Call us:+44 (0) 161 773 4477|email:info@transformation.co.uk
CurrencyGBPGBP
GBP GBP EUR EUR USD USD
Nov 201520

Beautiful eyebrows

frequently asked questions, how to guides

Beautiful Eyebrows

  Prepare your eye brows by washing and completely drying the area. Don't moisturize until after you're through. You want to work with a non-slippery surface. Take your time and grab each hair singularly and from the root. Spread the area to be tweezed as flat as possible between the thumb and pointer finger of my left hand as I tweeze with the right. The hairs are easier to grip this way and I've found it to be less painful. As for filling in eyebrows, you have the choice of working with eyebrow pencil or powder shadow. Here are some tips for applying brow makeup: Find a colour one full shade lighter than your hair colour. This is very important; as you want to gently enhance the brows, not scare people. If using an eyebrow pencil, sharpen to a fine point first and draw with light pressure in fine, tiny strokes as hair growth (think of minute blades of grass) in the area needed from lower to upper hair (by that I mean draw in the same direction of the hair's natural growth). If using eyebrow shadow, you'll need a firm flat brush cut on an angle. Dip the brush onto the cake of shadow, blow on it to get rid of excess shadow. Work the brush with light pressure, also in the same direction of the hair's growth. Eyebrow pencil or shadow is also great for delicately lengthening the outer brow or enhancing the arch. The key is light pressure and short strokes; it's easier to add a little than remove a little.

Nov 201520

What is Transsexualism?

frequently asked questions
I can't imagine the person ever seeming to me like the sex they want to be. It's hard to let go of our perceptions of someone we've known for a long time. Changes in a person's appearance and behavior can occur gradually, and may be difficult to perceive if you are in regular contact. But if you pay attention to how strangers react to the person, it may help you to see these changes. On the other hand, the gradualness of the change may help you to adapt to the new gender identity step-by-step. You may be surprised, in time, at how completely you accept the person's new chosen gender. It is true, however, that some people who undergo gender transition will continue to have significant characteristics of their previous gender identity. Some male-to-female transsexuals, for instance, may be unusually tall for women, while a female-to-male transsexual may have small features. It may help if you avoid focusing on these specific things, but rather honor the person's chosen gender, and try to see them as they see themselves. How can I support this person in their transition? There are many ways you can be helpful. Perhaps the most important is to convey your intention to be supportive to the person in transition. Let them know you want to be an ally, and ask them what they need from you. Then, to the extent you are able, offer them the support they've asked for. We can offer a couple of specific ideas as well. First, you can adopt the use of the person's new name (if they've chosen one) and appropriate gender pronouns. This change can be uncomfortable at first, and you may slip up once in a while, but eventually this change becomes habitual and comfortable. This small but very important step will demonstrate that you take the person's decision seriously. You can also try to maintain your previous relationship with the person, whether that's the intimate relationship of close friends or once-a-month bowling buddies. Gender transition is new territory for many people, and hence can be scary. "Hanging in" with the person in transition despite feelings of discomfort with the process can be a very supportive act. Also, you may ask the person in transition how you can help in letting others know about their transition. They may want to tell people themselves, or they may be grateful for help "spreading the word." There may be certain contexts--the softball team, a church you both attend, or the workplace--where your assistance in telling others and expressing your support will be appreciated. Let them be your guide in this.  
  The person I thought I knew is becoming a stranger. A person we know who undergoes gender transition will very likely look and sound quite different after their transition. A person we've known as a woman, for instance, may change his hairstyle, grow facial hair, speak with a lower voice, and adopt an entirely new wardrobe. But he's not likely to adopt an entirely new personality or set of values, and our history with this person is unchanged. Think of any person you care about, and ask yourself what qualities you value most about her or him. You are likely to think of qualities which are not gender-specific, such as sense of humor, intelligence, and loyalty. These qualities are not likely to change as a person undergoes gender transition. In fact, a person who undergoes gender transition is in a process of becoming more comfortable with himself or herself, and so their positive qualities are likely to be enhanced. It can be scary when someone in your life tells you they need to make such a major change, and it's understandable that you may feel you don't know this person as well as