Men’s Guide To Business-Casual – The Summer Edition
Paying Attention To The Details
Men’s SS13 Fashion Trend: Statement Tailoring
Editor Note: Make-up for men has always been a controversial topic that I wanted to cover but I couldn’t do it justice as I didn’t know much about it or used it myself. However this is a great introduction by our new writer Robert, so I expect it to cause a marmite reaction between you all. We should all be open to new ideas to improve our appearance and self confidence so go into it with an open mind and PLEASE LET US KNOW YOUR OPINION in the comments. Cheers Guys, Ben
MAKE UP with your face
If you’re the man that made best friends with Jack Daniels the night before and woke up wishing you’d never met, you’re probably going to need more than a shower to get you back to normal. The mirror isn’t lying, your under eye bags are big enough to go home improvement shopping and then some. Sound familiar? It’s time to make up with your face.
We could say male make up is actually a combination of ‘facial improvement cosmetics’. That’s a little GQ 2009. Here at FashionBeans we don’t want to insult your intelligence and we know you’re man enough to deal with it… It’s make up and it can improve your look if applied correctly.
What to use and how to use it
This is entirely dependent on three things. Your style, your skin and your confidence. For example, If you’re going for the out of bed, I’ve just pulled (again) and I don’t give a sh*t look, you’re not going to care too much about that perfect bronzed touch.
Start off with your daily skin care regime (try FashionBeans grooming articles for advice and tips). After application of a good moisturiser you’re ready to go. If you think about your moisturiser as a base, and without it, just, no.
After moisturiser, look at your skin. What don’t you like about it? Make up is all about perfecting the less than perfect. As a general guide here, we’re going to show you how to achieve the natural look, that is, without looking like you have any make up on.
Skin:
Say you have a few red spots, uneven skin tone, dark eye circles and you’re looking a little rough round the edges. Start off with a foundation. Again, like a moisturiser, using it as a base. This sounds daunting, and the last think you want is to cake it on your face.
Apply a rice grain sized amount to the imperfection and blend ONLY on the affected area. Remember less is more with every aspect of application. As a general rule, if it looks like you could apply more, you’ve applied enough. Foundations can be tricky to match with your skin tone. Try foundations that adapt to your skin’s natural tone, giving you some room either side to get the colour wrong. (Try Dior Icone for colourless foundation shown below).
The concealer is next in line. It sits on top of the foundation base and actually covers the imperfection. There are loads to choose from, but the best ones in my opinion are liquid based as you can easily choose the amount to apply. Again a rice grain sized amount and remember to match the colour to your natural skin tone:
Lips
Vivienne Westwood designed a famous tee with huge lips embracing the chest. Why? Because they’re sexy. Do yourself a big favour and get some decent lip lube. Such a simple and inexpensive product, but easily overlooked:
Eyes
For the more daring, eyes are a great feature to enhance. The problem guys have 9 times out of 10, it’s over done. Follow these steps to perfect the application:
Firstly, use eye drops that bring out the white in your eyes. Great for a hangover or if you’re exhausted.
Eyeliner
- Get your hands on a sharp black eyeliner, preferably not waterproof (can be a nightmare for removal).
- Only apply to the bottom part of the eye. Pull the eyelid down and draw a line above where the eyelashes join. This part of your eyelid is fairly moist so keep going over it until a solid black line is complete.
- Looking into the mirror, you should have noticeably bolder eyes! This is not the look we’re going for.
- With your finger, attempt to remove most of the eyeliner, leaving an extremely thin line. Now, it should be barely noticeable. Remember less is more and if it looks like your wearing it, remove!
Try experimenting with the techniques given and apply more or less depending on the look you want to go for. Good luck! FashionBeans accepts no responsibility for you becoming overly vain and arrogant with your new found beauty. All products recommended have been personally tested by the writer.
Yours,
Robert Michael G.
*Perfection is dull. Aspiring for perfection is more fun.
Men’s Grooming: Scouting For Girls (Products) – Part 2
The Ultimate Streamlined Grooming Routine
How To Tell If You’re A Men’s Grooming Addict
Men’s Grooming: The Benefits Of Using A Face Scrub
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Having already commented on my recently adopted skin regime in your grooming article you can consider me a bona-fide metrosexual (even though I hate that word) but the thought of applying make-up makes me cringe.
