Stage Makeup for Everyone

Wearing stage makeup is not about unattractiveness or flaws, it's about being able to be seen on stage.  Naturally, the face gets washed out by stage lights and distance from the stage to the audience, so stage makeup is helpful to looks more defined. Both men and women should use stage makeup, and even if you don't wear makeup regulary, it wouldn't hurt to stop by a drugstore, Sephora,
Ulta, or anywhere else near you that sells makeup to pick up a few nesecities.

Remember that every theater is different and requirements for makeup vary.  Some more difficult makeup such as age makeup, scars, dirt, and other techniques may be done by someone for you, or you have to do them yourself.

Moisturizing skin is vital to both healthy skin and long lasting makeup. Depending on your skin type, you can get many types of moisturizers and lotions. These should be applied before makeup and should have time to set.

A good makeup primer is helpful if you tend to have oily skin, especially under hot lights. If you tend to have drier skin, you might be able to get away with skipping this step.

Foundation should be next, and about 2 shades darker than your natural skin tone. Apply this all of the face, ears, neck, and possibly to the top of your chest. Remember to blend evenly so no lines or steaks are shown.

I recommend two different concealers. One should match your foundation color for blemishes, dark spots, or scars on your face. This can also be used to hide an visible tattoos on your body. The other concealer should be a shade or 2 lighter for under your eyes. Apply this in a V shape underneath to highlight more naturally.

Set your foundation and concealer with a powder. Match the color to your face and apply anywhere you applied makeup.

An important step that if often overlooked is eyebrows. Simply filling them in can open up the face. You can get eyebrow pencils, gels, or waxes, but the simist way is just to use an eyeshadow that matches your eyebrow color and an angled makeup brush.

Eyeshadows, unless specificied by the script, director, or anyone in charge if makeup, should be kept naturall. Whites, tans,  creams,  bieges, browns, and blacks are best. A beige or tan on the lid and then brown in the crease  is the most basic look you can create. White under the brow and in the  inner corner highlights the eye.

To contour the face, use a bronzer. This can be put around the face and under the cheeks bones to slim the face. Highlighter can be put the the center of the face, as in the forehead, nose, and chin. It can also be applied above the cheek bones. Blush should be put one the cheeks. As for colors, choose ones best for your skin tone.

Eyeliner is very important for bring out the eyes. It can be applied all along the top lash line and half way on the bottom, to keep the eyes open. The best color for women is black, and men as best suited in brown.

Mascara is basic and should match the eyeliner used. Apply simply to the top and bottom lashes.

An extra step at the end is a setting spray. This can refresh the makeup and  make it last longer.

Makeup varies from high end to drugstore to cheap cheap cheap. Quality all depends on how much you're willingly to pay. Always remember to make sure you know exactly want your director wants you to look like and if you have an problems, YouTube has a multitude of videos to learn how to create costume makeup.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. Best of luck!
Kendall