APPLYING MAKEUP FOR MEN: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE
How to apply makeup for men
It’s simply not out there, gentlemen!
We enlisted the help of two of our expert makeup artists to give us a hand, tell us which makeup best suits different skin types and which men’s makeup is best to buy if you want to give it a try. Even if you’re a pro at men’s makeup, we’re sure you’ll find these hints and tips helpful in your ever-growing quest to look perfect.
From brushes to bronzers and guyliner to manscara…. we have the tools for you to practice your “craft”. This men’s makeup routine is not too over the top but still effective and is perfect in preparation for a night out, dinner or an important day at the office. We demand masculinity from the products we sell and this men’s makeup beauty regime will go a long way in helping you achieve perfect redefined skin.
STEP 1 – PROTECT AND BUILD FROM THE BASE
Before you start applying men’s makeup, it is crucial that you have the perfect base. Apply a little moisturizer for men and rub it thoroughly into your face, making sure you reach all the nooks and crannies. This will ensure that we are not left with an unnatural glow and ‘fake’ look, thus maintaining our masculinity. If you have oily skin, use a lighter moisturizer for men, as this will counteract the oily nature of your skin and keep your face from glowing after using your makeup products for men.
STEP 2 – FOUNDATION FOR MEN
Today we are going to use MMUK MAN’s “pump action” liquid foundation. It’s a little darker than our model’s skin tone, but this is a great technique to really bring out your skin tone. As a general rule, you can go up to a maximum 1 shade lighter or darker than your natural skin tone and this will ensure that your men’s makeup goes unnoticed, but you still stand out in the crowd with your new found flawless look. If you’re not sure what skin tone you have, use our men’s palette to help you discover exactly what shade suits you or send your request to info@mencare.com. We will then contact you, usually within a few hours, to help you find a product with the right shade.
Apply your foundation for men in exactly the same way as your daily moisturizer. Rub it in a little with your fingertips and apply it to your face, neck, eyelids and hairline. This way you get a perfect blend and your makeup for men looks even more natural. This foundation for men’s makeup is a foundation with a light coverage that, because it is so subtle, you men will definitely benefit from.
You can also apply the foundation with a foundation brush for men as with your fingers, but we don’t recommend a makeup sponge because you risk it sucking up all the product before applying it to your face. It can also cause your foundation to become patchy and that’s definitely a ‘look’ we’re not aiming for, boys.
We recommend applying your men’s makeup with your fingers because the warmth of your fingers stimulates your skin cells to absorb the makeup, so you don’t get that dreaded fake, washed-out look. Instead of your men’s foundation staying on the surface of your skin, your fingers make it look just that little bit more engraved. And that’s what we want.
Make sure you rub all of your product through your facial hair, because if you don’t do this enough, the product can linger above the surface and really make you stand out in the wrong way. Rub briefly against the direction of your hair and you’ll definitely avoid this common mistake in men’s makeup.
STEP 3- CONCEALER FOR MEN AT IT’S BEST
Now is the time to tackle those parts of your face that you are least happy with. Imperfections like acne scars, pimples and blemishes can be easily wiped away once you know how. With an opaque foundation or concealer for men and a makeup brush for men or a built-in wand, you can really achieve the right results. Don’t use too much, as a small amount of men’s makeup will go a long way.
With a nylon brush or a brush and a thicker cream-based foundation or concealer, you can smear and blend the product well.
Apply just enough to your brush and get to work on the imperfections you want to cover up. Concentrate on the t-zone and eyelids; make sure you take the brush everywhere you are not satisfied with. The brush or wand will do the trick and really take away the opaque nature of this product, as well as buff the men’s makeup into your skin for the desired result.
STEP 4 – MENS HIGHLIGHT AND CONTOURING
Now it’s time to contour the skin a little more and give your face some texture. It’s important for a man to not just put on a load of men’s makeup and have a completely flawless, all in one look. This is not going to do you any good. The men’s makeup tips below will show you how to give certain parts of your face that rugged, masculine look we’re all looking for.
To do this, we recommend a light ash brown eyeshadow for men. While we won’t be using it specifically on the eyes, our makeup experts recommend using it this way to get excellent contours and really bring the bone structure of your face to life. We also recommend using a slightly angled contouring brush for the best results in this process.
Apply the eyeshadow to the brush, remembering that less is more and apply the product under each cheekbone with a back and forth motion. By applying this gentleman’s makeup in the hollows of your cheeks, you create a shadow effect in this area, which really adds to your unrelenting machismo. This really breaks up the face and is a great makeup for men tip. Use the same motion to apply eyeshadow to your temples and work the product towards the edge of your face, down to your hairline. This will subtly blend each individual product and ensure that there is no drop-off point. Your entire head will look flawless and you’ll avoid that “cakey,” overwhelming look. Another expert trick of the trade brought to you by our experts.
