Until that point, I'd always used Body Shop cosmetics - these were recommended to me by a very good friend, Debbie, when I came out of the closet in March 1996. A smear of colour correction over my beard and moustache area followed by a single coat of foundation looked very good both in artificial light and, when I eventually got enough courage to try it, in daylight as well. However, this stuff was quite oily, and wasn't really suited to my type of skin. Not only that, when I finally stopped shying away from camera lenses, I found that it was very reflective in front of the intense light from a flash tube - several potentially-good pictures were spoilt because I looked like a ghost! So, after nearly 18 months, I'd decided that it was time for a change.
I was already booked into a salon in Norwich to have my legs waxed on August 19th, and I thought it would be a good chance to get some professional advice on different cosmetic products. A cursory glance through one of my wife's woman's magazines had revealed a bewildering number of products claiming this and that, most of which was doubtless just clever marketing hype. Of course, their definition of 'problem skin' is not the same as mine - few of their tests (if any) were done on women with moustaches! Then my wife said: "Brenda uses Clinique stuff, and you know how wonderful her skin looks. Why don't you give it a try?"
Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained, as they say. So, a few days before my trip to Norwich, I phoned Debenhams, which I knew had an extensive cosmetics department, and spoke to Roxy, the lady in charge of the Clinique counter. Always one to be up-front and honest, I explained that I was a tranny, and that I wanted to find a new source of cosmetics. Clinique had been recommended - would it be OK for me to drop by and get some advice? "No problem sir. Ask for me by name, and I'll show you what we've got", was the friendly reply. Oh, I do love Norwich!
So at the appointed time, I went into the store, introduced myself, and took a seat at the counter with Roxy. First, I explained that I wanted something less heavy and less oily than what I was currently using, and also showed her some of the photos from my ghost's gallery. She determined my skin type and colour, and went to get some samples. On my own for a few moments, I looked around. We were situated just by one of the main entrances to the store, in full view of everyone coming and going, and overlooked by a number of the other cosmetics stalls. One of the young ladies on an adjacent counter smiled in my direction, and I nodded back. Then suddenly Roxy had returned, armed with a load of tubes, tubs and bottles. "Are you happy here, or do you want to go somewhere more private?" she asked. I glanced around me again, fully aware that I was on display to the entire shop, whatever Roxy decided she wanted to do. I hadn't booked a full makeover, but maybe she had other ideas? "No, this is fine, thanks", I answered.
Getting down to work, she first introduced me to the Clinique range of oil-free foundations, and suggested a number of things I ought to be doing, demonstrating freely on my face as she spoke. That done, she talked about eye shadow, and "had I thought about this year's colours?" Actually, no, I hadn't - I'd always played safe and used blues. My application technique was also a bit, well, basic, she observed delicately, and would I like her to demonstrate how it should be done? "Go ahead", I grinned. So while Roxy painted my eyelids, showing me what she was doing on a sheet of paper that I could take away, we discussed ways that I could learn for myself how to apply make-up, given that I'd received absolutely no tuition from my mother.
Suddenly, I was aware of someone else standing nearby - I looked round, and saw two gorgeous girls in their late teens watching us. I don't know how long they'd been there, but they were obviously enjoying the show! I smiled at them, and beckoned for them to come closer, but they giggled to each other and hurried off. "I'm sorry, I couldn't resist that", I said. Roxy just smiled.
From personal notes and correspondence.