5 Must-Try Black Femboy Makeup Tips You Can’t Miss

Black femboys are diamonds when it comes to fashion and beauty. I know cause I lived my life looking up to Black beauty gurus as a Black femboy myself. But if we’re being honest here, it has always been a struggle to find the perfect makeup tailored to our shade. Our beautiful melanin-rich skin — the one that makes us stand out — deserves special attention.

Being a black femboy is all about celebrating us and expressing individuality. Makeup is a fantastic way to do just that. But still, even in the year 2024, the mainstream beauty industry still can’t nail our beauty needs! That’s why I’ve put together my top five makeup tips to help you slay every look.

Ready to go through your Black Glow Up 2.0? Let’s get started!

1. Experiment with Foundations

Oh, foundations. They’re tricky if you’re not a real makeup fan. They’re like, the cement when you’re constructing a house. Foundation is your base. When you fail at foundation, everything easily crumbles.

For us black femboys, finding the right shade takes triple the effort. Most brands don’t cater to our diverse range of skin tones. Not that I blame them too much. After all, Black people are just 12.1% of the US population. Plus our shades are really assorted.

I don’t want to get stuck in that victim mentality. It’s frustrating and disheartening. But I’d rather spend my time finding solutions that work for me. If complaining to beauty brands about their shade range would work, every brand will already have at least 50 shades available by now.

But don’t worry, there are ways to work around this!

How to Get Your Shade

As I said, I’m a find-a-solution type of Black femboy. So here are some solutions that worked for me.

Mix Two Foundations

Get two shades closest to your natural one. One lighter, the other darker. Mix and blend, then bam! You get the best shade match yet.

It’s obvious that you’ll need to do trial and error. But once you find the right combination, you won’t ever have to worry about not finding the right shade!

Use Contour Products

Sometimes, using a contour with your foundation can balance things out. It’ll also add depth to your facial structure. It’s all about experimenting.

Start with a small amount. Blend thoroughly, with a pat, pat, pat! Adjust as needed until you achieve that perfect hue for your complexion. It’s like painting — you’re Da Vinci and Mona Lisa in one!

Get A Good Primer

Primers are those that often look translucent. But there are also those that have a hint of shade to them. Usually, they’re either pinkish, greenish, or purplish. These are for battling skin redness or dullness.

For us Black femboys, investing in a good primer means the product is the best for your skin type! It’s to support your foundation so it stays in place longer. It’s also to protect you against skin rashes.

Test in Natural Light

It’s great to have a vanity table, complete with all the lights around it. But if you’re planning to do cute femboy things outside of your room, check your foundation first under natural lighting.

Some foundations look hella good when you’re enclosed inside your room. But once you get out, they may look brighter or darker. I can’t really tell you how to spot this. Just that you have to test it for yourself.

Ask for Samples

Speaking of testing, visiting stores that offer makeup trials is great. You get to scrutinize the foundations all you want. You can swatch each and leave the product on your skin to see how your skin reacts to them.

If a specific product catches your eye, don’t be shy! Ask for samples! Many will jump at the chance to sell their products. They can either give you a designated “Tester” product (which many customers can try) or a sample-size packet.

I prefer the sample sizes. They’re easier for testing the foundation over a few days. I can see how it wears and if it suits my skin. It’s a great way to check if the product is worth my money before committing to a full-sized one.

Consult with Experts

Sometimes, a little professional advice goes a long way. You can ask the makeup gurus at stalls. But they may be biased about the product they’re selling.

The best way is to ask a friend-slash-makeup fanatic. They know more than you think! And they’re not just speaking out of their ass either. How their makeup looks is already proof of their wisdom.

If you don’t have any makeup-obsessed acquaintances, book a pro consultation. It can be a makeup or professional skin care consultation. They will help you choose the right products and teach you application techniques.

2. Go Bold with Eye Shadows and Lipstick Colors

One of the best things about having so much melanin is how beautifully colors pop in our skin. You don’t see pale people rocking bold eye and lippie colors often, do you? These vibrant color choices are statements in and of themselves. They draw attention and automatically direct the eyes to the area you want others to see.