you thought. But if you continue to spend time together, you will likely be comforted to find that they are in many ways the same person you have always known. Altering the body through surgery seems like mutilation. This is also an understandable response. To those of us who are comfortable with our assigned gender, the idea of altering those parts of our bodies that are most associated with our gender can feel alien, frightening, and disturbing. Another person's decision to alter parts of their body can feel threatening. It may help to remember that a person undergoing transition from, for instance, a male to female gender expression, is not making a blanket statement about the value of malehood or the validity of your gender expression. She is simply seeking to become more comfortable in her body. Sex reassignment surgery is the aspect of gender transition that is most difficult for some people to understand, and you may never feel comfortable with it. That's OK. But that discomfort doesn't preclude honoring another person's choice, treating them with respect, and even supporting them through their gender transition.  
  Transsexualism is a condition in which a person experiences a discontinuity between their assigned sex and what they feel their core gender is. For example, a person who was identified as "female" at birth, raised as a girl, and has lived being perceived by others as a woman, may feel that their core sense of who they are is a closer fit with "male" or "man." If this sense is strong and persistent, this person may decide to take steps to ensure that others perceive them as a man. In other words, they may decide to transition to living as the sex that more closely matches their internal gender. What is involved in the transition process? The answer to this question varies depending on the needs and desires of the individual choosing the transition process. An individual may choose any combination of social, medical and legal steps that will help that person achieve the greatest level of comfort with their body and social roles. Social steps might include asking to be referred to by a different name (perhaps one generally given to people of the "opposite sex") and different pronouns ("she" instead of "he" or vice versa), dressing in clothing traditionally worn by people of the sex they wish to be perceived as, and taking on mannerisms frequently associated with that sex/gender. Medical steps might include hormonal treatment to achieve an appearance more consistent with the target gender expression, and/or surgery to further modify the appearance. There are a variety of surgical options to alter the transsexual person's body to help them achieve the greatest comfort with their gender expression. The transsexual person may choose some, all, or none of these surgical options. Many transsexual people also work with the courts in their area to achieve legal recognition of their new name and gender. Steps taken vary depending on the location. What causes transsexualism? No one knows the answer to this question, although there is much research currently in progress investigating it. Among the theories being investigated are genetic influences, in utero hormonal influences, and other brain structure/brain chemical influences. Human sex and gender are very complex, and it is unlikely that any simplistic analysis will definitively answer this question. What is the treatment for transsexualism? Is there a "cure?" Treatments for transsexualism based on attempting to change the individual's sense of their own true gender have proven ineffective. Accepted treatments are based on helping the transsexual person's body and presentation match their inner sense of their gender, usually through hormone treatment and surgery. How common is transsexualism? The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), Fourth edition, says the following (© 1994, American Psychiatric Assoc.): Prevalence: There are no recent epidemiological studies to provide data on prevalence of Gender Identity Disorder. Data from smaller countries in Europe with access to total population statistics and referrals suggest that roughly 1 per 30,000 adult males and 1 per 100,000 adult females seek sex-reassignment surgery. Because these numbers reflect only people who have sought traditional medical treatment, they do not reflect the total numbers of people who have some experience of gender discontinuity. Is transsexualism a modern phenomenon? While advances in medical science have only in the last few decades made it possible for individuals to transition with the aid of hormones and surgery, transgendered people have existed throughout history in many societies. Jennifer Reitz's Natural History of Transsexuality provides a brief historical overview. Is transsexualism the same as homosexuality? No. Transsexualism is about a person's core sense of their gender. This is a separate issue from the gender of the people they are attracted to. Just like any other individual, a transsexual person may identify as heterosexual, gay, lesbian, or bisexual. For example, a person raised as a man who transitions to living as a woman may identify as heterosexual, in which case she would seek relationships with men, or lesbian, in which case she would seek relationships with other women.

