For me, I started with youtube & buying supplies online. Ha! What a joke! You can spend a fortune overnight & totally tie yourself in knots! I learned there was an Ulta store not terribly far from me, so I contacted them by phone, explained my situation as a newbie transgendered woman just getting her feet wet, & who would they recommend as the most transgender-friendly “tutor” to help me understand what I was getting into.
Oh, Payton was just phenomenal. Now, mind you, I live in one of the most conservative hot-spots in the country, so this was a real test of resolve. But Payton’s fluency in cosmetics was just legendary–& I soon found the same for all of their employees. Altogether, I needed two intro “training sessions” to cover everything from higher-end Chanel products to bargain-basement ELF products. They helped me figure out my skin tones, best colors & compliments, fit everything into my budget, & I left the store just *thrilled*.
Within a day, though, I realized I had next to no idea how to manipulate the applications to get results. Ta-a! Ulta again had a cosmetics training for…what, $40 or $50? The tips & tricks & hands-on experience I got from that made all the difference in the world! Within a month I learned a *lot* from practical experience–esp. brushes; good night, Girl, the right brushes for the right processes are just HUGE! Once Sophia (another epic hostess at Ulta) helped me figure out the best foundation brush, blending brush, & eye kit, haha! Despite the time & effort, I look forward to painting my face every morning just because of the results!
