Welcome to Crossdresser Heaven, a safe and welcoming place for everyone in the crossdresser community.
Join Crossdresser Heaven today to participate in the forums.
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.
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 are prominant. Nobody knows what might be behind the mask.
As far as ebay, I'm not sure about cosmetics, but I found some perfume that a girlfriend used to wear that I loved. I bought a bottle of this, but it wasn't close. Really smelled awful.
Thanks for your article.
Gwyn
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 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 on to be positive it was what I was looking for. It was perfect!
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 were to find it. Then since they were not busy I inquired about make up for myself. They were so happy to help me and at check out they asked for my first name and phone # to put into the system. I gave them my number and my male name, thanks, they were so helpful. Then this last week I went back, in fem this time, to get new containers of the same makeup. The nice sales person helped me pick out new products since they no longer had the ones I got before. This time when I checked out and I gave her my phone # she asked Randy?? I said you can call me Cassie To which she said Cassie sounds much better. Just another note almost every shopping experience I have had has been good to great. Once I get over the nerves if I can.
. .Cassie
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 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 my size but i still feel weird about shopping for a dress or whatever i am getting.
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 Jenny time planned, but had the crazy notion of "lets try make up Jenny, why not?" So after walking up and down the aisles of Superdrug and Boots (I'm in the UK) several times and not having a Scooby Doo about what I was supposed to get.... and nearly giving up I might add... I noticed that there was a No.7 assistant at her booth in Boots, and no-one around her, so after walking up and down a bit longer, and her not noticing me straight away, I went and stood in front of the array of makeup that the No.7 stand had to offer - she came over and asked if I needed help.
Ok, at this point I probably went bright red, but said, "yes please, I'm interested in trying some makeup....for myself...".... she didn't really bat an eyelid, and was very professional. She said, "ok, that's fine - what is it you need?" - of course I had no idea - so I just said as much...and asked her to tell me what I needed for a natural look, adding - "I don't want to look like a drag queen" - she smiled, and put me at ease. She was really professional and patient, and I let her recommend what she thought was suitable, without being OTT... she went through the main essentials, from concealer, foundation, mascara, eyeshadow and lipstick, and even told me how to apply it.
It was really absolutely fine once I had got over the initial nerves of asking! It came to quite a bill, but by the thrill of going through with it was amazing - I could not wait to try it out back at the hotel - which I did of course, and therein is another story.
I popped back in the next day to pick up an eyeliner (we'd missed that) and she served me again - I thanked her for being so helpful the day before - I think she genuinely appreciated that.
So, for anyone wanting to try makeup, I'd just recommend summoning up the courage and going and asking an assistant - you won't be the first, or last guy they serve and all they really want to do is make a sale (and making a customer happy of course).
I'm still learning how to use what I bought mind - I am not very good at it and could do with some lessons!! Buying it is one thing, using it is another!! LOL. 🙂
Hope that helps - just go for it!!
Jenny x
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.
The first time I was in the make up aisle I was totally lost, confused and nervous. I was only looking for nail polish but so many choices. When I decided to tell my wife about my wanting to dress, she handled all of the make up selection for me. What a relief!
Hi Karla, aren't you the lucky one! I wished my wife would help me with makeup but she was totally against it. So I too was a lost, confused and nervous soul. Actually I still wonder what a lot of these potions are for.
I was fairly comfortable, I had shopped with GG friends so I knew my way around but I had NO IDEA what shades etc would look good on me. I had an employee who also was a AVON lady and had a pretty good business selling Avon. She easily made as much as I wa spaying her in her "regular" job. I once asked her "If I was a woman, what colors in make would you think would look good on me?" She said, "I know you wear panties as you have vpl's, so I'll be glad to give you a consultation, so you'll really know." I embarrassedly asked, do the other employees know? She said she "doubted it, we work together so I am around you a lot, the others are in and out of the office for just a few brief moments". She did a make up session and really did a great job. I ended up being a regular customer of hers until she and her hubby moved across the country for his career. Now I have no issues buying cosmetics.
It's been so long ago that I first bought cosmetics that I'm sure my memory is more than hazy.
I kind of developed a thick skin about shopping for such things, being the only male in my household (Wife and two daughters). Buy tampons or picking up a pack of panties for one of them was a regular occurrence. Mind you that I'd been cross-dressing for a couple of decades before I met my wife. I don't remember buying anything prior to getting married.
What intrigued me about your story was that you went to Fred Meyers for your shopping. That tells me that you live in either Oregon or Washington since anywhere else, they would be Krugers.
I live in NW Oregon, a small town nestled in the foothills of the coast range, about an hour west of Portland. It nice to think I've got a sister living so close.
Hi Patricia, yes, I live in Seattle. I didn’t know Fred’s was only in WA and OR. Learn something every day, right? I don’t shop only at Fred’s. I tend to go to a mall or other stores like Target. I’m not real picky about labels and such.
Mary Contrary
I rarely buy from Fred's, but I do get gas from them. I can count on them being in the lower 5% price wise.
For clothes I buy what looks good on me and is reasonably price. I'm on a fixed income so I do need to watch the budget. I've gotten a few things from Targèt. I haven't been out shopping for a while but used to frequent J C Penney's and Sears mostly. I've gotten great service in both places. I was even in Sears in drab one day and noticed a dress that called out to me. I took it to the counter and asked if there was someplace I could try it on and was directed to the fitting rooms right there in the women's department. :o)
I usually shop at resale shops for clothes. I don't always find something but I did find quite a few that I probably wouldn't have found anywhere else, especially at bargain prices. The only place I shop for new is for undergarments and hose.
Resale shops are great. I've found that the more upscale of them are really willing to help. I was in one after work one day. I hadn't intended on buying anything. I just had some time to kill and wanted to see what they had, since I hadn't been in that one before.
I had recently decided that if I couldn't try on, I wouldn't buy. Since I was in drab, I wasn't going to ask to try on.
Anyway, as I was going through the rack, I'd take out something that I thought was nice, turn the hanger to the garment would lay over the other clothes so I could examine it. I would leave it that way and move on. After I'd left about three of them, the sale clerk came over and ask if I'd like her to start a fitting room for me.
I accepted the offer and as I left items out, she'd take it to one of the fitting rooms. I ended up trying on five outfits that day. Three of them didn't fit and I only had cash for one. It was a tough decision but I settled on a pants suit, since I'd recently discover the joy of women's pants.
They really are! If I buy from a resale shop I’ll be pretty sure no other girl will show up in the same thing!
