For men, the word makeup can be quite daunting, and it’s easy to understand why. Historically, makeup—be it foundation, blushes, or bronzers—has been largely marketed to and used primarily by women. But the times have changed! More and more men are taking better care and pride in their daily appearances, and makeup today is finally going genderless as a result.
The notion that men shouldn’t wear makeup is tired, and finally fading. So what if us dudes wear a little concealer or highlighter? Still, if men have never dabbled into the makeup world before, knowing where to start can be quite overwhelming—not to mention confusing. Certain questions arise, like: What’s the difference between tinted moisturizer and foundation? Do I need concealer? Is bronzer mandatory?
To help, we asked four pro groomers and celebrity makeup artists to weigh in with their helpful tips. Vogue consulted with masterful artists such as Tasha Reiko Brown, Amy Komorowski, Emma Day, and Aika Danica Flores to get their tricks for achieving low-key, everyday makeup looks that are undetectable to even the most trained of eyes. (Think: Your skin, but better).
Amongst their celebrity clienteles? Heartthrobs such as Hudson Williams, Michael B. Jordan, Drew Starkey, and Jacob Elordi—all of whom have perfected the look of subtle, un-clockable makeup on the step and repeat. Meaning, yes, thanks to their knowledgable expertise, you too can look like you have A-list skin for your next big event—with the right products and application, that is.
Below, a beginner’s guide to men’s makeup, with tips from the pros.
Before even thinking about applying makeup, pro groomers suggest indulging in a solid skin-care routine before adding anything else. “Prepping the skin is key—when skin looks its best, the less makeup you need,” says Komorowski.
Moisturizers, face oils, and primers are a key first step to ensuring that the makeup going onto your face afterwards will apply and sit right. “For skin prep, I always recommend a well-hydrated face as a great starting point,” says Brown, while Flores adds, “Skin is the foundation of everything. I always begin with thorough hydration to create a balanced, light-reflective surface. A well-prepped face allows makeup to sit seamlessly, enhancing rather than masking.”
Consider using a hydrating face oil as a first step. “My go-to for skin prep is CIRCA 1970 Face Oil,” says Komorowski. “It’s a true, one-and-done product that guys respond to immediately. Use half a dropper, and rub all over face and neck.” Groomers such as Day enjoy also prepping the skin with a micellar water. “I like Bioderma or La Roche Posay: you can’t go wrong with French pharmacy brands, which are reasonably priced and easily available.”
Non-negotiable, however, is a daily moisturizer that fits your skin type. Day enjoys the La Roche Posay Toleraine range, while Brown prefers the Chanel Solution 10 moisturizer. “It’s lightweight and free of any harsh irritants, and one of the few moisturizers I can recommend across a variety of skin types,” says Brown. “Men’s skin tends to be thicker, and because they often use a physical act of exfoliation (shaving), skin tends to be more sensitive right after.”
Blue Lagoon Skin Science
Malin+Goetz
Rhode
iS Clinical
Bioderma
La Roche-Posay
While using a skin-enhancing device is not a necessary step for achieving a makeup look, the pros say skin-care tools can yield better end results. “Tools like LED masks, microcurrent devices, or even a simple gua sha can boost circulation and sculpt the face before the makeup,” says Flores. “Microcurrent, EMs, electroporation, and LED technologies help boost skin absorption, tighten your facial contours and overall help prep your skin for complexion products. It’s about reminding the canvas so the finish feels effortless.”
After you’ve applied your moisturizer or face oils, consider giving the face a light massage using a manual gua sha. “Every face can benefit from a simple lymphatic draining massage, especially in the morning before gravity has assisted in depuffing,” says Brown. Manually glide it from the center of the face outwards and upwards, then into a down motion to drain excess fluids out. “Use a serum, like the Chanel Hydra Beauty Serum, so tools glide and do not pull skin,” says Brown.
More high-tech devices, like the TheraFace Depuffing Wand, or the ZIIP Halo Microcurrent device, can also sculpt and tone the face. “I like to incorporate these when I have a little more time allotted for grooming,” says Komorowski. “The TheraFace helps to depuff the under eyes, while the ZIIP helps to lift, sculpt, and contour the face.” (Day is also a fan of the TheraFace Depuffing Wand, “a miracle worker for tired and puffy eyes,” she says.)
Shark
Therabody
Ziip
Kitsch
Medicube
With skin prepped, it’s time for complexion. For a lighter face base, tinted moisturizers are a great sheer, lightweight option for evening out any redness or discoloration. “Tinted moisturizer is great for men’s skin, because it’s lighter in pigment, and can stretch across the subtleties in shades, making it more foolproof and undetectable,” says Brown, who recommends Chanel’s Water Fresh Tint. Day, meanwhile, reccommends Suqqu’s tinted moisturizers, “which make skin look fresh and healthy. The key is to do everything with a light touch, so it’s invisible—you just magically look much better!”
Unlike full-on foundations, tinted moisturizers can be mostly applied with your fingertips—like a daily SPF or moisturizer. “Apply sparingly, and blend well with either a foundation brush, sponge, or even your fingers,” says Flores. “Applying with your fingers would help warm up the product. Blend well, focusing only where needed to keep it undetectable.”
