How Not to Look Washed-Out Under Stage Lights

Fake eyelashes can help bring out your eyes on stage.

The correct makeup can make the difference between a great stage performance and a mediocre one. Whether you are a ballet dancer or an actor, the makeup you wear enhances your facial expressions. If you wear regular daytime makeup on stage, the spotlights and stage lighting will give you a washed-out, ghost-like appearance. This occurs because daytime makeup is too sheer to be seen from a distance. However, stage makeup has a higher pigmentation and gives better coverage. This makeup helps your face stand out, so you'll even impress audience members all the way in the back row.

Things You'll Need

• Face wash
• Towel
• Makeup sponge
• Foundation -- formulated as stage makeup
• Eye shadow
• Eyeliner
• Eyelash curler
• Mascara
• Eyebrow powder
• Lip liner
• Lipstick

Instructions

1. Wet your face with water. Massage an oil-free face wash into your skin. Rinse off the facial wash with water, and pat your face dry with a towel. Always start with clean skin when applying stage makeup.

2. Apply foundation with a makeup sponge, to remove any paleness from your face. If you have a tan or dark complexion, select a shade that's similar to the color of your skin. Otherwise, use a foundation that's one shade darker than your skin tone. Distribute the foundation evenly over your entire face.

3. Create shadows and highlights to accentuate your facial features. Blend a foundation that's two shades darker than your skin tone over select areas of your face that you want to camouflage. Sweep the darker foundation on both sides of your face over your jawline, from your ear to your chin. Suck in your cheeks, and apply it in the hollows of your cheeks. Sweep foundation that's one shade lighter than your skin tone over your cheekbones, up to your temples, to highlight them.

4. Apply a light, cream eye shadow over your eyelids, from your eyelashes up to the crease. The lighter color makes your eyes seem bigger. Then add a dark, cream eye shadow over the crease of your eye.

5. Line your upper eyelids with black eyeliner to make them seem larger. Use a liquid eyeliner, because this gives a more dramatic effect and is more noticeable from a distance. Extend the eyeliner from the inner corner of your eye, over the natural curve of your eyelid, to slightly past the outer corner of your eye. Don't be afraid to make a thick line, to help emphasize your eyes.

6. Line the outer two-thirds of your lower eyelids. Make a thin line, because a thick one can run and smudge more easily.

7. Curl your lashes with an eyelash curler to open your eyes even more. Place the eyelash curler as close as possible to the roots of your lashes. Squeeze the clamps together for five seconds. Repeat the curling action at the middle point of your eyelashes.

8. Apply a coat of mascara from the roots to the tips of your eyelashes. Wait 30 seconds and apply a second coat of mascara.

9. Darken your eyebrows with eyebrow powder in a similar shade as your eyebrow hairs. Brush the powder through the hairs to get rid of any gaps. Follow the natural shape of the eyebrows.

10. Use a bright, red lipstick to draw attention to your mouth. Line your lips with a red or neutral lip liner. If you have thin lips, line outside their outer edges to make them seem bigger. Color your lips with red lipstick. To put the emphasis on your eyes, choose a natural, nude, brown or pink lipstick color.

Tips & Warnings

• Even though stage makeup may look thick and unnatural off the stage, it flatters your face on stage.

References

• Makeup Artist World: Theater makeup
• Campaign Urbana Ballet: Large Stage Makeup