Normalize Your Smize

 

I’ll never forget my first encounter with makeup. It was 2013 and... my friends and I got detained!  It’s always such a funny story because we actually bought our items. My thirty-minute trip looking for a good concealer had turned into a 2-hour long whodunit. Long story short, my friends and I ended up calling our parents and some words were exchanged between them and management. But, in spite of that rather rocky experience, I managed to not be intimidated by the ordeal and returned a few months later to new management. I left with a bag of basic makeup thanks to the coupon they gave to me as an apology.

I pondered what had happened after claiming my compensation, and it had dawned on me that I was a suspect due to my male appearance. They had probably thought I was the “mule” among my friend group to hide their stash because, in the minds of the management, I wasn’t supposed to be buying the makeup. If we want to get all ~aNaLYtiCAL~ we could say that “the store was reinforcing the societal taboo that boys aren’t supposed to wear makeup” and have a whole class on it. But in all honesty, one way or another, it was.

I, a nonbinary person, have no issue with wearing makeup. But as a male presenting person, I have to deal with the social aspects of expressing myself in a heteronormative society. Regardless of the social confines, I think we all have a right to express ourselves, which is why I compiled some #lewks in the form of Tik Toks (linked within the text) for those male-identifying people who want to dip their toes into makeup! Please enjoy as I try to recreate them :)

Basic Go-To Makeup

Okay, so this is my basic “go-to” kind of makeup + a bunch of blush just for fun! It’s super simple and really easy.

Some Notes:

  • Generally, my skin is on my team, but when I do have the occasional blemish, I currently just put an acne patch over it! I got mine here.

  • Go lighter toward the front of your brow and darker for the tail of your brow for a more natural look!

  • The faux freckles are totally optional! I just like doing it because my actual freckles are so light.

josh(@bernaldont) has created a short video on TikTok with music 팔레트 Palette (feat. G-DRAGON). #POV: ur my mirror while i get ready in the morning #boymakeup #fyp #filipino #kpop

 

Euphoria

If you haven’t watched Euphoria yet, you need to! Hunter Schafer, who plays Jules, is one of my favorites. I stumbled upon this look on Twitter and this was the perfect excuse to recreate it.

Products Used:

josh(@bernaldont) has created a short video on TikTok with music original sound. hi hunter i love you #makeup #euphoria #cosplay #filipino #fyp

 


This One’s For You Aminé

Aminé’s so cool. I love his style and his music. I also just appreciate how open he is on his thoughts on masculinity itself and how he grapples with the concept. This one’s for you Aminé >:3 Also… Please watch to the end of the Tik Tok. Oh my god. It was terrifying.

josh(@bernaldont) has created a short video on TikTok with music Spice Girl (Clean). up until the very end this vid was fine.. but ANYWAY #amine #greenscreen #fyp #makeup

Products Used:

 


Aquaria

Okay, this one was kind of hard. To be honest, I tried blocking out my brows… and then I ran out of concealer! I adjusted the makeup a bit since I ran into that problem. But, Aquaria’s one of my favorite drag queens to look at and it’s Halloween, so I thought it would be a nice look to throw in. While I didn’t block out my brows, if you should dare try it there’s a cool tutorial here!

josh(@bernaldont) has created a short video on TikTok with music Bloody Valentine. when your favorite holidays are halloween and valentine's day #costume #fyp #kimpetras #angel

Products Used:

 

Whether you try all four looks or just a few of them, know that makeup is supposed to be fun! There are so many ways you can take it and, honestly, I think that it can really tie an outfit together. Live your truth! But don’t be afraid of looking good while you do it.

Words by Joshua Bernaldo