One evening I went out as Mary to do some shopping at a Fred Meyer store. I went there because it is close and had reasonable prices for cosmetics, not because of makeup I was particularly interested in. As I was approaching the cosmetics department I noticed a man, obviously by himself, shopping in the same aisle. Since it seemed unusual to see a man there alone, I was curious and I kept peeking to see if he was shopping for something specific and he did seem a bit confused. I nonchalantly walked over and, not wanting to scare him away, and asked him if I could be of any help. I knew the feeling since I had gone through the same feeling when I wanted to buy some cosmetics when I was learning how to become a girl.
He seemed a bit startled and maybe a little embarrassed but said “Uh, okay, thanks.” I asked if he was looking for anything in particular and he said “Some kind of lipstick, I guess'”. I didn’t want to get nosey and ask if it was for him or a friend so I just said it kind of depends on skin tone and color preference. He commented that he didn’t know there were so many colors and hues. I answered that it can be confusing, for sure. He asked what color I was wearing and I said it was close to the color Night Blush although I don’t really remember now.
I have no idea if he “read” me but he seemed to relax a bit and asked about mascaras, liners, foundations and such so I showed him what kinds I used. I explained that “Since I am Asian, my skin tone is very different then say yours.” He answered that it made sense. I then showed him how he could see the differences if there were any samplers available. This happened way before the pandemic so samplers were often available at most stores like FM. “Now watch.” I said as I put a few different tones of blush on the back of my hand. “See the differences? This sample is what I would use.” pointing to one closest to my skin tone. He said, “Oh, I think I sort of understand now. Thank you for your help, I was getting very confused here.” “No problem. Are there any other questions you have?” I asked. “Uh, no, you helped me a lot.” I smiled and left it at that and went on my way.
A few minutes later I was at the checkout counter and the same man was ahead of me. “Hi again.” I said. He acted a bit embarrassed in front of the checker so I said “Oh it looks like you found some nice things for her.” as I saw the assortment of cosmetics he was buying. He said “Um, yeah, I hope she’ll like what I got her, thanks to you.” I smiled and he smiled back with a wink. We both left as satisfied customers.
On my way home I was wondering if he had any idea I was a CD but more intriguing was wondering if he was becoming one of us.
Thanks girls for taking the time to read my article and you may offer up any comments regarding my article and/or choose to answer one or more of the questions I’ve posed to you below:
- Did you feel awkward or embarrassed the first time you went into a makeup store or in a makeup isle in a department store while dressed as a guy?
- Have you ever asked a professional makeup artist at a place like Ulta or Sephora while in men’s clothing and if so, how did that scenario go for you?
- Did you know if a particular type of makeup from a certain manufactured has been discontinued that you could find that discontinued makeup in Ebay?
Thank you girls and with much love, Mary
Great story hun. Yes I’ve been to Sephora looking for beard cover and the girls were more then happy to help. She sat me down and was trying different shades to see what worked best. Yes I was a touch nervous if someone I knew walked by as I was in man mode but seeing the excitement of the sales associates made it much easier for me. As far as shopping for cosmetics in femme mode has been all positive. Very helpful sales associates making suggestions and making me feel at ease while shopping.
Thanks
Ashley. ❤️
Men can be so intimidated by most things feminine whereas women don’t seem to be bothered by guy stuff at all! That seems so silly!
I feel that make up to me is the ultimate feminine sign it makes me feel so girly and I love lipstick so much but when I get my friend to make me up really nice oh my God I can’t imagine I’ve gone this long without wearing make up . I love it I love not only feeling like a woman but looking like a woman
Sometimes, like during the Covid, I’ll just put on some lipstick since no one else can see it under my mask. It’s just one of the womanly things and it makes my day a little brighter.
Mary, I’ve done the same thing!
It does put a bit of joy into this Covid business, doesn’t it?
I’ve been given the task to get my wife makeup for a long time. I got to where I would take a picture of her product and either find it, or show the picture to a lady and she would find it. Usually this was at a Walgreens. Move up to where I’m now shopping for these products for myself. I’ve tried dollar store products with little success. Either Walgreens or Walmart (have you noticed every Walmart makeup aisle has video cameras and monitors above?) will have what I’m after. It’s been much more comfortable buying said products since masks… Read more »
Hi Gwyn,
You sure are lucky you get to purchase your wife’s cosmetics. My wife doesn’t even wear any except for some lip gloss occasionally.
i’ve been buying more of my makeup online now since I pretty much know what I want now.