Nov 201520

Silicone Breasts

frequently asked questions
Authentic Natural Breasts All women treasure their breasts as the most visible symbol of their femininity and sexuality. A 17 year programme of research and development has resulted in an almost perfect replica of the female breast. Previous silicone breasts have looked and felt artificial, but now our "authentic natural" breast prosthesis perfectly duplicates your own feminine breasts.  By using only the finest quality medical silicone covered in a soft elastomeric polyurethene film these authentic natural prosthesis have the texture, appearance, colour and weight of a natural breast and are completely without visible seams. Because "Authentic natural" breast prosthesis conform to your natural contours and can be used with our unique medical adhesion system, they reamin perfectly secure even during the most strenuous exercise. Just like natural breasts "authentic natural" breasts can be worn with or without a bra. "Authentic natural" porosthese quickly attain body temperature so not only look like genetic feminine breasts but feel like them too, so you feel natural and confident 24 hours a day. Because authentic natural breasts fit so securely and are waterproof, resistant to perspiration, salt water and chlorine, and also totally hypo-allergenic, they can be worn permanently without any skin reaction - up to week bra-less without any fear of slipping, but can be removed in seconds. About our Silicone Breasts When buying breasts it really is true that you get what you pay for - our range gives you every option possible, from our basic economy foam breasts right up to the top of the range Siloxane breasts, the most convincing breast forms that money can buy. Our guidance is that the more realistic you wish them to look and feel, the more you need to pay, but do remember that looked after properly, our top of the range breasts should last you a lifetime and looked at this way they are great value for money. If you are unsure of what size to order, the medium cup is by far the most popular. "Hi Stephanie - I want to thank you for the order I received. The breast forms are great. Love, Nicole."Nicole, Florida
  Manufacturing our Breasts The manufacture of our high quality breasts is both technologically challenging and time consuming as, despite the high-tech materials, almost all of the actual manufacturing process is still done by hand. Our breast forms should not be compared with cheaper ordinary silicone imitations, as unlike other manufacturers we use a double skin for durability and a much better filling than just low grade silicone, which gives a much higher standard of colour, weight, texture and appearance. To manufacture, we first of all form the outer skin using two layers of ultra thin polyurethane film. Craftsmen heat-seal these into the specific outline shape required and then, after adding pigmentation to achieve the desired skin tone, inject the quality filling which is either Trihelium, a special highly lightweight grade of silicone, a mixture of high grade silicone and Siloxane, or pure Siloxane for the very best filling money can buy. The breast form is then gently eased into a hand-crafted stainless steel mould and placed into a vacuum chamber to form the detailed shape required. The next stage involves sealing the mould and placing it in to a very hot oven overnight which cures the breast form. The breasts, once removed from the mould, are thoroughly inspected to ensure they meets our quality control standards, and then packed carefully to ensure perfect condition after delivery.
    Caring for your breasts Your silicone breasts have been carefully handcrafted from the finest quality materials and designed with your needs in mind. A little care and attention will ensure long lasting wearing and satisfaction. To clean your silicone breasts, wash gently in lukewarm water with a very mild soap. Dry with a soft towel - do not wring or rub and avoid using powder, perfume or hot water directly on your silicone breasts. Take care with sharp objects close to your silicone breasts. Finger nails, pins, brooches, scissors or pets claws can all cause permanent damage to the soft film surrounding the silicone. Try to wear the correct bra size. Bras that are too small or underwired that press into the form may crease or permanently damage the form. When you are not wearing your silicone breasts, keep them in the boxes provided and away from direct heat. This will help to prevent accidental harm. It is important to handle your silicone breasts gently when inserting or removing them from your bra, as repeated squeezing or pulling may cause damage over time.

Nov 201520

Crossdressing

frequently asked questions

I was about 5 or 6 I guess. I can remember my dad going ballistic, and right after dinner mom had me change back into my own clothes while she told me it was wrong for boys to dress as girls. After that I was always careful so as not to get caught whenever I dressed up. I always thought I was beautiful, but then, I was always looking at the ideal in the mirror rather than the reality.

 

My name is Tim Grant, I’m currently 5′ 5″ tall, weigh about 125 pounds, with green eyes with brown hair. My mother was just five foot, Claire my sister 5′ 2″, and dad was 5’6″. I sort of fell in the middle, and didn’t expect to get any taller. I knew I wanted to dress as a girl as often as I could and by the time I was 15 and starting high school, I was well aware of men who dressed as women. In fact I had found a lot of sites on the Internet that catered to them, and had printed out a lot of information, from how to make your own breastforms and padding to how to do makeup and hair. Experimenting, I made some birdseed breastforms and had cut some foam rubber into ovals to pad my hips and let my hair grow out until it was shoulder length, all in preparation for my debut this coming Halloween.

 

It was the one time of the year I could dress as a girl and `get away’ with it so to speak, and I had planned for that night very carefully. Claire had moved to college, but she had left behind a lot of clothes, and I had carefully tried on every item, and now I had several complete outfits, including shoes. My biggest downfall was hair. No matter how hard I tried I was never able to manage a truly feminine hairstyle. I managed to get close, but I was always unhappy with the results and usually put my hair in a ponytail.

 

As Halloween drew closer, I knew that I would have to confide in my mother because there wasn’t anyway around it, so one day right after school I told her that I was going to the school Halloween party as a girl. To my surprise, she asked me if I finally figured out how to be a girl! “What do you mean figure it out?” “What I mean is have you figured out how to become a perfect young lady.” I was at a loss for words! “Tim, you cannot possibly believe that I don’t know about you dressing up in private do you?” She knew! I was dead! “If you want to dress as a girl I insist that you let me help you get ready. Do you have everything you need?” “I borrowed some of Claire’s things mom, I have several outfits.” “Show me” Was all she said.

 

In my room I showed mom what I had selected to wear, all of it, and all she said was “adequate”! “I have to go to the store on Saturday anyway, so why don’t we get you dressed and let me see what you look like, and if you need anything we can get it then. I’ll even do your hair for you.” “Dad.” “Won’t be here all weekend. Now plan on getting dressed right after breakfast On Saturday.”

 

It was a very long two days as I wondered just what mom had in mind, but I was not about to let this opportunity slip by, and on Friday night I made sure that I didn’t have one stray hair anywhere on my body. Right after breakfast mom and I went to my room where I slipped on a pair of panties, then as she watched I used the foam pads to make my hips rounder. I slipped on the pantybrief and reached for the bra, but mom stopped me.

