Makeup for Men: 6 Must-Have Male Makeup Products for Beginners

What is the best makeup for men?

While makeup artists and drag masters have ALL the answers, we mere mortals have questions!

—Is makeup for men's faces different from women’s?

—What are the best male makeup products if you’re just starting out?

—Do you need special ingredients in concealer for men?

Jumping into makeup can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be! Here are a few key products men can mix and match to look their best.

6 must-have male makeup products for beginners

1. Best makeup for men: Moisturizer

Moisturizer tows the line between self care and makeup, and most people already have this basic step down.

Still, for the true beginners out there, we cannot stress enough how important it is to moisturize in order to keep skin hydrated and protected and to prevent early aging.

—Grab a moisturizer with an SPF of 15 or 30

—Use it every morning after you shower or wash your face

2. Makeup for men: Primer

When it comes to makeup for men's faces, primer is a great but often forgotten product. Not only does primer create a barrier between your skin and any products you use after it, but it also makes those products stay where you put them, which creates a more subtle application. Primer also happens to be one of the best male makeup products because it helps even out complexion and stop the dreaded raccoon eyes.

Here at Beautyblender, we’ve got two primers that are ideal for men:

1. Opal Essence™ Serum Primer, which works on normal-to-dry skin and goes on invisibly

2. The Leveler Primer, which is ideal for oily skin and comes in two shades for sheer coverage

Both primers are formulated to smooth skin, alleviate redness and minimize pores, so you’re covered no matter which way you go. But, if you aren’t quite ready to continue your makeup journey with foundation or concealer, opt for The Leveler. Since you can choose light-medium or tan-deep, a dime-size drop all over your face will smooth out your complexion, even if it’s the only thing you use after moisturizer.

3. Makeup for men: Sponge

Before we dig into foundation and concealer, we need to talk Beautyblenders. As you might have guessed, the Beautyblender is kinda the reason *all this* exists, and that’s because it’s the best sponge in the biz — not just for makeup, but for moisturizer, primer, concealer, foundation, etc. And a blender is a really crucial male makeup product because it allows you to put products where you want them and nowhere else.

Here’s how it works:

—Wet: Hold your blender under running water until it’s saturated

—Squeeze: Wring out all the excess water — you should see your sponge has doubled in size

—Bounce: Bounce — don’t drag — your moisturizer, primer or concealer across your skin

Why do we bounce? Glad you asked! Dragging a blender (or any sponge) across your skin smudges and streaks products. Bouncing, on the other hand, creates a uniform application without streaks or lines, which is key when you’re working toward a natural finish. And remember: While the OG Beautyblender works great for faces of every size, you can always upgrade to the Bodyblender XL Blender if you want to cover more surface area quickly.

4. Makeup for men: Foundation

So, foundation for men: What’s it all about? Do you need it? Tbh, it all comes down to what makes you feel comfortable in your skin.

Foundation is great for dialing down redness, covering zits, evening out skin and stopping oil and shine. If you’re happy with your complexion and just need to cover an under eye circle or zit, you can skip straight to concealer. If your complexion is more, well, complex, foundation may become a surprisingly crucial part of your routine.

But you’ve gotta start with the right foundation. We recommend BOUNCE foundation for men because it’s weightless, which means your skin will look bare even with it on.

—Find your match online by using Shade Finder, which will help you choose from 40 inclusive shades in less than 2 minutes.

—If you’re more of an in-person kind of guy, swing by a Sephora to get matched (and pick up your partner a gift card while you’re there for bonus points).

—Wet and squeeze your Beautyblender, dab it into your product and bounce it all over your face until everything is covered.

—Be sure to bounce any product up to your hairline and down under your chin.

One big pro of foundation for men, especially when applied with a Beautyblender, is that it works on skin through stubble. While concealer can cling to facial hair, a light foundation like BOUNCE will stick to your skin, which means you can perfect your complexion, even through a five o’clock shadow.

5. Makeup for men: Concealer

Concealer for men is a bit of a no-brainer. Unless you’ve got perfect skin, concealer has something to offer, which is probably why 1 in 3 men say they’re down to try it. Not only will concealer cover dark spots and zits, but the right concealer for men will also plump, brighten and smooth your skin — all of which are crucial if you’re looking for one little product to make a big difference.

IOHO, any concealer for men should contain:

—Hyaluronic acid to hydrate and plump skin

—Tetrapeptides to reduce puffiness around the eyes

Not to brag or anything, but BOUNCE Airbrush Liquid Whip Concealer happens to have both. Plus, it comes in a sleek package with a wand applicator that’s perfect for treating just the spots you need covered or camouflaged. Just dab, wait a couple seconds to let BOUNCE take hold of skin, and then use your finger or sponge to blend it in.

But don’t take our word for it — check out what BOUNCE can do for any complexion:

6. Makeup for men: Brow brush

The final entry into the best makeup for men is a brow brush. Many guys underestimate the importance of eyebrows, but there’s a fine line between groomed ‘n’ gorgeous and bushy ‘n’ busted.

The solution is simple: Grab THE PLAYER: 3-Way Brow Brush.

—One side has a spoolie — aka a small round comb — to brush and blend brows

—The other side has a soft brush that’s great for applying brow gel to fill in or tame unruly hairs

Just grab, swipe and go — no muss, no fuss.