Grooming Tips for Men & Masculine-Presenting People

We’re not into the whole gendered makeup thing in 2022 when it comes to beauty or men’s grooming. Makeup is makeup for anyone and you can use it regardless of how you identify or present.

The good news is that it appears others are catching on. It seems as if every other week a male celebrity is releasing a skincare or nail polish collection. Harry Styles just announced that his brand, Pleasing, is launching a limited edition makeup range. We’re in a climate where masculine-presenting people are becoming more open to trying new things that will make them look and feel their best, and that includes makeup.

Keep in mind: Wearing makeup doesn’t automatically mean you have to create a full-on look—you can also use it to enhance what you’re naturally working with. A little brow gel or bronzer here and there can actually be super helpful in helping remedy some common grooming concerns, like fixing a patchy beard or brightening dull skin. You’ve just gotta get the technique down.

We’re here to help with just that. Read on to find out how some of our products can enhance your grooming routine. These simple hacks can help you out when you’re in a bind—and make you look your best with minimal effort.

1. How to Shave With Facial Cleanser

If you ever find yourself in a situation where you don’t have any shaving cream, don’t panic. And definitely don’t try your hand at dry shaving. When you're in a bind, you can always use soap as a shaving cream substitute, though it’s not ideal. Those types of products are often made with ingredients that can strip the skin of natural oils.

That’s why Tim Coolican, Milk Makeup CEO, uses a gentle, sulfate-free cleanseras a shaving cream. “I’m always looking to save time in the morning,” he says. “Cleanser works like a two-in-one for me because I use it to both wash my face and shave.”

Start with a clean face, ideally after a shower, when your facial hair is soft. Then, grab your cleanser and apply it to your beard. Make sure you get a good lather: That will help the razor glide smoothly across your face. Now, it’s time to shave—go with the grain (aka the direction your hair grows) and be sure to rinse your blade off after every swipe. This helps keep the blade sharp and prevent razor burn. “A good cleanser formula deep cleans while also giving a close shave,” says Tim. “It leaves my skin feeling hydrated—never tight—and smooth and soft without any irritation.”

Once you’re satisfied, rinse your face off with cold water. This will help tighten the look of your pores and soothe your skin. Apply some moisturizer to help calm and nourish skin, slap on some SPF, and you’re done.

Pro tip: if you're dealing with ingrown hairs, swipe on a little bit of our Cooling Water. The balmy texture is made with natural seawater that helps soothe your skin.

Model applies Milk Makeup Vegan Milk Cleanser to his face, then uses a razor to shave.

2. How to Fill in a Patchy Beard With Eyebrow Fiber

Not everyone is blessed with flawless facial hair—patchy beards are a fact of life. But instead of trying your luck on a weird, non-FDA-approved beard growth supplement you saw on TikTok, let’s talk about how a little bit of fiber brow gel can help temporarily fill in those patches.

Our KUSH Fiber Brow Gel is available in eight shades, so you should be able to find one that matches your facial hair. The trick here is to pick a color that’s a shade lighter than your actual beard hair—it’s easier to blend into your natural beard color, whereas a darker shade will stand out more. With the tip of the spoolie, gently dot some brow gel on some of your patchy areas, then use a finger to blend it out.

Model applies Milk Makeup KUSH Fiber Brow Gel to beard and blends in.

3. How to Cover Up Blemishes With Concealer

Pimples happen, dark circles happen—life happens and sometimes it shows on your face in the form of unwanted blemishes. But you don’t have to let a little zit run your day. Just dab on some concealer to cover it up.

Our new Future Fluid All Over Cream Concealer is a go-to for this. Its hydrating, medium-to-full coverage formula leaves a natural, weightless finish when you blend it in. Plus, it’s made with a bunch of skin-loving ingredients that actually help improve the look of your skin over time. So next time you notice a pimple—or maybe you just wanna cover up some dark circles after a rough night—apply some concealer directly onto the targeted area. Then blend it in with your fingers.

“For men, I recommend keeping it super light,” says Sara Wren, Milk Makeup’s Global Director of Artistry. “Use a small amount of concealer mixed with moisturizer to make a super sheer tint or spot coverage over a blemish or post-shaving redness.” It’s that easy.

Model applies Milk Makeup Future Fluid All-Over Cream Concealer to undereyes, blends in.

4. How to Add Color to Your Face With Bronzer

Summer tan fading away? A little bit of bronzer can help you fake a glow year-round. Our Bionic Bronzer is perfect for this: super easy to use, plus “it plays very well with [other products],” as Sara notes. The liquid formula is made with ingredients like hyaluronic acid to give you plumper-looking skin and can be worn easily over moisturizer or concealer.

The key is to hit the spots where you’d naturally get some sun like your nose, cheekbones, forehead, and jawline. Dab on some bronzer in those areas, then blend it all out with your fingers for a warm, natural glow. Feel free to add another layer for more payoff.

Those are just a few of the ways you can add some Milk Makeup into your grooming routine. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different products and see for yourself.

Model applies Milk Makeup Bionic Bronzer to cheekbones and blends in.

Meet the Expert

Tim Coolican (he/him) is the CEO of Milk Makeup. He is deeply involved in expanding the brand and bringing Milk Makeup to the next level, focusing on innovation, product development, sales—anything to boost our profile. When he's not on the grind spreading the Milk gospel, he's schooling us all on Pearl Jam and how to put together the perfect 'fit (white tee, jeans, sneaks...always).

Sara Wren (she/her) is the Director of Artistry at Milk Makeup. In her role, she does all the makeup artistry and direction for our Milk Makeup global campaigns, educates the staff and field team on application methods, stars in the brand’s social media videos, and travels to different markets spreading Milk Makeup’s good vibes. When she’s not on set, Sara loves experimenting with DIY hair colors, eating tacos, watching basketball, and scouring for vintage cosmetics to add to her impressive collection.