You don’t need us to tell you that men can – and do – wear makeup. Chances are, you’ve already witnessed the enhancing power of the stuff on the camera-ready complexions of Hollywood’s most handsome. From the runway to the red carpet, makeup artists have long been called upon to finesse masculine faces for photo ops, banishing dark circles and blemishes with the flick of a brush.
When Daniel Kaluuya attended the 2018 Oscars, he famously wore Fenty Beauty foundation. And he looked pretty sensational in it, not least because of the cosmetic’s smoothing filter effect. At Dior’s SS23 show, image director Peter Philips set the trend for fresh and natural men’s makeup, revealing quality skincare, concealers and brow products as the ultimate tools for great grooming.
"Thanks to social media platforms shaking up men's beauty & grooming routines and changing the masculine stereotype, men are now wearing anything from a full makeup look, through to specific tweaks using makeup to address individual concerns they might have," says Dior pro makeup artist Jamie Coombes, who gave GQ the inside scoop on the men's makeup at the show. For the natural, fresh look seen on the male models, "Concealer was used to address any redness around the nose, in the corner of the eyes, as well as spot applying it to disguise blemishes.”
Gone are the days when men were shamed for wearing makeup – the tide is turning, and many have already embraced its beautifying effect. But how can makeup novices get in on the action? Because we’re in the business of helping you look good, we’ve compiled the best makeup men can use to achieve a polished, perfected look. Want to look put together for an important occasion, conceal razor nicks, acne or rosacea, or express your style? Here, find all the tips and tools for the job.
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Why should men use makeup?
Like a flash suit or fresh trim, makeup helps you look your best. For the bushy-browed man, eyebrow gels are a grooming essential, whilst brow pencils and pens restore a youthful volume to sparse brows and patchy beards. Concealers and BB creams are particularly popular for their ability to correct uneven skin tone, and camouflage redness, eye bags and blemishes with varying levels of coverage.
“I'd never really used concealer until a friend shoved a bottle of it into my hands on my wedding day,” says Rob Leedham, GQ's Senior Commerce Editor. “If I wasn't desperate to look half-decent in the photos I probably wouldn't have given it a go, but a few dabs later I was wondering what took me so long. And the photos? Classy as hell.”
How do men apply makeup for beginners?
Achieving a natural makeup look starts well before you apply any colour cosmetics. Makeup applies best on a smooth canvas, and for that you’ll want to keep an effective exfoliator in your grooming regimen, as well ensure your face is well moisturised before application. Fail to do this and any makeup you apply will cling to dry patches on the skin, for a look that’s more obvious and less ‘I-woke-up-like-this.’ For a masterclass in effortless men’s makeup, look no further than this tutorial from painter-turned-makeup artist, Mohammed Hindash…
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What is a makeup primer?
As the name suggests, primers are an undercoat that prepares your skin for makeup. Generally colourless, they can be worn alone, and are best used for smoothing fine lines, minimising the appearance of pores and helping cosmetics adhere to the face. If you’re prone to an oily T zone, opt for mattifying formulas like MAC’s Mattifine and Lisa Franklin’s Pro Effect – the latter of which boasts anti-ageing and blue light-blocking properties. For serious staying power and hydrating boost on drier skin types, go for Milk’s Hydro Grip.
The best BB Creams for men
With a well-primed base, you can start addressing imperfections. Short for blemish balm, BB creams are lightweight, tinted moisturisers that even skin tone when massaged into the skin. Best for blokes looking to tackle dryness, redness or acne scars in one fell swoop, they’re also infused with skin-loving ingredients that nourish the complexion. For its transfer-resistant coverage in an impressive 25 shades, Fenty’s Eaze Drop is our top pick, but any of the below options will blur imperfections in a flash.
Remember, a little BB cream goes a long way, so to apply, dot a few drops around your face and use your fingers or a brush to blend. We recommend diffusing carefully into the hairline and at the beard for a seamless finish.
The best concealers for men
Combatting dark circles, breakouts and razor bumps with ease, concealer is a must-have in your grooming arsenal. For natural-looking coverage, finding the right shade is crucial. Thanks to the power of AR, you can pick the best match from the comfort of your own home by using virtual try-on tools like Dior's. And if you want to take your concealer for a test drive before you buy, you can also request a professional shade match at any department store beauty counter.
You'll want to consider your skin type and desired coverage when selecting a concealer. Dry to normal skin with few blemishes benefits from lighter liquid formulations, like Saie's Hydrabeam or Shiseido's Synchro Skin. For those with oilier skin, go for a stick concealer a la Tom Ford, or Too Faced's Born This Way, which has a self-setting, oil-free gel formula. For buildable coverage on all skin types, the Dior Backstage concealer is a safe bet.
