How to Do Scene Makeup for Close-Ups

Scene makeup often uses bright, bold colors.

Scene makeup is worn by a population of "scene" kids who favor intense, dramatic makeup, concentrating on the eyes. Scene makeup styles range from glamorous and seductive to goth and punk. There aren't hard-and-fast rules when it comes to scene makeup. As long as it's executed well, just about anything goes. To prepare for a close-up, such as a photo or video shoot, avoid ultra-cheap makeup, which may not last long and can become caked.

Things You'll Need

• Makeup brushes
• Eye shadow
• Eyeliner
• Lip gloss

Instructions

1. Apply foundation and primer to the face, before applying the makeup. This will help the makeup go on more smoothly and last longer, creating the best possible appearance for a close-up.

2. Choose dark eye makeup to create a dramatic look. Black, gray, purple, brown, navy blue, deep green and even dark pink are popular choices. Apply shadow heavily to the lids, smudging it slightly to create a smoky look.

3. Draw on a dark eyeliner, winging it at the ends to create a "cat eye" look. To do this, apply liner to the upper lash line as usual, and then create the wing from the outside, working inward, and connecting with the original line. Then line the inner lower lid with eyeliner, as well.

4. Add eye shadow in a bold, bright color to the outer eyelid or to the inner "V" where the upper and lower lids meet.

5. Coat the eyelashes with several coats of black mascara. Alternatively, apply faux eyelashes for long, full eyelashes. Some brands of mascara even offer mascara in neon colors.

6. Swipe on a sheer, neutral lip gloss. Leave cheeks bare.

Tips & Warnings

• While makeup styles vary, scene makeup often puts a lot of focus on the eyes. All other makeup should be less bold, so as not to draw attention away from the peepers.

• Scene makeup can either be entirely dark or entirely bright, or a combination of both. Choose eye makeup in either or both styles. Two-toned eyes that mix dark and bright colors can be done in various ways, including rimming the dark shadow with bright shadow, or applying one shadow to half of the eyelid and the other shadow to the other half.

• For a glamorous look, choose makeup that contains shimmer or glitter. Eyeliner, for example, comes in glitter colors.

References

• Become Gorgeous: Scene Makeup
• Scene Hairstyles: Scene Makeup
• Urban Dictionary: Scene Makeup