I grew up as a theatre kid, singing and dancing my way through middle and high school. There are so many exciting elements to performing, from telling a story and making music, to taking on a new persona and donning interesting costumes and makeup. When you're on stage, there's often no such thing as too much makeup. The stage lights can easily wash you out, so working with a heavier hand to ensure your features are highlighted is perfectly acceptable. I have a lot of fun doing makeup for the stage and find that it is a great way to be bold and change up your look. You are transforming into a new character, after all.
Here is my typical makeup routine for basic stage makeup. Every show is a bit different, but this can act as a good starting point.
FOUNDATION
First is foundation. Choose a shade that matches your skin color or one shade darker, and apply it evenly to the face using your fingers or a brush. I like to start from the center of the face and work outwards. Make sure to bring the foundation down your neck a little so there are no harsh lines.
CONCEALER
Next, take a concealer in a shade lighter than your foundation, and apply it under the eyes and on any blemishes. You want to add brightness to the eyes and create a lifted affect. To do this, blend the concealer in a V shape under the eyes and out towards the hairline.
POWDER
Layering on a light dusting of powder either all over the face or just down the center will help keep your makeup locked in place and minimize shine. A matte finish is better for the stage than glowy because you might get a little shiny (aka, sweaty) when you perform.
EYEBROWS
A lot of your emotion comes from the brows, so it is critical that they read to the audience. Use a brow pencil to lightly fill in sparse areas, keeping the strokes thin so they mimic real brow hairs. Then apply a tinted brow gel on top.
BLUSH & CONTOUR
Then come the cheeks! Apply your favorite rosy blush on the apples of the cheeks and work the product outward. I like to smile when putting on blush to better see my cheekbones.
As far as contour goes, I just do a little. Swipe some cream contour under the cheekbones and along the sides of the nose, and blend, blend, blend. It's better you apply too little and need more than to apply too much and need less.
EYELINER
Take a liquid eyeliner and apply a thin line to the upper lash line. Then take a cream or gel eyeliner and define the outer three quarters of the lower lash line, and bam, you're set! Easier said than done, though. 😉
MASCARA
Time for my favorite part! Use an eyelash curler if you have one, and then apply a few generous coats of mascara to the lashes. This instantly takes your look to the next level and makes your expression more animated. And, if you're feeling fancy, put on some false lashes to bump up the drama.
LIPSTICK
Rounding out the basic stage makeup is lipstick. I determine my color choice by my character, costume, and time period of the show, but in general, I choose a rose colored lippie.
Here are a few pictures of my makeup for various productions. First we have Peter Pan...
Beauty and the Beast...
And The Wizard of Oz...
Alright my friends, get out there and break a leg!
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