To apply, pat into the skin over any problem areas. The warmth of your fingers will help you get a seamless blend, but you can also use concealer with a sponge applicator for ease. A great pick for keeping your hands clean, Code 8's Seamless cover boasts a built-in sponge for an undetectable blend. Whichever concealer you go for, you'll need good technique: for light coverage of minor marks or dark circles, buff immediately, but for the fullest coverage on scars and blemishes, let your concealer dry for up to 60 seconds before patting into the skin.
Eyebrow products
A good pair of eyebrows frame the face, so it stands to reason that the well-groomed man would take care of his. Use an eyebrow gel or stiff wax neaten to unruly hairs, or run a tinted mascara like 19/99 through them for fullness and definition. For blokes not blessed with naturally bushy brows, you can fill in any gaps with fine-tipped brow pens or pencils (which work miracles on missing moustache hairs, too.)
For a natural look, use light pressure with your pencil or pen and draw short strokes that follow the direction of your hairs. To seal the deal, take your brow gel or wax and comb through for a neat finish.
Guyliner
"For guys, sometimes a little eyeliner applied in the outer corner of the eye is a subtle way to
define the eye shape," says Jamie Coombes. Not just for the bold maximalist (though we love how Yungblud applies his) a little eyeliner accentuates the lash line and is great for enhancing any eye colour. But if you do want to join the ranks of David Bowie, Jared Leto, Prince, and Mick Jagger, we've got you covered with the best technique…
Take your eyeliner pencil of choice and doodle on the back of your hand, which will warm up the pigment for an easy glide on the eyes. Lift your eyelid and deposit colour in the waterline, as well as under your eyelashes for more intensity. For a rockstar smoky look, pick one with a blending tip (like Sephora Collection's Waterproof Eyeliner) and smudge away.
The best lip balms for men
No grooming routine is complete without lip balm. More skincare than makeup, every man should have a stick of the stuff in his arsenal to combat chapped lips, keep them kissable, and add a layer of moisturising protection in colder months. Not keen on a shiny pout? Kiehl's and Chanel offer matte-finish chapsticks designed specifically with men in mind. And if you don't mind a healthy dew, consider Soho Skin's balm, which is formulated with peptides to smooth lips and prevent signs of ageing.
Tools
There are three things to consider when it comes to wearing makeup: putting it on, keeping it on, and taking it off. Fingers do a fine job of the former, but for an application that’s mess and streak-free, you’ll want to invest in an effective brush.
For multipurpose use, the IT Cosmetics Complexion Perfection comes out on top: it's dual-ended, with a smaller precision end primed for buffing concealer under the eyes. Boasting larger brushes suited to applying BB creams, smaller brushes for spot concealing, and fluffy brushes for finishing with powder, Morphe's face brush collection is complete with all the tools a makeup beginner could possibly need. But if you're a one-and-done kind of guy, go for the Saie multi-use buffer and blender, which makes easy work of blending both powders and BB creams.
To lock makeup in place, you'll want to set it. Misted over the face, fixing sprays form a shield-like barrier that reduces any smudging. For oily skin prone to shine, you can choose to bolster the longevity of your makeup with a translucent powder – just take a fluffy brush and press a light coat on top of any products you've applied.
To take it all off at the day's end, there are few tools you should use before reaching for your face wash. An oil-based cleanser like Alpha-H 's balm will melt makeup from the skin; micellar water on a cotton round is best for getting rid of waterproof products like eyeliner. For a fuss-free removal of all the above, go for the Face Halo makeup remover – a magic pad crafted with microfine fibres thinner than your hair strands. Requiring only water, these reach into the pores and trap traces of makeup, pollution and debris, lifting them out as you wipe for a squeaky-clean complexion.
Nail polish for men
Seen on celebs such as Harry Styles, A$AP Rocky and Machine Gun Kelly, a coat of nail polish adds a touch of cool. Want to get in on the man-icure trend? Many men opt for a classic black hue, but for brightly decorated digits a la Harry Styles, shop the star's own ‘Pleasing’ polish line. There's also Machine Gun Kelly's UNDN LAQR – a genderless range of mattes and metallics you can paint on for a creative style statement.
Start on clean, dry nails (oils will prevent a smooth application) and simply colour inside the lines. Clean up any missteps with a Q-tip dipped in nail polish remover. For a professional job, visit a nail salon – many offer men's manicures, and trust us, your cuticles will thank you.
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