 

“Lets do makeup first Tim.” I walked into my sister’s room and sat at her vanity while reaching for the foundation. Mom sat next to, and slightly behind me watching, but not saying anything as I smoothed the liquid foundation evenly on my face. I started to reach for the eyeshadow, but mom stopped me. “Let me show you something Tim.” She dabbed at my face with some loose powder, letting it set for a moment before she brushed away the excess, leaving my skin looking smooth and soft, and all one color.

 

Mom watched as I added a bit of earth tone eyeshadow, then a soft plum over that, highlighted with black eyeliner on both upper and lower lids. I used a rose silk blusher on each cheek and was reaching for the lipstick when mom told me to wait. She sprayed my hair with hairspray, and began to curl my hair with a curling iron. As she worked I watched her carefully so I could do it myself if I had to, or had the chance. She left my hair all curled up, telling me to finish getting dressed. I slipped the bra on and added my birdseed breastforms to the cups. I now had a full `A’ cup.

 

Sitting on the bed I slipped on some pantyhose, then went to the closet to get the dress I had planned to wear to the party. “Oh no, not that Tim. For shopping you’ll want a skirt and blouse.” “Shopping?” “Of course! You’ll have to try on anything we buy, and I’m sure that you would rather look like a girl trying on clothes rather than a boy!” “But I thought. I mean. what if someone sees me!” “Then they will see a pretty 15 year old girl! Now find a skirt and blouse and lets finish getting you ready.”

 

I selected a pleated green skirt and a white blouse with a round neck collar, and as soon as I had them on mom finished brushing out my hair. I stepped into the black flats and mom handed me a soft red lipstick. In the jewelry box I found a pair of gold hoop earrings and slipped them into the holes in my ears after I took out the studs I usually wore.

 

Mom was grinning at me as she picked up some perfume and gave me a spritz. “I think that will do it for now, except for a name. I can’t call you Tim now can I?” Mom wanted me to tell her my deepest secret, and as much as I wanted to tell her, I was afraid! I was standing in front of the mirror looking at someone else. It was me, but different, like I was my own sister, and I was afraid to tell her the name I had chosen for myself. “Tell me Tim; I’ll bet it’s a pretty name.” “Gail.” I had blurted it out quickly, and mom smiled when she heard it. That’s a very pretty name! Find a purse Gail, and lets go shopping!” I was rooted to the spot until she took my hand and led me out of my room, stopped and picked up her purse, and continued out to the car.

 

I had never been outside the house dressed as a girl before and I was very nervous as we drove down the street. She reprimanded me twice for slouching down, and when we got to the mall she parked as far away from the doors as she could, even though there were places closer. Before we got out of the car she turned and looked at me. “You are a very pretty girl Gail, and going into the mall is exactly what you need. If you act like a girl, walk like a girl, and watch your mannerisms, nobody will know who you are. Actually I was counting on some of your friends being here, because that way you’ll have to be doing your very best or be discovered.” With that, she got out of the car and waited while I did the same. Standing next to the car I felt a breeze run up my skirt and held it down as mom just giggled. “Come on then Gail, we have a lot to do today.”

 

We went through the food court, and sure enough, standing right in the middle were some kids I knew at school! I stayed close to mom and we walked right on by, and they never gave me a second look, like they knew who I was! Out of earshot, I mentioned it to mom and all she did was smile. I walked beside her as she veered into a huge department store, and then into the lingerie shop. “We should get you some bras and panties of your own Gail. We’ll start with a half dozen panties and two bras I think.” Please note, she did not ask me, she told me. I selected two bras I liked and some nylon panties, but she said cotton was better, so I got the bras and cotton panties in assorted colors. “This party, is it fancy?” “It’s a Halloween party mom, not the prom.” “A pity.” “Huh?” “Oh, never mind dear, I was just wondering, that’s all. But you should have something to wear that would help foster the illusion; why don’t we go in here?” And in we went, to a store that catered to weddings, proms, and so on. Almost all of the girls in school bought their dresses here, and in fact two of them, Kelly and Jessica were there!

 

All I could do was act as if I belonged there, and mom and I sorted through the dresses until she found one she said was just perfect for me. Believe me, I was nervous as hell when she took me into the changing area, which was essentially a single huge room. I quickly put the dress on, but it didn’t look very good on me, and I took it off and convinced mom that we had to leave. She didn’t like it, but agreed when about five girls came in just as I was ready to leave.

 

“Maybe at Sares we can find something for you Gail, but you’re simply have to relax! You look fine!” I tried, and almost did relax once we got into Sares. Once inside mom picked out a pink suit, a sheath style dress and a jumper for me, plus several blouses before we left for the car. “When we get home I want you to try on all of the clothes, especially the suit. Save that to last, and wear the pink heels with it.” I did as she asked, and the new bras made me look a little more pert I guess, and all of the clothes fit me just fine.

