Back to the Basics: Male Grooming

For many makeup artists, the first male grooming job may be a bit intimidating, but don't worry! We’ve got you covered! From which products to use to the tools you should keep in your kit, we’ll break down the basic steps to getting a man Camera Ready.

Brows are truly the frame for the face, and a good brow grooming session can change the entire look. It's important to have a good pair of tweezers, brow scissors, and tools to comb the brows in your kit. To shape them, comb them into place with a spoolie brush or a disposable mascara wand and trim any excessively long hairs using brow scissors. Gently pluck out of place hairs with tweezers. Don’t worry about setting the brows during this step. We will tackle that task later!

Even if your client tells you he washed his face already, it's important to cleanse again. Start by gently exfoliating the lips, and cleanse the entire face with Bioderma Sensibio H20 on a cotton pad to whisk away oil and impurities. Apply a thin layer of lip balm and moisturize the skin with a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer like Avène Hydrance Aqua Gel. This moisturizer is the ultimate multitasker because it's safe to use around the eye contour and is suitable for all skin types. For oily skin, Nurturing Force Blot Out Offensive is a pro favorite because it is a moisturizer and an oil-controlling primer all-in-one! If you opt for Nurturing Force, go ahead to the next step.

Once the moisturizer has absorbed into the skin, apply an oil-absorbing primer. We recommend Embryolisse Emulsion Hydra-Mat and Avene Cleanance Mattifying Emulsion. Both provide extra hydration while absorbing excess oil, leaving the skin smooth and matte all day. If he has a bit of redness or a slightly dull complexion, the Makeup Forever Color Correcting Step 1 Primers are great additions to your kit.

Your regular beauty routine calls for concealer next, don't rush to apply it the same way to a man. Perform a quick spot check first for any imperfections, and if he needs a little cover-up, apply concealer sparingly. The goal is to spot conceal and reduce the appearance of any blemishes. The lighting will do the rest for you.

While you may not use it for every male grooming job, it's important to have a few color correctors in your kit. Many men tend to have redness around their noses or dark circles. The Graftobian Hi-Def Glamour Creme Corrector Palette offers corrector shades for both light and deep skin tones to counteract any discoloration he may have.

To even out the complexion, apply a light layer of foundation, and blend it into the hairline and down to the neck. RCMA Cream Foundation is a pro favorite because it photographs well and has a skin-like finish when it's applied to a properly prepped face. If you prefer using a liquid foundation, Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Foundation offers buildable coverage with a natural finish.

To ensure you're not over-applying, we recommend using a sponge for seamless, light coverage. Wet the sponge, squeeze out excess water, and use it to pat on the foundation. Keep in mind, you are aiming for a no-makeup-makeup look, so if you need to add more coverage, add very thin layers until you reach the desired look.

PRO Tip: If it's been a while since he had a haircut, you can use a light layer of foundation along his hairline to create the look of having a fresh cut. Use a buffing brush to blend it well and to ensure you don't have any harsh lines.

Next up, it's time to powder! Studio lights and high-definition cameras pick up on the tiniest bit of shine, so set the makeup in place with a powder that provides a natural finish like Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Loose Translucent Powder or Graftobian Dual-Finish Powder Foundation. For touch-ups, RCMA No Color Powder and Mehron Touch Up Matte Finishing Anti-Shine Gel will come in handy to eliminate shine. Focus on the T-zone, as this is the area that tends to produce the most oil.

Now that you have achieved complexion perfection, it's time to set the brows. Make Up For Ever Aqua Resist Brow Fixer is a great choice for men with brows that only need to be brushed and held in place. For men with thicker brows that require a little more work, opt for a stronger hold with Graftobian StudioBrow Eyebrow Styling Wax , Kryolan Eyebrow Forming Gel, or Brett Brow Arch Control Gel. 

You're almost done! Take a look at your work from all angles to ensure your makeup is well-blended. If the makeup is looking a little too matte, a quick spritz of Avène Thermal Spring Water or Koh Gen Do Herbal Spa Mist will bright the complexion back to life. If you've applied too much foundation and have lost some of the definition of his facial features, lightly contour with a powder that is only slightly deeper than his skin tone.

The final step is to ensure the hair is also well-groomed for an overall put-together look. Tame any flyaways with a lightweight hair spray with flexible hold. If the job calls for a sleeker look, Sachajuan Matt Wax will help you style and hold the hair in place with a matte finish so you don’t have to worry about unwanted shine.

If he has facial hair, comb it into place and fill in any sparse areas with the same products you'd use to fill in brow hair. Apply one last thin coat of lip balm, and that's it! He's Camera Ready!

In a nutshell, the key to getting a man camera ready is covering up any blemishes, evening out the skin tone, eliminating shine, and ensuring his hair and brows look neat. Pretty simple, right? To shop our top picks for male grooming products, click here.

We hope this blog has given you the confidence to tackle your next male grooming job, but if you have any questions, we are here to help! Click here to contact one of our Beauty Advisors for additional tips and tricks!

Camera Ready Cosmetics was founded in 2003 by Makeup Artist Mary Erickson. She dreamed of having a pro makeup showroom where artists could play with professional products without the typical makeup store attitude.

Today, our team of beauty industry veterans work together to curate the best quality products on the market. We partner with brands who respect the industry and formulate products for true working artists. You won’t find CRC in high-end malls, and we don't wear matching brush belts.

If you want to play with products for a few hours and buy nothing, that's okay ... come in and play! Our store is your playground.