Foundations, meanwhile, will provide more full coverage—a suitable option for events or special occasions. Day recommends the Boy de Chanel foundation. “It always makes skin look healthy and natural,” says Day. “Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint is also great, as well as the Dior Forever Skin Perfect Foundation Sticks, which act as a foundation-concealer hybrid. Apply it with a brush.” Brown’s tip? Avoid any formulas that are too shiny or shimmery. “If you must use a heavier formula, be sure to choose foundations that are more matte,” says Brown. “Any thing too satin reads as unnatural on men’s skin, and some have luminizers that are too obviously sparkly. Apply on center of face and buff outwards [using a sponge or brush].”
When dealing with tinted moisturizers or foundations, the pros suggest taking a more minimal and simple approach: Less is more. “Most men don’t want to deal with foundation, mixing shades, or complicated blending,” says Komorowski, who recommends the Summer Friday Sheer Skin Tint. “A sheer tinted moisturizer you can apply like skincare is the easiest, most foolproof way to even out the skin. Start with a few drops or a pea sized amount of product, and sweep across the bridge of the face and forehead. Blend in well with hands, like applying a moisturizer or sunscreen.”
Suqqu
Summer Fridays
After applying a tinted moisturizer or foundation, concealer can be used to add extra coverage on areas where it is needed; just keep in mind that concealers typically have a thicker formula. For a more natural look, the pros suggest treating it less as a highlighting product, and more as a unifying one. “I like to use a creamy, easy-to-blend concealer just where it’s needed—under the eyes, around the nose, and on any imperfections,” says Komorowski. “For men, choosing a shade that matches the skin (rather than going lighter under the eyes) keeps it looking natural and undetectable.”
Concealers are best used sparingly under the eye, to conceal dark circles. “On under-eyes, choose a shade closest to your skin tone, and apply in a thin coverage where needed to hide any discoloration,” says Brown. “To camouflage depth, consider a tiny bit of color correcting before color-evening with concealer.” It can also be used to conceal any small blemishes. “For blemishes choose a tiny, pointed brush, and apply directly on redness in tiny dabbing layering motions,” says Brown. “Set with powder to lock in coverage. Choose matte formulas here as well.”
Just remember: less is more.“Use concealer strategically and with intention—under the eyes, around the nose, or on blemishes—and tap it in with your finger for a seamless finish,” says Flores.
Milk Makeup
Yves Saint Laurent
A little brow maintenance can go a long way for your makeup look, says the pros. “For eyes, even a touch of clear gel or subtle definition can enhance without looking like ‘makeup,’” says Flores. “Men’s grooming is all about effortless but elevated—so staying in that area is key.”
For a more minimal approach, Komorowski says “a clear brow gel is great for keeping everything in place with zero effort.” Day agrees, suggesting Refy’s clear Brow Sculpt, for brows that “need holding and are a bit unruly.”
A tinted brow gel, however, can slightly darken or deepen brows that need any filling-in. “Only use a brow pencil when there are holes in the brow shape, and absolutely necessary,” says Brown. “Choose a thin tipped brow pencil, and fill in the gap in small strokes following the direction of surrounding hairs.”
Glossier
Anastasia Beverly Hills
To add dimension to your makeup look, blush and bronzer can add some color back into the face. “A little warmth goes a long way— bronzer adds dimension, while blush brings life back into the skin,” says Flores.
For bronzer, pros suggest using it as a quick way to warm up the face—as though it was naturally sun-kissed. “To warm up the skin, I use a buffing brush and use Chanel Les Beiges healthy glow bronzing cream around the temples, nose, and cheekbones,” says Day. “Vieve also do excellent cream bronzers, and I love the new Dior contour sticks.”
Brown suggests using a matte formula, and to apply it only to the outer perimeters of the face. “Matte bronzer in shades that don’t pull too much warmth are perfect. Creams as well as powders are great formulas to use here,” Brown advises. “And blending is key! Be sure to work in small layers, and really buff into skin so there are no hard edges. Apply on top of forehead (going into hairline), across center of face (skipping product right across the nose), and behind the ears on neck. Men tend to have short hair—if you bronze just the face, it looks unnatural from a 360 degree perspective.”
Blush, meanwhile, serves a different purpose than bronzer: It gives the skin a more flushed look, and is best applied to the cheeks or (sometimes) across the bridge of the nose, depending on one’s face shape. “I love a little cheeky blush to add a little ‘sun’ and ‘life’ to my clients’ skin,” says Flores. “I like cream formulas and blend well for a believable, second-skin finish.” Both bronzer and blush can be applied with brushes—opt for a dense, fluffy brush for cream products or a larger, fluffy option for powders.
Vieve
Saie
You’ve likely heard of highlighter—a shiny, shimmering ending product that is best applied onto the temples and high cheekbones. But surprisingly, many grooming pros don’t recommend incorporating the product into men’s makeup looks. “Highlighters with shimmer particles don’t sit well on men’s skin,” says Brown.
Still, if you’re looking for a little glow, there are natural-looking products that can achieve the look. “I avoid makeup highlighter on men, but love the Tatcha Serum Stick on cheekbones, which reflects light without looking sparkly,” says Day; and Flores echoes the sentiment. “For men, I personally think highlighter as a whisper rather than a statement—think glow, not sparkle,” says Flores. “Tap a small amount onto high points to catch the light in a way that feels organic and skin-like, never overt.”
Tatcha
Merit
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