 

The suit was unlike anything I had worn before. It had a short, straight skirt, which hindered the way I walked. The jacket was shaped to accent a feminine waist and only made me look better. I walked out to show mom, and dad was standing there! He looked at me and I waited for him to erupt, like a volcano held in too long, but he didn’t! “Howard, this is Gail, and she will be staying with us for a few days. She has a party to go to next Saturday, so we did a little shopping today.” Then he floored me. “You. look very nice Gail; are you going to dinner with us tonight?” I looked at mom, and before I could answer she said “yes of course she’s going with us!”



Nov 201520

Applying Lipstick

frequently asked questions, how to guides

Applying Lipstick

[caption id="attachment_3944" align="alignleft" width="150"]lipstick Applying Lipstick[/caption] Consider your lipstick colour and finish. You'll do well with colours that match the natural shade of your lips, opting for darker tones that complement your overall colouring. Matte lipsticks offer a muted finish complementary to workday makeup, while satin and gloss finishes offer appealing evening looks. Apply all other makeup before putting on lipstick and lip liner. Begin by dabbing on a very small amount of lip balm or petroleum jelly to give your lips a little moisture. Draw a thin line along the edge of your lips with a lip liner whose colour is one shade darker than your lipstick. Start at the centre of the upper lip and work outward. Hug the very outer edges to open up thin lips, and line well within the edges to downplay excessively full lips. (Image 1) [caption id="attachment_4085" align="alignleft" width="150"]how-to-apply-lipstick Applying Lipstick[/caption] Apply lipstick from the tube or by using a firm, small lipstick brush. Coat the lips evenly. Pay special attention to staying within the lips' edges. (Image 2) Blot to remove any excess color and to even out the texture. (Image 3) Remember to touch lips up after a meal, as lipstick easily transfers onto coffee cups, wine glasses etc.

Nov 201520

EyeShadow That is Perfect for your Eyes

frequently asked questions, how to guides

Perfect EyeShadow for your Eyes

  Not sure which eyeshadow shade that will look great with your eye colour? Here's some help. FOR BLUE EYES 1. Tried and True: taupe, gray, violet, purple, deep blue (a darker shade than your eye color makes your eyes really blue), black (mix it with bright blue for a smoky effect) 2. Funky Favourites: silver, turquoise, fuschia (brightens any shade of blue) GREEN or HAZEL EYES 1. Tried and True: brown, apricot, purple, plum, deep khaki or forest green (because they are in the same greenish family, they brighten green eyes) 2. Funky Favourites: gold, lime-green, really light green, bright purple (super modern) BROWN EYES 1. Tried and True: copper, bronze, champagne (soft pink with a touch of apricot), brown (for a doe-eyed look), beige, and khaki-green (lighter shades add highlight) 2. Funky Favourites: tangerine, royal blue, hot pink, lime-green (the contrast adds punch to brown) ALL EYES 1. Tried and True: navy or charcoal base to define and a powder-blue shadow for highlighting (it brightens your brow bone so any eye color pops) 2. Funky Favourites: silver-sparkle shadow makes all eyes look edgy

Nov 201520

Dancewear

frequently asked questions, how to guides
dancewearThe first requirement when wearing Dancewear is to shower and shave in order to get my legs feeling slinky smooth. I then proceed to slip into a white coloured satin deluxe naked tanga followed by a pair of seemless tights, again in white. Feeling 'all femmy' and gloriously comfortable I put on my supersoft bra, padded out with a pair of socks. I then eased my way into a pink and white tutu. The soft flimsy skirt is positioned as to allow a pair of pink frilly panties to be worn and for the multiple layers of pink frills to be visible, front and back at all times. Finally, ballet pumps are worn to complete tutu16athe look. All I need do is practice my curtsy. The thrill - I am transformed into a fairy princess, all silky smooth and girly. As an alternative to wearing my tutu, more often than not, I wear a satinized body with high cut legs. When worn with 2.5 Inch heels that accentuate my long, shapely legs I am again in heaven. Oh, to gaze down and finger my slinky, smooth nylon clad legs and caress the full majesty of my C cup bra! Colour combination is important. Ecru/white tights with a black or pink body, caramel or nude tights with white body or black tights with black or coloured body. Trixie