Looking after your skin is one thing but foundation and eyeliner is whole new world. I wouldn’t feel confident wearing it and because girls have spent a lifetime playing with and applying make-up they’d rumble me from a mile off. Not good.
well said dan….it’s all well & good trying to hide age & a hangover….but makeup…no way
+ i’m blind in one eye & would make a hell of a mess of my face.
wife’s knicker yes…makeup no :)
I’m tempted with the colourless foundation…ive used concealer a couple of times b4 to cover up spots.
the eye whitener doesn’t seem too bad. not so sure about lip lube and guyliner tho. altho it kinda works for stewart pilkington…
no to make up, we are men!
I fully agree with skincare and maintenance for men.
As flamboyant and gay as I am, and proud of it, I dislike make up for myself as well as other men. Male beauty is not defined by facial paint jobs so to speak. However, I personally use 3 step regime Torricelum skincare by Elizabeth Grant, as well as Bare Escentuals Pure Blemish Mineral Powder, Kinesys sun screen, AHAVA body, foot, hand lotions, Burts Bee’s lip balm. All on a daily basis, and it definitely makes my life that much easier.
I’m definitely open to this. I wear concealer and bronzer and would definitely consider a light foundation if I thought it blended well. If anything, I think it makes me look more masculine. I would draw the line at tinted lip gloss and mascara. Gaultier can go a bit far sometimes but then again, whatever floats your boat.
Lol i like this article as today i had some concealer on me but personally couldnt notice and difference. i would not wear make up personally but i understand why men do and i dont think it makes u any less of a person or ‘man’ whether you wear make up or not.
I agree with Dolan. I use camouflage make up once in a while to cover blemishes.
Thanks VISH
also i think it would be interesting to see what people think about the mens skirt fashion? I saw a mens skirt in H&M the other day and was considering purchasing it … after all men originally wore skirts and kilts before women and years ago it was a controversial issue about women wearing trousers but now days it is very natural.
Gender, identity, sexuality etc. are all very interesting and indeed contentious issues when looking at the psychological aspects around fashion. As a lover of fashion and a psychology student, it’s a topic I love to look at.
Interesting point, Dolan. I’m half Malaysian and along with many of the males on that side of the family, I quite often wear a sarong around the house.
I thought part of the luxury of being a bloke is we don’t have to bother with make-up lol. I don’t even like to see girls with alot of make-up on, so I’m definitely not into wearing it. I will confess to using concealer on a spot in the past but only if its a proper night out. I wouldn’t bother with it on a daily basis, I personally think if you start using all sorts of make up, you will end up not wanting to leave the house with out it.
I think there is a huge difference between completely altering how you look using make up and enhancing what you already have. From a personal standpoint, the bronzer helps balance my skin tone as I am olive skinned. However, blokes (much like the girls) who cake themselves in fake tan or lie for hours on sunbeds until they’d look at home next to the lemons at Waitrose, just look, errrr, ridiculous. As Robert says, less is more…
Much like every other aspect of fashion, choosing what you feel comfortable in is extremely important. Conversely, feeling comfortable without make up as well as with make up, to whatever degree is another (also highly contentious) discussion.
Great article, Robert.
Great article mate,
Good subject!
Love the fact its got us guys talking. I’m a guy that wears make up every day for the last 3/4 years and no one has ever noticed as the secret is subtle and looking healthy.
Top Tips
1. Start with smooth skin – keep the skin fresh and smooth with Alpha H pads or Elemis Tri-Enzyme range, exfoliates without scratching the skin.
Moisture, don’t if you are oily.
2. Start with bronzed skin – any colour on the face must match your arms, so keep a healthy self tan 24/7. Easily done with Xen Tan Luxe or for the full on tanners St Tropez every 3 days.
3. Start with good frames – keep your eyebrows tidy and grab Dylure brow/lash tint in brown or black if you have fairer coloured eyebrows than what your hair colour is with product in it. Great brows keep you looking alive, just don’t over pluck, heavy brows look better on guys.
4. Even out the face – I would stay clear of foundations, they really can look caked on. Instead go for a light mineral makeup powder like Philosophy Airbrush Supernatural that is a foundation/concealer/bronzer in one. And super light, its only pigment and so pure you could sleep in it. Using lightly all over the face and neck will give you a super healthy look and cover up most small imperfections.
