a styptic pencil to stop the bleeding from cuts. Apply shaving cream and shave normally down your face with the hair growth. You can either leave the exfiloator on, or re-apply shaving foam, as you prefer.

Do not dry your face! The next step to apply moisturizing shaving cream or soap (Palmolive Shave Stick) to your dampened face and let it sit for one or two minutes, further softening the hair. You do not need a brush to apply.  Alternatively, try Gillette Series Sensitive Skin shaving gel. Also, try Maca Root Shave Cream. or use Gillette Series Sensitive Skin shaving gel

The old-school technique. Apply the cheap shaving cream then swirl the brush on top of the Maca Root cream and apply. The cream lathers up; a little goes a long way.

5.     Select a great razor. A great shave depends upon a great razor. Most cross-dresser agree that the Gillette Sensor Excel is the ultimate tool for the job If its a big night out use a brand new blade. Use the expensive ones, I use MACH 3. Don't ever use the cheap plastic ones.

Shave using downward strokes, and then shave using upward strokes. Repeat this process two to three times to get the closest shave possible. Pay special attention to your chin and the area just above you lip and under your nose. Having a styptic pencil handy is good idea until you get used to shaving this closely. Obtain the closest shave possible!

6.     Don't use a dull blade. Never use the same blade more than two or three times since dull blades can lead to razor burn and ingrown hairs. Suggest using a fresh blade every time you go en femme.

7.     Do a two-step shave. A great close shave should be done in two steps: first, shave in the direction of hair growth. Then lather again, this time shaving against the grain for an even closer cut. Be sure to use small, gentle strokes to avoid irritation. After every couple of strokes, rinse the blades in hot water to clean off the residue. Shave down as normal and do your entire face. Now do up. Use tiny little strokes around your mouth. Just keep feeling for stubble and shave up on anything that is left. Get your jawline and slightly under it. Don't stop until there is nothing left to feel. Move your face in different positions to push out the beard and use your tongue to help as well. Note: You can do a full downwards shave, re-lather and then do a sideways shave over the top. It is advised not to shave upwards, while it is the ultimate close shave it can ruin your skin on the day and the long-term effects can be the orange peel like pitted skin. Once done, rinse your face with cold water and pat it dry. It is very important that you never rub or scrub your face dry as this is damaging. Always pat, never rub.

8.     Apply toner right after shaving and allow your face to dry for half an hour before applying the makeup needed to cover beard growth. Carefully with short upward strokes, shave up the face against the hair growth with light downward pressure on the razor. Initially you may get some redness, but with practice, this will go away and you can increase the downward pressure with care.

9.     After shaving, rinse, pat dry with a towel, wait a few minutes and then apply a moisturizer. Use a combined cleanser/toner use Nivea for Men’s Sensitive After Shave. After this dries, moisturize the shaved area.

Moisturizers, it soothes your skin and preparers it so that your makeup will adhere better. After-shave balms and moisturizers are much better these days but many are perfumed so you might want to opt for a more neutral moisturizer, there are loads available, look for all the natural ones without perfumes and other nonsense they put into them. Do not be scared to use girls products either, a moisturizer is a moisturizer! Cheap high street options include Boots No. 7 and Olay who both do value for money beauty products that do the trick.

Wait a minute and then apply a very thin coat of a good moisturizer. Don't use too much or it will never dry. Let it dry completely. Now use a make up primer. This is the most important step. I use Instant Age Rewind from Maybelline. Its a very thick gel. You cover your face in that. A little goes a long way. You let that sit for 5 minutes. I usually do my eyes during that time. Also doing your eyes before you put on your foundation is a smart move especially if you are using any dark eye colors

10.    Next, with a pair of cuticle scissors, carefully trim all nose and ear hairs. Many cross-dresser forget this, and even after your makeup is removed, having no visible nose or ear hair is just a good practice to get into for anyone. Remington shavers even make electric shavers designed just for this purpose. Now look at your face very carefully in a well-lit mirror. You are looking for stray hairs on your nose and between your eyebrows. A tweezers will remove them quite easily.