Nov 201520

Lipstick

frequently asked questions, how to guides
She sashays into the room wrapped in a scarlet sheath. Her nails are the same colour... and her lips? What would this image of feminine allure be without lipstick? Some people's favourite images of femininity might revolve around lingerie, perhaps, or high heels. Mine are firmly focused on the lips. I think, for example, of Robert Palmers 'Addicted to Love' video. The women on the instruments, in their black dresses, wore make-up which seems to obliterate their facial features - except the lips. Their bright red lipstick holds my eye. My favourite pop video - I love it! An equally memorable lip image is the opening sequence of the 'Rocky Horror Picture Show'. Lips, tongue and teeth occupy the screen against a black background, just red lips, pink tongue and white teeth. Other kinds of make-up have their place of course, but lipstick is special. I feel that wearing it lies close to the heart of who I am, and what I do. f682_705gnrsxdlipspage4.jpgIf I was in a balloon sinking slowly towards the ocean, with all of my feminine trappings aboard, what would I throw out first to gain a little height? Sure as there are no eggs in my basque, it wouldn't be a lipstick. And I feel sure that my final pair of stilettos would go before my last lipstick... As 'last lipstick' implies, one lipstick is certainly not enough for me. I like to have a choice of different manufacturer's products. No two are quite the same - the textures are different, they go on my lips differently, and they don't look quite the same once applied. I like to have more than one type of lipstick - both the 'stay-put' kind, and the ones that leave their mark. Above all, perhaps, I need a choice of shade - the more shades the better in fact. Last night, for example, going out in a green skirt and yellow blouse (a pleasingly spring-like combination, I think) required a muted lip colour. I picked one called 'Strawberry', which may suggest a bold red, but is actually a dark pink. In fact, 'Strawberry' is quite similar to the natural colour of my lips... but, in spite of the similarity, it doesn't leave me looking as if I had forgotten to put my lipstick on - that would never do!!! Going out the week before, I strutted my stuff all in red. Strawberry would not have gone with my outfit, I needed a proper, full-blooded red. The one I selected is called 'Poppy'. It is just about the colour I'd expect a poppy to be, just a little darker than 'Scarlet', another lipstick generally to be found in my handbag.
  The colours are lovely, but the names of theses lipstick shades strike me as being a little dull. Of all the shades which have passed through my fingers, I think that my favourite name was 'Hearts Afire'. If I recall correctly, it was a Max Factor one. The name was enought to banish all doubt that this was a lipstick - there is no 'Hearts Afire' in the Dulux range! I don't know whether the the names of the shades are, in general, becoming more dull - or whether it's just the ones I've been buying. Either way, I look forward to them perking up... I always look forward to applying my lipstick, and enjoy prolonging that pleasurable anticipation. When I was a child, I liked to leave the best bit of my dinner to last. It was the same with a packet of fruit gums - I ended up with a pocketful of fluff-coated black ones. I'm still much the same, at least when it comes to getting ready, that is: I now eat my dinner in a more sensible way, and haven't had a fruit gum for years! I have a regular routine for my process of feminisation. I enjoy it all, but some parts are inevitably better than others. First of all comes foundation, then powder, blusher, and eye makeup. With almost all of my makeup on, I dress, then put on my shoes. The wig is almost the last item, an important moment - inspecting myself in the mirror, nearly ready. Finally, the crowning stage, and in many ways the best of all - lipstick. Like any pleasure, putting on my lipstick is not to be rushed. I apply it slowly, lovingly. I roll my lower lip over the upper one, then contemplate my reflection. I apply a little more lipstick... the process can last for quite a long time. Why hurry when I'm enjoying myself? Sometimes I use a lip brush - I have a retractable one which is a very satisfying little gizmo. Once I have finished putting on the lipstick in the usual way, I work round the outline of my lips with the brush. It extends the process a little bit further, makes it last a little but longer, and adds to the enjoyment. Of course, it wasn't always like that. While I have been attracted to, even fascinated by, lipstick since my early teens, I was well into my twenties before I applied it to my lips. In spite of my writing: 'Why hurry when I'm enjoying myself?' - there are limits. My lack of hurry in first sampling the delights of lipstick now seems crazy. Perhaps I was (at least a little bit) crazy when I was a teenager... I handled my sister's lipsticks, removed their tops, slid the lipstick itself out of the tube and then back in again. I would have loved to apply it to my lips, but it would be years before I found the courage to do so. A large part of the problem, I think, was that I didn't know how one went about removing it. Putting on my sister's clothes was one thing, I had a fairly good idea of how they would come off again. If anyone came home unexpectedly, undressing might be a rushed process - but I felt confident I could manage it. But how did girls remove their lipstick? Would washing remove it entirely? Did it require some make-up removal product? If so, which? My sister had a selection of liquids and creams, of whose function I was unsure.
  f682_703gnrsxdlipspage3.jpgThere was a nightmare quality to the idea of trying to discover how to remove lipstick - desperately and in a hurry - as I heard a key in the door. Did I dare risk that possibility? In the end, with much regret, I emphatically did not dare. My not daring to try my sister's lipstick was compounded by the layout of the house. My sister's bedroom and mine were off the same upstairs passage, next to each other. While dressing in her clothes, moving from room to room was no problem. However, I suspected that removing the lipstick might involve using the bathroom, which was downstairs and reached via the kitchen. To get there from my sister's room (or mine) involved going downstairs and past the front door (a likely spot for running into someone entering the house), then through the dining room and into the kitchen (with its back door, the other likely spot for encountering people coming home). Thinking about that now, the solution seems obvious. Take the lipstick down to the bathroom, put some on my lips, and then