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Now I don't admit that I know everything there is
to know about transforming. However, some of the best tips I
have run across, I have found on the pages of other girls like
myself. The advice here may not work for everyone or may be quite
obvious to most, but I thought that I would make it available to
anyone who may find it useful. These tips work for me or have
worked for me in the past.....so for what it is worth:
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Make-up brushes and foam wedges -
I read once that it is the tools of the trade, not just the make-up
itself, that create the beauty. I didn't give much credence to
this until I bought my first brush set and bag of foam wedge
sponges. The difference in my appearance was huge. The wedges
allow for a much more even application of foundation and better
finish. The brushes are just plain easier to use and more
accurate than the standard applicators that come with store bought
eye shadows, blush, lip sticks, etc.
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Eyebrows, plucking and taping -
I am somewhat fortunate that I don't have large bushy eyebrows but
I still think that it gives a much better appearance to pluck the
eye brows a little. I usually don't pluck very much; just clean up
the edges and shorten the brow a little (on both sides of each
eyebrow). I can then pencil in the narrow line on the outside for
a very feminine look. If I apply two strips of 3M Transpor
Surgical tape upwards and outwards for each brow, it totally opens
up the eye. You will have to play with it yourself to find the
best tape combinations for your own face. A side effect to
plucking my eye brows is that when in drab, people started to
comment that I looked younger. I have never received a comment
that it in anyway has feminized my drab look.
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Skin Care - Moisturize,
Moisturize, Moisturize.
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Hip pads - I think it is
basically understood the genetic female has wider hips then males.
I tend to have very narrow hips to begin with, even for a boy. So
from the start I padded then out a little. At first I used
shoulder pads (available from most fabric stores). Then I really
studied my shioulette to find out where I was lacking. I have made
hip pads out of foam and I have bought a set from Fredericks.
These always looked very awkward and unnatural. You have to
get them shaped just right to avoid this. Another alternative,
which I made from supplies purchased at the fabric store, were
homemade pads. Using the batting for quilts, I cut and layer the
batting (very much like a topographical contour map). Once I have
the right dimensions, I sandwich the batting between two pieces
of tan fabric. Since I don't sew, I apply a thin bead of fabric
glue all around the edge of the pad and then cut off the excess
fabric. These can even be cleaned by throwing them in the washing
machine.
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Getting a make-over - For
myself, getting a make-over is not just an enjoyable experience
but I usually find it very educational. If you ever get one, try
and pay attention to what the artist is doing, say for example,
how they contour your face. Many artists do things differently.
So pay attention and you may discover a look or technique that
works for you. All the make-up artists I have ever visited are
very open to discussing what they are doing, what make-up they
are using, or what colors are being applied. If you ask them
direct questions, you may find that they are extremely helpful.
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Holiday shopping - In my
opinion there is no better time to shop; especially for those of
us who are somewhat apprehensive to buy from mainstream stores and
shop in drab. During the holiday season, I find it ten times
easier to browse the racks and make purchases. Often sales people
are so busy that they don't give you a second look and are more
understanding when asked a question like "will this fit a size
10/12?" To help reinforce the idea that you are buying a gift, you
can ask for a gift box. Another thing is that the styles of
clothes I like are from most fall and winter lines, these seem
most abundant during the holiday times.
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Fake Nails - A friend of mine
turned me on to "Kiss" nails. These nails come in prepainted
sets with glue already applied to the backs; no more tape taps like
the Lee press on style. The Kiss nails come in many fashionable
colors, styles and a couple of different lengths. I think they work
much better than other nails I have used. The drawbacks are that
they really can't be used more then once. The sets don't come with
many different sizes (I use the largest ones and I just make it).
Also, they tend to be a little more expensive than other glue-ons.
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