How to Apply Clown Makeup

Everybody loves a clown! He's the one at the circus who always produces laughs. When you want to create your own clown face, start by learning the three types. The classic Whiteface has a white face with exaggerated features, the Auguste has a flesh-colored face also with an oversized mouth and eyes and the Tramp, whose face is usually darkened and sad. Although the makeup colors may be different for each face, the application techniques are the same.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Grease-based clown makeup
• Baby shampoo or baby wash
• Small paintbrush
• Pictures of clown faces
• Soap
• Large towel or smock
• Cotton swabs
• Small towel
• Warm water
• Baby powder

Apply Clown Makeup Like a Pro

1. Study pictures of clowns to see what different types of faces exist. Clowns enhance their features with their make-up and do not try to disguise them. Take a look at "Strutter's Complete Guide to Clown Makeup" by Jim Roberts, available at Amazon (see Resources below).

2. Use your own face as a guide after seeing some examples of clowns. Determine your best and prominent features that you want to play up with the clown make-up. What may work for you may not work for someone else.

3. Wash your face with warm water and soap and pat dry with a towel.

4. Wrap a large towel around your shoulders and front, or wear a smock. You do not want to get makeup on yourself as you prepare your face.

5. Apply the first layer of make-up, starting with the lightest color. Usually this is white or a color that matches your skin tone. If you are covering your entire face with this color, it may be easiest to use your fingers.

6. Add arched eyebrows, exaggerated lips, and rosy cheeks with appropriate colors, setting each with a thin coating of baby powder. Look at the ceiling and puff some powder out of the bottle into the air. It will land on your face and help keep the make-up in place.

7. Continue working with one color at a time, going from lightest to darkest. For smaller areas, apply with a cotton swab or small paintbrush.

8. Remove your clown makeup at the end of your clowning around, with baby shampoo or baby wash. You may need to apply twice or more to remove all traces of makeup.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not put colors on top of each other. If you will be using red on your cheeks, do not use white on that area. Leave it bare when you apply the white, and apply the red later.
• Let each color of make-up dry and set before you apply the next color. This will prevent the wet colors from running together.

Resources

• Clown books on Amazon

Who Can Help Sponsored

• Are you tired of cakey makeup? Try RawMinerals Free.
• Best of 2009: Mineral Makeup. Try it Free!

[drb1966]

on 5/9/2008 To prevent streaking of the make-up after you apply each color lightly pat it, this will help to evenly spread the make-up and elminate any streaks, especially with the white.

Take a small cotton sock and fill it with about a 1/2 cup of baby powder then tie a knot. Use the "powder sock" to lightly pat each color after application then brush off excess with a shaving brush. Be careful when powdering your colors so you don't transfer them from the sock back onto your face by mistake. Rolling the powder sock in your hands takes care of any excess on the sock.