Finally, when it comes to contouring for men, you can apply the same eye shadow for men under your jawline. This will give your area a new definition and is a great trick if you are not naturally blessed with a clear jawline. When you apply a darker shade underneath, you really lift your face and enhance the look of this area or create the illusion of a new, very strong jawline. Try this gradually and remember: Practice makes perfect.
STEP 5 – HOW TO APPLY MENS EYE MAKEUP?
Now it’s time to contour the skin a little more and give your face some texture. It’s important for a man to not just put on a load of men’s makeup and have a completely flawless, all in one look. This is not going to do you any good. The men’s makeup tips below will show you how to give certain parts of your face that rugged, masculine look we’re all looking for.
To do this, we recommend a light ash brown eyeshadow for men. While we won’t be using it specifically on the eyes, our makeup experts recommend using it this way to get excellent contours and really bring the bone structure of your face to life. We also recommend using a slightly angled contouring brush for the best results in this process.
Apply the eyeshadow to the brush, remembering that less is more and apply the product under each cheekbone with a back and forth motion. By applying this gentleman’s makeup in the hollows of your cheeks, you create a shadow effect in this area, which really adds to your unrelenting machismo. This really breaks up the face and is a great makeup for men tip. Use the same motion to apply eyeshadow to your temples and work the product towards the edge of your face, down to your hairline. This will subtly blend each individual product and ensure that there is no drop-off point. Your entire head will look flawless and you’ll avoid that “cakey,” overwhelming look. Another expert trick of the trade brought to you by our experts.
Finally, when it comes to contouring for men, you can apply the same eye shadow for men under your jawline. This will give your area a new definition and is a great trick if you are not naturally blessed with a clear jawline. When you apply a darker shade underneath, you really lift your face and enhance the look of this area or create the illusion of a new, very strong jawline. Try this gradually and remember: Practice makes perfect…
STEP 6 – BOSSIN’ UP YOUR BROWS
Use a brush with a flat head and the desired color of eye shadow for men. Apply some of the product to your eyebrows and touch them up outward. This is a perfect tip if your eyebrows are thinner and sometimes get lost in your face. A technique like this really brings your eyebrows to life. You can also use an eyebrow gel for men. This is a perfect product in men’s makeup, if you really want to control and redefine your eyebrows.
Another tip if you suffer from unruly brows is to take a regular toothbrush and work the brows outwards and using some regular hair gel, hairspray or preferably eyebrow gel, really keep them in place and make sure that this area is not the only area that defines your look.
STEP 7 – BRONZE IF YOU WISH
Now we’ve shown you all types of makeup for men; foundations, concealers, brow gel, eye shadow and we contoured: If you want to give a natural sun-kissed look to your skin, we recommend using a bronzer. A bronzer enhances that natural look in some great ways and adds sex appeal by enhancing your chiseled, healthy and sun-kissed look.
Take a mineral powder product or bronzing powder for men that does not contain glitter or sparkles; because let’s face it guys, this is a complete no no for the look we are trying to achieve in everyday life.
Take a larger makeup brush for men and apply the powder above your cheekbones, over your nose and apply a little on your eyelids, forehead and chin. Use a pressing technique rather than dragging the product across your face, which adds subtlety.
By applying a little color to your neck and ears, you’ll make all your men’s makeup blend in nicely with the rest of your body, making the fact that you’re wearing it virtually unnoticeable.
STEP 8 – MANSCARA
Take a tinted brow gel or brown manscara and apply a small amount to the roots of your lashes, making sure to treat each lash separately. Work through your lashes with the brush and blink the product as you apply it. Take your time and bring the brush to the front of your lashes and let this eye makeup technique do its job and really make your eyes stand out.
STEP 9 – GUYLINER
Take a little guyliner and apply it to the bottom of your eye and make sure it is even and not clumpy. Any quality guyliner is good and this really illuminates your eyes and transforms them from dull lifeless areas into striking, enriched and subtle masterpieces.
STEP 10 – DON’T FORGET THE LIPS!
Finally, especially in the winter and mid-summer, you should apply some lip balm to your lips to keep them hydrated so they don’t crack and become unattractive. A good lip serum doesn’t have to cost you much, lasts a long time and makes your life so much nicer! Forget the cheap sticks, they often dry out your lips, use a really nice serum or if necessary a little bit of Vaseline in your inside pocket.
So, gentlemen. A step by step men’s makeup application guide that any man will be able to follow. Quick, easy and hassle-free. Makeup for men doesn’t have to be daunting and fabulous masculine looks don’t have to be unattainable. Use the right products in the right place, day in and day out and with the tricks and tools of the trade you can achieve the same look as the professionals. A quick and easy guide to makeup application for men, brought to you by Mencare and MMUK MAN.