5. Bring out some colour – to avoid the monotone skin colour with your makeup. Finish off the base with the Philospohy Airbrush Supernatural and grab the Clinique Bronze Tint Gel for the cheeks and forehead to give that sunkissed look.
6. Age Prevention – then dust the face with Peter Thomas ROth SPF 30 mineral powder that’s translucent, keeps you shine free and protects you from the sun.
7. Dazzle – Eyes & Teeth – I’d finish up with Eye Brightener drops from any Boots and get your teeth bleached with any product that uses carbamide peroxide.
Keep it light and subtle and you will look freaking brilliant.
I do reckon that if you are clean shaven then it might be a bit hard to pull off, but any stubble or beard then you’re laughing.
Great article and even better comments from everyone. It’s great to read all the points of view.
Yep! I mean, why not? If you can apply something to your skin to cover up a blemish or just improve the tone subtly…go for it. I don’t, but that’s because I’m usually really happy with my skin…if it’s looking tired I alter my diet and lifestyle instead. I’m also very in favor of using makeup beyond just touching up…I tend to hang out in alt-type clubs – mainstream places make me cringe for the most part, guys wearing makeup to emphasize their look is common, and done right it looks really, really good.
Sexuality has nothing to do with it – it’s all about the aesthetic.
OK after giving this some thought and looking at myself closely, I’m 34 and am kinda lucky I still look quite youthful, however I have noticed if I tilt my head forward a little in the mirror I have dark parts under my eyes. Is there an easy fix for this that doesn’t cost a fortune? I guess my concern is I have to buy multiple tubes/bottles of products that cost 30 quid a pop is all. If someone can recommend a good cream or a good way to hide this it would be appreciated. Cheers:)
@ Katatonik – Dermalogica do some eye repair/moisture stuff. It provides the nutrients and is also tinted so as to conceal the darkness.
To start with i would like to commend your product recommendations… for an article i was asked to write back in college i did somewhat extensive research into foundations for men and No.7 Intelligent Colour was by far the best product i found.
Now for the debate:
Now obviously the long term goal is to achieve perfect skin, thus making cosmetics obsolete… but those of us who have been burning the candle at both ends, and look as if they have scorched their eye-lids in the process, may need the occasional helping hand.
I believe wearing make-up everyday is not only unnecessary but can also distract you from finding your perfect skin care regime, but that doesn’t mean you can use it sparingly on the weekends or when you actually need a touch up.
Applying a concealer and/or foundation will literally take you 5-10 minutes before a night out and if done properly it will be completely unnoticeable…
All I have ever used is moisturiser and face wash products, i must admit I am not very lucky with my skin…I can have great skin one day and then the next suddenly looking terrible it does get to me at times because on days I need or want my skin too look healthy it just doesn’t, I have nothing whatsoever with guys using makeup etc but I simply dont think i would or dare is perhaps the word!
Does anyone recommend any moisturiser and facewash that they have used and got great results from? – I have at times a rather oily and dry skin and not sure what is best to use although the witchhazel stuff doesnt seem to bad!
cheers,
@WITNESS01 – Can you give me a link to the exact product or the exact name of it, I’m having trouble finding this one your talking about. Cheers:)
RE: “no to make up, we are men!”
i think this is such an arrogant statement that so many men make for so many different reasons. being a man should be defined by one’s actions and values, not something like makeup. a male who is honest, trustworthy and dependable is much more of a man to me than someone who possesses none of these qualities. it should have nothing to do with what you wear or put on your face. that’s such an immature and simple-minded way to think. let’s open those minds and stop acting like children!
I agree with Aaron, we live in the 20 first century. Men and women move with the times people understand more and more the need to look their best and look after themselves.
i have only recently discovered the benefit of this. Just started using a skin perfecter called Fonteint from mankind. After using a product like this it makes my life so much similair.
I am using makeup since i was 14, and I am using it everyday,because in the past I had rosacea and acne at the same time (NIGHTMARE), so I was a little bit ashamed by the look of my skin. At first I got some odd glances and questions, but with time I perfected my technique . Now I know I dindn’t have the right products, but it was fine, anyway. Nowadays I am big fun of BB creams (the eastern-type!) they really help to even out the skin tone, to help with ocassional acne and to protect from UV-rays. I think they’re perfect for guys.