APPLYING STAGE MAKEUP
t’s time to organise your costume and get started on making up your face, but what you might not realise is that stage makeup is an art and quite an essential skill to have that differs a lot from your everyday makeup. It does take quite a bit of trial and error (and lots and lots of bad selfies) but it is something a budding performer needs to learn to help build their character on stage. At first it might seem unnatural to put so much on but you need to remember that stage makeup is not mean to be seem up close, and those exaggerated eyebrows you reluctently drew will actually look more natural under the lights than your everyday glamour face which will get lost. So how exactly is it done?
USE A GOOD BASE If you don’t normally use foundation, now is the time to invest in a good base. For performing you need to apply more than you normally would to go clubbing so choose the right colour for your skin and blend it in not forgetting your jaw line and down the neck. If you have a open budget use Mehron barrier spray to protect your skin that also works to insulate sensitive skin from harsh adhesives. You can also use it to set your makeup to stop you sweating and prevent your face being melted off.
EXAGGERATE YOUR FEATURES In my first performance I did my makeup based on real life glamour, but the truth is performance isn’t anything like real life and all my features where lost. No one is standing next to you watching your act, they are quite far away and doing it too light will mean you loose all your best features. You really don’t want to look glamorous in the mirror at face value, the trick is to look glamorous from afar and do it that you need to exaggerate and over do your appearance. At first the thought might seem stupid but it will pay off once you see your photos. Be careful not to go too far though, you do not want to look like a clown doing the splits so practice your look and do a lot of research in order to find the right balance.
CONTOUR I’m quite new to makeup but contouring is an essential skill to master. You can pick up some good contouring kits online so look for one that complements your skin tone and work those features so they stand out. Parts to concentrate are your cheekbones, frame of your face and nose (if you want to make it smaller). Don’t forget to blend it in so you don’t look like a zebra and there are hundreds of online tutorials on youtube that can help you learn how to do it well.
DONT SKIMP ON THE EYES I know not everyone feels confident sticking a pencil in their eye but practice makes perfect and now is the time to start. Use both liquid and pencil to see which one you can use effectively and apply slowly – don’t rush. And whatever you do, DO NOT SKIP YOUR EYES! Skipping the eyes can make you look flat and ghosty and its not the look you want to achieve… even if your playing a ghost – work it out! Apply mascara and fake eyelashes also help bring the eyes some drama. Look for natural lashes as they feel less heavy and you don’t even notice you have them one. When applying eyeliner, be sure to do it under the water line to make your eyes look bigger.
LIPSTICK TRICK You also want to make sure your lips stand out. Using natural or light colours will wash away so look for a colour that stands out and matches your character or piece. Apply lip liner and hunt for a lipstick that has a 24hour stay rate that won’t rub off or fade.
GET GOOD BRUSHES Ive started using makeup brushes and I couldn’t live without them now. You don’t have to spend a fortune, however good brushes do come at a cost but you can still pick up some at reasonable prices from most chemist and supermarkets. Make sure you get a blending brush for countering and for eyeshadow, it will make the difference trust me.
PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE Don’t wait for the night to start trialing your makeup, start now so you can learn all the tecniques you need to make your face what it needs to be. If your not confident jump online and start learning, you don’t want to be stuck on opening night in a panic. Practice really does make perfect and the more you do it the easier it will become. Get cracking to look fabulous today and good luck. Break a leg!
