Makeup for men is the new sh*t you need on your bathroom sink.
Have you noticed that some of today’s notable beauty gurus and celebrity makeup artists are men? James Charles and Mario Dedivanovic are just a few guys with killer cosmetic skills. You might’ve even noticed male celebrities like Cristiano Ronaldo trying the trend. As the hype in makeup for men continues to rise, more guys are eager to experiment. The problem is, it can be really overwhelming as a beginner trying to figure out how to use basic products.
How can I match the right foundation with my skin tone? What’s the point of bronzer if I can just get a tan? Will guyliner make me look too feminine?
If you’re experiencing similar doubts, don’t be overwhelmed by fancy product names. It’s actually really easy for any guy to get the hang of makeup for men. You just need to learn the basics of what each product does so you can achieve the look you’re after.
We’ve provided the most essential mens makeup products (exclusively on Differio.com) that every guy should own and how to use them. As long as you follow these simple tips, you’ll be whipping out your makeup brush like a pro.
1. Guyliner
Guyliner (aka: eyeliner for men) enhances the eyes by darkening and defining the rims of the eyelids. This is especially beneficial for men with sparse or light-colored eyelashes. It’s usually sold as either pencil, gel or liquid.
Before you start going Johnny Depp on your eyes, you should know what effect you want. Natural? Bold? Barely there?
Pencil liners work best for blending out harsh lines, but that also means they smudge easily. On the other hand, liquid and gel liners are great for creating a solid, defined line, but are difficult to blend once the formula sets.
For beginners in makeup for men, it’s best to start out with pencil eyeliners because they’re easier to work with and they’re more forgiving on mistakes. You can also use them for both natural and bold looks. However, if you’re someone that absolutely hates reapplying makeup, gel and liquid liners will usually last longer on the eye without smudging.
How to get the no-makeup look with guyliner:
With a pencil eyeliner, carefully line your eyes as close as you can to the top and bottom lash lines. You should avoid heavy, thick strokes. You’re going natural, so the line should be very faint, like you’re creating the illusion of more eyelashes. After lining your eyes, smudge out harsh lines with your fingertip or q-tip, but be careful not to press so hard that you remove the liner altogether.
How to get the smokey-eye look with guyliner:
You should choose a dark-colored eyeliner for the boldest effect. Start out by lining the top and bottom of your lash lines and layer on more eyeliner as you go. For a smokey eye, you don’t need to be as careful because it actually looks better the messier you get with it. In addition, you can line your waterline to create an even bolder eye. You can smooth out harsh lines by gently blending eyeliner using a makeup brush, q-tip or fingertip.
2. Manscara
If you love Zayn Malik’s notoriously full eyelashes, then manscara is what you’ve been missing in your life.
Manscara (aka: mascara for men) widens the eyes by making your eyelashes look fuller and longer, ideal for anyone with fine, thin eyelashes. Every mascara includes a silicone or fiber wand with slight variations in wand shape, but don’t get too caught up in the details. The difference is so subtle that it’s really not noticeable to the naked eye.
Although mascara comes in a variety of colors, the general rule of thumb is to choose a color that’s slightly darker than your facial hair. You can also try dye-free, clear manscara if you’re looking for makeup for men with the most natural and undetectable effect.
How to apply manscara:
For best results, you should use an eyelash curler before applying manscara. (Honestly, these tools look much more intimidating than they actually are.) Simply place your top lashes inside the clamp and hold the curler on your lashes for several seconds. After curling, gently sweep mascara along the top and bottom eyelashes. And, voila! If you’re not satisfied with the effect, you can layer on another coat to intensify the effect.
3. Concealer for Men
Any guy with blemishes or acne-prone skin is going to love concealer for men. This is the best item in makeup for men for masking imperfections, like redness and pimples. It’s usually available in liquid, stick, cream and powder variations. You’ll also find concealers with different purposes, including under-eye concealer and blemish-control concealers.
It’s important not to confuse the purpose of concealer with foundation.
Concealer is usually smaller than foundation because it’s not meant to be slathered all over the face. It’s designed to cover small spots, like the way you would use an eraser on a pencil. If you’re hiding bags and dark circles, choose a concealer specifically formulated for the under-eye area. These formulas are usually ophthalmologist-tested and safer for contact lens wearers.
How to apply concealer:
When choosing a concealer color, opt for one that matches best with your skin tone. You can wear blemish concealer alone or paired over foundation. If you’re trying to cover a blemish, dab the concealer directly on top of the spot and blend with your fingertip or makeup brush.
4. Foundation
Foundation is like creating a second skin for your face. It’s the best product for hiding discoloration, redness or hyper-pigmentation. The two most popular product types are liquid and powder formulas. The goal is to look like you’re not wearing any foundation at all, as contradictory as that might sound. Hence, the trickiest part about foundation is choosing a color that matches with your skin tone.
One of the best tips for finding the right foundation color is matching the product with the color of your neck, not your face.
If your foundation doesn’t match with your skin tone, this is one of the most obvious giveaways that you’re wearing makeup for men on your face. Even if you’re purchasing foundation online, you can still print and cut out color swatches to compare it with your skin tone.
How to apply foundation:
For best results, you should use a makeup brush or sponge to apply foundation. You can get away with using your fingers for liquid-based formulas, but it’s impossible to apply powder without a proper foundation applicator. This is also for hygienic purposes because even clean fingers contain naturally occurring oil and bacteria that can cause pimples or irritation. Sweep foundation all over the face and blend well into the skin.
5. Bronzer
Bronzer isn’t just to make you look tanner. This item in makeup for men is great for highlighting and contouring the face to add definition with the additional look of a sun-kissed glow. Bronzer is available as a liquid or pressed powder, and usually has slight shimmer.
The key to getting bronzer right is by applying it on the proper angles of your face.
One of the biggest makeup for men crazes is face contouring because it creates the illusion of sharper cheekbones and chiseled jawlines. While contouring sounds like it should be left in the hands of a makeup artist, it’s actually not that difficult to achieve.
You should apply bronzer after using concealer and foundation. When choosing a color, it’s important to find a bronzer that’s about two shades darker than your natural skin color. You’ll want to find the right balance, like there’s a very light shadow on your face.
How to apply bronzer:
For a contoured look, gently sweep bronzer along the angles of your face where the sun would normally hit, including the cheekbones, jawline, sides of the nose and top of the forehead. You should use a medium-sized makeup brush for an even and natural finish. Always keep in mind that it’s easier to make makeup for men darker than lighter, so add color gradually until you’re satisfied with the results.