see how easy or difficult it was to remove. There was no need to wear a skirt in order to experiment with make-up. Oh well, I've thought of that solution three dozen years too late! In fact, of all the things which give me a lot of pleasure, I think that lipstick may be the most recent to have really grabbed me. After my teenage era of feminine experimentation, I grew a beard. Goodness knows why I did it - I was still dressing in private. It was during this bearded period that I first wore lipstick. I was living on my own then, and no longer worried about family members returning unexpectedly, or even paying me the occasional visit. Alas, the effect of the lipstick was far from flattering. My reddened lips served only to emphasise the beard. My reflection was grotesque... well, it was probably always pretty grotesque during that period, but usually I didn't notice the beard. I had developed a sort of beard-blindness, but that selective blindness didn't operate when I looked at my lips... I still can't think about my reflection that first time I tried on lipstick without a little shudder. Ugh! Unsurprisingly, it was only when I lost the beard that I started to enjoy my lipstick. By this time, I was a Transformation customer, and had 'come out' to one of my friends. I took to decorating my letters to him with lipstiuck kisses, I got a lot of a kick out of that. It seemed a continuing 'coming out' process, and also had a slight hint of danger. What if someone else saw the letters? Another pleasure in those lipstick kisses was the realisation that no two people's lip prints are identical. The marks on the paper were as individual as my fingerprints. Just me, and nobody but me.
  Here is one of the basic pleasures of lipstick - leaving my mark. I think it satisfies primal instincts - other creatures such as cats and dogs do it with scent. Wearing lipstick, it's visual, but it seems like a very similar thing. Seeing my lipstick on a glass for the very first time gave me a tremendous thrill. I had noticed women leaving such traces many times, but this time it was me. Wow! Leaving my mark continued to give me pleasure, I suppose, but there's nothing like the first time. A different way of leaving one's mark with lipstick is the message on a mirror. I gather that it's an approved way of makeing one's farewell... This is the kiss off, Buster... Or, if one is leaving with the contents of the sap's walletL So long, Sucker... Or even: So long and thanks for all the fish... But I've never used one of my own lipsticks (or anyone else's!) to write on a mirror. It could be that I don't live the right (or wrong) lifestyle for that sort of thing. It could be that I'm too concerned with the condition of my lipsticks. If I see someone in a film using my favourite kind of make-up for that purpose, I do worry about what it's doing to the lipstick. Perhaps I should have been someone's mum: "Look at the state of your lipstick! It was a really nice one too. Whatever have you been doing to it, you bad girl!" Sticking with bad girls - and marks - I have a slight regret that I gave up smoking before I really took to wearing lipstick. Smoking is a vice of by bearded era, and I've never been very sorry that I gave up the habit. All the same, there is an attraction to the idea of seeing lipsticked cigarette ends in the ash tray, and knowing that they're mine. Another pleasure of lipstick is the taste. There is a slight (and sometimes not so slight) waxy taste which remains for as long as the lipstick is on my lips. I enjoy this constant reminder - I don't forget about my lipstick in the way I do, say, my eye shadow. Not the least wonderful aspect of the taste has to do with kissing. Kiss someone wearing lipstick and there is at least a hint of the taste. (This depends on the kind of kissing as well as the kind of lipstick - some kisses carry a lot of flavour!) Kissing someone wearing a different lipstick from me, I realised for the first time that not all lipsticks taste alike.  
  f682_702gnrsxdlips.jpgThat was interesting, but the real revelation came with kissing someone wearing the same lipstick as me. I had a slight taste in my mouth - so slight that I was scarcely aware of it. Then, our lips met, and the taste suddenly intensified... Hearts Afire! This is something of which I have never grown tired. Enjoying, as I do, both the taste of and the marks left by lipstick, it seems almost unaccountable that I have taken to wearing lipstick with the minimum taste, and which resists leaving marks. I refer, of course, to the 'stay-put' varieties, available from several manufacturers. I've tried several brands of these. One of them, I bought purely on the grounds of it being recommended by Cosmopolitan. I suppose I figured that if Cosmo didn't know which lipsticks were which, who did? In fact, it didn't prove my favourite and I only bought it in one shade (unlike the ones I prefer, where a single shade is certainly not enough for me!). So, what is the attraction of the stay-put lipsticks? I think that it has something to do with their seeming new, glamorous, in the fashion. There is a novelty in the colour not readily coming off. But, above all, I think that I like the shape of these lipsticks. They are longer and thinner than a conventional lipstick, almost like a tube of mascara. They seem to me to have a lot of style. Touching up my lips in a pub or club, I feel pride in producing my elegant-looking lipstick. It seems a piece of class. This is important because not only is lipstick the kind of make-up I most often touch up in public, but doing so gives me a lot of pleasure. There is a kind of paradox in touching up my lipstick. Colouring my lips is essentially an out-going activity, primarily it changes my appearance to others. Yet, gazing into my handbag mirror, applying the colour to my lips, is an entirely self-absorbed activity. The contrast between the outgoing and inward-looking aspects of doing this seems to me deliciously feminine...  
  Wearing lipstick is something I seem to do for the benefit of others. Unless I look into a mirror (which, vain as I am, is something I only do occasionally) I cannot see my lips. But this appearance of it being for others is an illusion - I wear it for myself. Perhaps that's why I so treasure the feel of lipstick on my lips, and its slight taste. A part of the pleasure of redoing my lips in public is that it means closely contemplating my lips in a mirror. Nor is this a small part of the pleasure. I enjoy looking back at what lipstick does for my lips, I enjoy lipstick period... ...I sashay into the room wrapped in a scarlet sheath. My nails are the same scarlet colour... And my lips? What would my conjuration of feminine allure be without lipstick?