My wife only wears it out. Or to work. Since she’s worked from home, that’s another point of savings. She hardly gets out of her pajamas.
I can’t blame her for wearing pajamas. I’d do the same if I was home all the time.
I had a super helpful SA at Ulta help me find the perfect shade of a very natural lipstick that I can wear daily. I was trying to match an empty tube of something I couldn’t find anywhere else (don’t even remember what it was). We must have walked down almost every aisle and tested 20 or more (on the back of my hand) before finding the right one. I don’t remember exactly when I admitted to her that the purchase was going to be for me. But when we found the right one, she told me to try it… Read more »
Hi Raquel, That’s always nice when you have help from someone who really knows makeup. It sounds like you found one who goes above and beyond in her work. That man that I helped was totally lost and I was surprised a SA hadn’t come to his aid at all.
Mary, another great story. It can be so intimidating if you are ‘found out’ while shopping, but to have someone help you in a way that to you seems out of the blue. For me it was Christmas Season 2019, my granddaughter said she wanted leggings and a thing to hold her cosmetics. I went to Target to get her leggings and mumbled that out loud several times as I got her leggings and a pair for myself. Later I went to Sephora in ask about a cosmetic holder. They told me they didn’t have anything like that and suggested… Read more »
Hi Cassie,
That’s so cool you shopped for leggings for both you and your granddaughter at the same time. And kudos to the sales staff at Sephora for not only doing their job but complimenting you as well!
I haven’t yet started with make-up becuase i’m afraid it will look horrible or they might think i’m attention seeking…
Hi Ashley,
There is no law that says you must wear makeup, it’s purely a choice. If you feel like you must then just start with a lipgloss that is close to your actual lips and try that for awhile. If you like how it looks then maybe go on to some blush, maybe some mascara. Don’t worry about what others think, just do what you feel is best.
That was an awesome read! hahaha!
Made me smile.
Thanks!
x
Hi Miss Lollipop, i live your name!
Thank you for the compliment, it was a joy to write.
Mary
Great story Mary. I’ve never been out but I hope when I finally leave the closet if I meet anyone in a store they would be like you. I think you handled it great and I bet she was appreciative. Abby
Hi Abby, just take it slow and you’ll be out in no time. Makeup is just part of the story. Confidence is what makes at all happen, believe me. Sure, you might be scared, all of us girls were at one time or another. Just realize that you belong out there with the rest of us.
Thanks sweetie. I appreciate that. And thanks for the friend request
thanks for the post, yes i was scared about my first time buying make up or perfume or a dress, skirt or nylons in a store. when at checkout i would ask if it was not right color or did not fit could i take it back for the right one and it was for my wife, but it would be for me, hoping the casher would not know it was for me any ways, but what the heck its money in the store for them. know i shop in a store and think nothing of it for i know… Read more »
Hi Lucinda, yes it can be scary to shop for anything feminine. You are right, though, the clerks know the money just goes to the store and the store pays them wages. It would be silly for them to make a fuss about who buys what. if more of us shopped for our girl stuff as a man then maybe the stigma of shopping would finally disappear.
Thanks for the story Mary – I can imagine what that guy was feeling – it is very intimidating looking at a bewildering array of make up! What does what? What do I need? Been there!! I bet your help was valuable to the poor chap! I’m very new to this and only just recently tried make up – and having no experience whatsoever (other than I’ve watched my wife apply hers over the years, never really thinking I would ever need to know how myself one day!!). So, recently, I was away from home for work, and had some… Read more »
Hi Jenny, what a wonderful story! Us males can be such ninnies when it comes to something as threatening as a tube of lipstick or a mascara brush. Thankfully there are patient women, like the one who helped you, who probably have had to deal with twits luck us before.
Now when I go shopping, it doesn’t matter how I’m dressed, I act the same as if I’m buying pantyhose or a hammer, it’s all just commerce.