I was speaking to my mother the other day, who happens to be 70 years old. She said to me: "Have you forgotten everything I taught you!"

The subject matter was not cosmetics. No, it was much more surreal. I was riding my bike around the old neighborhood wearing a dress. This caused my mother to go ballistic, spew forth her old fashioned ideas, and berate my lack of practicing of her preaching.

I ask, does it matter if you wear a dress when riding a bike or is it just important to wear make-up when wearing a dress and riding your bike? Food for thought!

This month I am going to discuss not forgetting what we have been taught. And what is it that we may have forgotten that is so crucial to understanding our existence as transgendered people? Knowing your tools and their proper use.

The hardest thing to get over when trying to fight old habits and indolence is the commitment to learn what each and every product will do and how to take advantage of this knowledge. After that, one must find the time, which is the second most difficult obstacle to overcome in this journey of success. But if you can do these two things - learn your products and take time to practice, you are already 55% of the way towards looking the way you have always dreamed.

Now, the only way you are going to know what a product will do is to:

1. Read the information packet that comes with each product.
2. Practice the instructions, until you have a clear understanding of how it works.
3. Experiment with the combination of products, just to see what will happen if you do. This way, you will know way ahead of time that water does not mix, what colors do not blend well and how much is too much?

Tools of the Trade

Brushes

Brushes are a key product to master and understand. I cannot stress enough how important it is to understand what each and every brush will do as well as how to interchange their uses. Each brush serves a specific purpose.

In most cases their use will be printed on the stem of the brush, i.e., a translucent brush will say powder on the side. An eyeshadow brush will say the same and etc. Also, the most expensive brushes are the ones you want to purchase. Sable hair are the finest because the softer the bristle the smoother the application. What sable brushes also offer is the cut of the hairs; the best is ones are cut into layers, which offers more control and reduces your blending time.

TRANSLUCENT POWDER - Large head, opens wide to collect powder and is to be used only with translucent powders. Sometimes called a dome or superdome brush.

BLUSH - Cut with many layers for easy application and blending is to be used only for blushers. The longer handle gives you better control of the application.

EYESHADOW - Cut with precision on an angle and shaped like a small half- moon used with eyeshadow, or concealer's to give a well blended appearance.

EYELINER - Very small bristle head, used to apply eyeliner or to blend the already applied liner.

SPONGE - A sponge that is designed in a shape of the corner of the eye for easy application.

ANGLED SHADING - A very soft bristled brush designed to fit perfectly in the crease of t he eye for a well defined line, where ever need in the eye area.

SMALL FLUFF - A small soft bristle brushed used for eyeshadow defining and blending.

LARGE FLUFF - A soft bristled brush used for eyeshadow or highlighting the upper eyelids.

LIP - A very finely cut angled brushed designed for the application of lipstick to offer great control and easy blending.

Other Very Useful Tools

There are a few extra tools that need to be discussed for their charms, virtues and time saving factors.

TWEEZERS - As far as tweezers go, I suggest you purchase a ingrown hair tweezer. Most CD's shave which leaves the hair growing inverted, causing ingrown hairs. This tweezer is designed very thin at the head so you can slide it into the follicle for easy removal of the hair.

NOSE CLIPPERS - I must say, the one sure way to tell that it may be a man in woman's clothing is to detect nose airs. Woman for the most part do not have hair excessive hair growing from the nose. If you have not purchased a nose clipper I recommend it highly.

SPONGES - Latex sponges are used when applying foundations, blending, cheeks and eyes. They can be cleaned and re-used. You may find them in any drug store. Once you discover the virtues of the sponge, you will never want to use anything else.

PALETTE - a flat board like plate with a hole for the thumb used to mix foundations, eyeshadow or any cosmetic material.

ACETONE - Nail polish remover. Also to remove excess glue, left over residue on nails and to dissolve artificial nails.

COTTON SQUARES - used to apply toner, remove eye make-up and nail polish. Cotton squares are preferred to cotton balls as they do not stick to the beard as the balls do. They leave the face virtually free of cotton streaks.

Q-TIPS - I refer to these as my "best friends". They are used to blend eyeshadow, to clean the corners of the eyes from goop and to pick-up any fallen eyeliner. They fit easily into your purse and when used are easily disposed.

I realize that my mothers words have little to meaning to those of you who are reading this, but if you would just trust me to know that Mother is always right. So, please do not forget what it is you have been taught, especially when referring to cosmetic application. However, when riding a bike, you can where a dress if you choose to.

This is CDTips asking for your questions, so we can all get the right answers.
Luv,
Lynda.

Ms. Tips is looking for your beauty question. Use the form below to ask her a question she will answer in a future column.