Nov 201520

Perfect Eyelashes

frequently asked questions, how to guides

Perfect Eyelashes

Lightly powder lashes to give mascara a coat to cling to and will give you Perfect Eyelashes Heat eyelash curler with hair dryer for a few seconds. It will act like a curling iron for the eyes. Hint: Curl twice for a rounded curl. Place the open curl near the lash roots and arrange your lashes between the two rims. Squeeze gently for thirty seconds. Squeeze again at mid-lash for another thirty-seconds. It looks very natural. Give upper lashes a second coat of mascara, concentrating on the tips by stroking the brush horizontally across the lash. Never wait when applying second coat of mascara to lashes. Mascara, especially waterproof mascara, dries quickly and can clump. Lightly coat lower lashes

Nov 201520

25 Top Beauty Tips

frequently asked questions, how to guides
Our beautician Debbie Shaw offers her top professional Beauty Tips for making the most of your transformation in the simplest and most cost-effective way.

Lips

1 Turn lipstick into lip-gloss with a coat of lip balm after applying the colour. 2 Put your lip and eye pencils in the refrigerator before sharpening. They're less likely to break - and you won't waste so much. 3 Double up your lip liner to fill in your lips as well as outlining them. 4 To prevent lipstick getting on your teeth, try this tip: after putting it on, put your finger in your mouth, purse your lips and pull it out. 5 Dusting a little loose powder over your lipstick will help it stay put for longer.

Eyes

tips2.jpg6 Eye shadow doubles up as eyeliner, if applied with a cotton bud. Dampen the end of the bud for a more dramatic effect. 7 Use a little green eye shadow on red eyelids to mask the ruddiness. 8 Turn ordinary mascara into the lash-lengthening variety by dusting your eyelashes with a little translucent powder first. 9 Stand a dried-up mascara in a glass of warm water to bring it back to life. tips3.jpg10 If mascara tends to clog on your lower lashes, try using a small thin brush to paint colour onto individual lashes.

Nails

11 Dried-up nail polish can be revived by stirring in a few drops of polish remover before using. 12 Bubbles of air in the polish ruin its finish. Prevent this by rolling the bottle between the palms of your hands to mix it up before using, rather than shaking it vigorously. 13 Make cheap nail polish last longer by sealing it with a clear top coat. tips4.jpg14 Rub a dab of petroleum jelly around the neck of a new nail polish bottle, and it should be easy to open for the rest of its life. 15 You can dry nail polish very quickly by blasting nails with a cold jet of air from your hair dryer.

Eyebrows

16 When plucking your eyebrows, coat the hairs you want to remove with concealer - it will help you visualise exactly the shape of the brow you're after. tips5.jpg17 Use an old clean toothbrush to slick unruly eyebrows into shape. 18 If you find eyebrow tweezing painful, hold an ice cube over the area first to numb the nerve endings before you start. 19 A little foundation lightly rubbed through your eyebrows and brushed through with an old toothbrush will instantly lighten them. 20 If you don't dare shape your eyebrows into a feminine style, at least get rid of the long hairs and those over the bridge of your nose. That's just good male grooming!

Complexion

21 If you've run out of blusher, dot a little pink lipstick on your cheeks and blend well with your fingertips. 22 Sweep a little loose powder under your eyes when applying dark shades of eye shadow to catch any falling specks and stop them staining your foundation. 23 Always use a cosmetic sponge to apply foundation - using your fingertips can result in an uneven, greasy finish. 24 If you've put on too much blusher, tone it down with a little loose powder over the top until you've reached a shade you're happy with. 25 Keep the plastic seals or paper discs that came with tubs of foundation and replace after each use. It helps prevent air from distributing in the product and breeding bacteria - which means the foundation stays fresh for far longer.

User Menu