The hardest makeup product to get right, especially for us "special girls" is the right colour foundation. Why not have a look at the Guardian' make up guru's video, or read her column and the readers comments.

And why not try the Boots No 7 new test for the right foundation to match your complexion? I know that Josephine had a test last Saturday.

So some comments please girls...on what you use. And will you take the Boots test?

hugs and kisses

Pauline xxxx


http://www.guardian.co.uk/fashion/2012/sep/07/sali-hughes-foundation-beauty-makeup

I have 3 belileve it or not, depending on mood! my newist one is NYC all day long, classic tan (but not david dickinson tan lol), Maybelline matt mousse, caramel and Collection 2000 Natural Almond, which sometimes i mix with the Maybelline one to good effect ! xxx

I use pan stick at the moment but would like to go to a shop and have my foundation matched to my complexion but need a lot of dutch courage first (giggle). xxx

I use a mixture of MAC & Pan stick, I Dare take the boots test, even in man mode as I was asked in my Local Next yesterday by a lovely young sales assistant if I would have liked to tried my new girly pumps on, they must be getting used to me by now x

INteresting this .... I used a trowel which was the wrong colour until 6y ago when I braved a MAC session at their Soho shop where they did a skin tone match. Everything easy since then .... but 5 years of laser and then electro followed, so the foundation went and now its just MAC Studio Fix with a brush taking about 1 min to do ..... the colour changed during that period too

i have now changed my foundation to 3 sand and 2 cement lol as its a stronger mix to hide me wrinkles lmao xxxx

Hi Amy I remember you from many years ago
Try Yves St Laurent Touche Eclat for the wrinkles and shadows ..... works super and lasts all day

Has anyone seen the Boots advert which shows a gismo for checking your skin tone to match the foundation looks good must give it a try x

L'Oreal do True Match which has 20 shades and not as expensive as MAC .... don't think many others do that range of shades, most do around 5: most shades are too light for B complexions

As Pauline mentioned in the intro I went to Boots and tried out their gizmo. I found the foundation they suggested worked well for me. I also discussed in some length whether I would need a 'thicker' foundation and was told that the one suggested should last about 12 hours on me (given my bread shadow).
I can heartily recommend the time I spent at Boots and I think all the ladies have been taught to treat trannies (even in drab) as just another customer. Well maybe slightly different as I was offered a sample so I could try at home or to come back for a full make over.

I had been using MAC Studio Fix for a while after having booked a make over at their counter in a department store in Newcastle. Then I discovered Estee Lauder's "Double Wear" liquid foundation that is described as "camouflage" make up. It is very light and goes on brilliantly with a foundation brush and provides superb cover that simply doesn't go "off" after hours of wear. The girl at the counter was very helpful, trying out different shades on my face (in full male mode) before selecting the right one. I don't use anything else now for going out in but I still stick with good old Max Factor "lasting performance" for slobbing about the house in!

I've just seen the Advert for Boots No7 Foundation, and their Machine for getting the right type etc.

I'm so gonna give them a try!

But, for the time being I use NYC from Superdrug... Sun Beige line, at £2.99 a pop...

http://www.superdrug.com/face/nyc-natural-matte-foundation-sun-beige/invt/210760/

But, at the Moment, I do have a Tan, so as it fades, I will have to move onto lighter versions. xx

The Body Shop do a foundation and powder all in one for around £10.99. I think it is very good and the girls there are really helpful about skin tones too.

hi stephie thanx babe i will try them out and long time no see i feel old now when you say many years ago ha ha ha hope all is well xxxxxx

Hi all, just thinking about this made me realise there is another way .... get lasered and there will be so so many light thick hairs left ... that doing bloke mode is easy, just keep a bit of stubble and impressively scratch it from time to time in company .... then you only need a tinted moisturiser and daytime is a breeze .....

I had a course of 6 IPL sessions that worked brilliantly. Last one was 3 months ago and I now have full beard growth back. Lasering might be more permanent but the standard IPL has to be continued with indefinitely to keep the hairs away. Boo!

I never seem to be able to get the foundation right. Ann at the Philbeach used to work wonders on me, and I tried to follow her instructions, but nothing seemed to satisfy me.
I have bought L'Oreal - The Foundation, True Match today at sainsbury's, so I will give it a go. Not hopeful, though.
I don't know that I would dare ask advice in a store, not in male mode, so you girls who have done it, I admire you greatly.

Arg ..... replying as I was short of money and my Estee Lauder DayWear 'Sheer Tint Release Advanced Multi-Protection Anti-Oxidant Moisturiser' (AKA expensive American tinted moisturiser) had run out ... and reading around on some cozzzie sites Boots No7 'Triple Protection Tinted Moisturiser' got a lot of recommendations and was cheap (well compared with Estee Lauder anyway) .... Damn it looked like I had patchy foundation on my face and soaked in so so so fast I coundn't get it on even. So I waited for money in the bank and got my Estee Lauder ..... heaven. For those who don't know it comes out of the tube BLUE and spreads so so so well .... and then goes skin colour with a heavenly cucumber scent ..... You only realise how good it is when you don't have it ..... Very often I go out with just this on and nothing else not even marcara and lippy: it makes your face look 'So Much Younger' and covers so much ... even tho it's called a tinted moisturiser. Well Christmas is coming so maybe santa will leave some in your nylons .... BTW it lasts for maybe 3 months for 1 tube used every day: you don't need to use much .... But why does it come out of the tube BLUE ?????

Have used Boots No7 and MAC both of which were skin tone matched in store by the product beauticians, and both worked well. Still using MAC as I find it gives good coverage but recently I was told by an beautician to try illamasqua foundation as she finds it gives a better coverage in hiding the darker areas.

i went to boots and had the skin camera foundation matching device thing used on me, it was alright. i was there in drab, and felt nervous and blushed a bit as i do but the shop assistants were fine and they gave me some foundation which was alright.. seems to suit me so that's ok.. sure it's no.7 but ..whatever.. no brand loyalty here..

Hi Kate. I've fancied trying this myself. did it cost anything? And how long did it take? I use an Elizabeth Arden foundation at the moment, but have always liked the idea of having it matched properly.

It's free. Most of the Boots shops will test you in either mode. The test itself takes a few seconds but I'd advise not to go when it's busy or full of school girls! I booked a test and make over so I could see what the foundation looked like with other make up in the range. The make over takes about 1 hour. I highly recommend the test and the make over if you have the time. Now using Boots No 7.

Thanks Josephine. I'll check it out

Pauline, for men the No7 shading machine is not suitable as it picks up the hair pigments making the foundation required a lot darker than it should be. I had a little laugh about this, when they tested me. MAC seams to be a sure bet and will help you get the right one. I am using studio fix on myself with good results

On 15th June i am having a launch evening for my Trans beauty salon, in New Eltham, if anyone wants to come along they will be more than welcome, plus i will be doing makeovers with professional products and awesome foundations , i can match these to your skin and work out what you need for that ultimate look

Tracey xxx

The No7 machine does pick up the hair but if the lady is any good she'll do more than two picks getting an average. A good shave before is worthwhile but if it shows that amount so quickly they may advise something different.
I do like MAC but too mineral based and expensive for me.