Stop Looking Like a Drag Queen: Everyday Natural Makeup Tutorial

Victoria Rose is a 24-year-old transgender woman who creates various types of content, including femininity, commentary, reactions, and makeup tutorials. 

In this comprehensive tutorial, she provides tips for transgender women on how to stop looking like a drag queen, and learn to do natural, everyday makeup that makes them pass while avoiding an overly made-up "drag queen" look.

 

Start with a Good Skincare Routine

Rose emphasizes starting with a solid skincare routine. Make sure your skin is clean, exfoliated, moisturized, and prepped before applying any makeup. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser suited for your skin type. 

Exfoliate 2-3 times per week to slough off dead skin cells and smooth texture. Apply a hydrating toner or essence to boost moisture. Follow up with a rich night cream or oil if you have dry skin. 

Those with oily/combination skin may prefer a lightweight gel moisturizer. Priming is optional, but focusing on creating a healthy, glowing base will help the makeup look more natural.

 

Color Correct Discoloration

Many transgender women deal with beard shadows and discoloration around the lower face.

This can make it challenging to achieve a flawless complexion. Instead of caking on heavy full-coverage foundations everywhere, strategically color-correct only problem areas. 

Mix an orange color corrector with a lighter concealer to customize the right shade for your skin tone. Let it dry completely before applying anything on top so it doesn't lift or mix into the rest of the face makeup.

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Use Lightweight Complexion Products

Avoid using a thick, full-coverage foundation all over the face. Opt for lightweight options like a tinted moisturizer or skin tint for an even, natural finish. Rose likes to mix a couple of drops of foundation into her moisturizer for customizable sheer coverage. 

Conceal only blemishes and beard shadow as needed with a thin layer of concealer. The goal is to create the illusion of smooth, healthy skin without looking like you have a mask of makeup on.

For years Rose had to shave her arms and legs daily for smooth skin. She spent thousands on professional laser hair removal on her face and bikini area. Not wanting to spend a fortune removing body hair, she discovered the KetchBeauty at-home IPL device. 

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) handset offers a cutting-edge method for hair removal that is longer-lasting than traditional methods. 

She says it provides salon-quality permanent hair reduction at a fraction of the cost. It can be used on the entire body in the comfort of home. Rose highly recommends it for any type of hair removal need.

 

Brighten Under Eyes

Conceal dark under-eye circles and eyelids with a peachy color corrector or concealer using minimal product. Let it dry completely before powdering so it doesn't lift or settle into creases. 

Once dry, set concealer by pressing loose translucent powder into the skin with a damp sponge. Avoid buffing or rubbing, which can lift and disturb the makeup. This baking method helps prevent creasing and keeps the brightened effect all day. 

For best results, Rose recommends the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder.

 

Sculpt With Bronzer

Skip heavy cream contours that can look overly painted. Instead, lightly dust bronzer around the perimeter of your face to subtly define it. Sweep it across areas you want to recede or slim like the forehead, temples, and jawline. 

Avoid applying bronzer to the rounded areas of the cheeks you want to emphasize. Add a pop of blush on the apples of the cheeks for a healthy, flushed glow.

 

Shadow to Lift Eyes

Eyeshadow can make a big impact in creating a more feminine eye shape. Apply a shimmery champagne eyeshadow on the lids and inner corners to open up and illuminate the eyes. 

Use a matte bronzer shade in the crease and upper brow bone to lift the apparent brow and make the eyes appear more youthful. Blend it all the way up to the brow for a complete lift.

 

Brows and Mascara

Full, fluffy brows help frame the eyes and balance the face. Use a clear brow gel to brush brows up and out for a lifted look. Fill any sparse areas with a brow pen or pencil in light, hair-like strokes. 

Finish by curling lashes and applying mascara for definition and an eye-opening effect. Waterproof formulas help lashes hold a curl.

 

Set With Powder

After all cream and liquid makeup, lightly set the face with a translucent powder focusing on the t-zone to control oils. This smooths texture, blurs pores, and melds all the products together seamlessly. 

Avoid adding too much powder or mattifying all over, which can make the skin look flat. Maintain a subtle radiance on the high points of the face.

 

Elevate for Nighttime

This natural everyday makeup can easily be elevated for evening wear. Amp up the eyes with false lashes, smoky shadows, or liners. Add jewel tones or shimmery hues to the lids. Slightly intensify the face makeup as well. 

Apply individual lashes or dramatic styles on the outer eye. Use a deeper blush or highlighter to enhance your best features. But maintain the fresh, lightweight base for a glam yet still balanced final look.

Rose credits drag queens for pioneering many makeup techniques but cautions transgender women to avoid emulating a full drag-style beat when trying to blend in day-to-day. With the right lightweight techniques, you can create feminine, flattering makeup that still looks like your natural skin.


How to Stop Looking Like a Drag Queen: Conclusion

In conclusion, Victoria Rose's makeup tutorial offers valuable insights and techniques for transgender women seeking a natural and everyday makeup look that helps them feel confident and pass seamlessly without appearing overly made up like a drag queen.

One of the key takeaways from her tutorial is the emphasis on starting with a solid skincare routine. Clean, well-prepped skin forms the foundation for a natural makeup look, ensuring a healthy, glowing base.

Addressing common challenges such as beard shadows and discoloration, Victoria Rose advises using strategic color correction to create a flawless complexion. This approach minimizes the need for heavy, full-coverage foundation, promoting a more natural appearance.

Overall, this tutorial promotes a natural and authentic approach to makeup, emphasizing that makeup should enhance one's features rather than mask them.

By following these tips and techniques, transgender women can achieve a look that aligns with their identity and enhances their self-confidence while appearing effortlessly natural.