As a Black femboy, you must let your natural beauty shine! Realize this: These vivid colors are the only ones that can rival our natural sparkle. So make the best of them! Don’t be afraid to use colorful palettes!

Us Black femboys should create memorable and unique looks with these daring shades. Makeup isn’t just about enhancing your features. It’s also about having fun and expressing yourself!

So play around! Let your creativity burst out of you!

The Best Eye and Lip Shades for Black Femboys

Not sure what colors to pick? Let me give you a few of my faves:

Eye Shadows:

• Electric Blue

• Emerald Green

• Deep Purple

• Gold

• Bronze

• Hot Pink

• Copper

• Orange

• Teal

• Silver

Lipsticks:

• Ruby Red

• Purple Haze

• Coral

• Fuchsia

• Nude with Brown Undertones

• Burgundy

• Chocolate Brown

• Plum

• Tangerine

• Classic Black

3. Learn to Color Correct

They say, “Black don’t crack” — but our skin discolors! Black femboys can’t avoid eye bags, hyperpigmentation, or dark spots. To have flawless makeup, we must even out our complexion.

Sadly, most color-correcting products are designed for lighter skin tones. So again, Black femboys should be more creative in this department. To be a color-corrector master, use the color wheel! For instance, orange and red neutralize blue and purple.

It might take some time and attempts, but you’ll get the hang of it. Color-correcting is important to look polished and youthful. Yes, even if you don’t have any rest, you can still have a “rested-looking” face. You can maneuver against ashiness and have that vibrant glow!

4. Don’t Overline Already-Luscious Lips

This tip is optional, but hear me out. Many Black femboys already have naturally full lips. That’s just another wonderful feature you shouldn’t take for granted!

I know there are many makeup trends that tell you to overline your lips. But think about the why. Many do this to have plumper-looking lips. But Black femboys already have that! Remember, as a femboy, the more youthful and effeminate we look, the better. Overdoing your lips is just one of the makeup mistakes femboys should avoid!

Overlining sometimes makes lips look overly enhanced. You know, like a botched surgery. When you look like you’ve been duped by a fake doctor, that’s when you know you really failed.

Plus, it’s also harsh on the lips. They may even dry out or be irritated when you overline frequently!

Other Ways to Enhance Your Lips

It’s better to focus on enhancing what you already have in a more natural way!

Use the good ol’ lip gloss. It adds a glossy shine and makes the lips look fuller!

There are also plumping lippies. They have ingredients like chili extract or caffeine to temporarily plump the lips.

Instead of traditional lipliners, go with lip tints. They look more natural and less harsh! They also last longer, lightweight, and give a subtle, effortless look.

To make your full lips pop even more, you gotta keep them moisturized. Use lip balm (there are also colored lip balms) to prevent dryness and chapping. Regularly exfoliate to remove dead skin cells too. On a budget? Vaseline is a good substitute. Brushing your lips softly is also OK for exfoliating.

If you insist on wanting your lips to look more fuller, highlight your cupid’s bow. This will make your lips appear more defined. This simple trick draws attention to the shape of your lips too.

5. Play with Shimmer and Highlight

Shimmer and highlight are fun. But they’re not just for making you shimmer in the dark, under strobe lights. They’re also very helpful to look glowing, literally, during the day!

I always suggest Black femboys start with a highlighter first if they can’t work around bold eyeshadows or liners. They’re great to get that sparkle without getting too whacked with super colorful palettes.

What areas should you highlight?

• Cheekbones

• Brow bones

• Bridge (or tip) of your nose

Other areas you can highlight

• Chin

• Inner corner of the eyes

• Apples of your cheeks (not cheekbones)

• Temples

This trick is also great for makeup newbies or those on a budget. If you’re not ready to invest in a full palette of eye shadows or lippies, a good highlighter will still give you a stunning look. Plus, it’s super easy to apply and blends well with any makeup routine.

Final Thoughts

There you have it — my top five makeup tips for my fellow Black femboys. Each of these tips has helped me enhance my natural beauty and express myself better. You can also expect to have that Black femboy confidence!

Always remember that makeup is all about having fun and feeling confident in your skin. So don’t be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you!