If you are a performing artist in theater, dance, or music, I’m sure you understand the importance of stage makeup. It plays a crucial role in setting the tone, visual aesthetic, and character creation in any production. You need stage makeup to clearly convey expression and emotion to your audience. However, stage makeup can be insanely challenging, and that’s why productions usually hire professional stage makeup artists to do the job. Whether you are a newbie or have been given the task to do someone else’s on-stage look, it is essential that you learn the basic art of applying stage makeup.
We’ve put together a simple stage makeup tutorial that will come in handy for all you performing arts peeps.
How To Apply Stage Makeup – A Basic Guide
Unlike daily makeup, stage makeup aims at highlighting all of your facial features under the brightest of lights. Creating a bold base that is designed for heavy duty and long-wear is absolutely critical. Remember: the key to stage makeup (like in theater itself) is to be as dramatic as possible to make your (or the actor’s) presence felt on the stage.
What You Need
With these elements in your makeup box, you’ll be fully equipped to fit into any role:
- Primer
- Foundation
- Concealer
- Powder
- Blush
- Contouring palette
- Eyeshadow palette
- Makeup brushes
- Eyeliner
- Mascara
- False eyelashesTutorial – Step By Step Tutorial With Pictures
Step 1: Apply Foundation
Start with a fresh, clean face. Do the usual prep – cleansing, toning, moisturizing, and priming.
Now, apply small amounts of foundation on your face with a makeup sponge or a brush, building it up as you go. The trick is to blend the formula into your skin really, really well, especially concentrating around your hairline and jawline. Harsh, unblended foundation lines are a big no-no when you are on stage.
Step 2: Apply Concealer
Step 3: Apply Powder
Step 4: Contour Your Face
Step 5: Do Your Brows
Step 6: Apply Eye Shadow
Step 7: Finish The Eyes
Winged eyeliner looks best on stage as it extends and accentuates the shape of your eyes. Apply a dark, liquid eyeliner on your top lash line. To create the wing, simply extend the line upward past the end of your lash line. The wing should curve upward at the same angle as your lower lash line.
For your bottom lash line, use a gel pencil eyeliner. Next, take a small brush and apply a very concentrated line of dark brown eyeshadow just above your crease. Blend in the eyeshadow to create an intense look. Then, apply a thin coating of eyelash glue to your false eyelash, wait around 30 seconds for it to dry a little, and gently apply it as close to your natural lash line as possible. Once your eyelash glue has completely dried, apply a thick coat of black waterproof mascara to your upper and lower lashes.
Step 8: Apply Lipstick
Step 9: Apply Blush
To finish off the look, apply some bright pink blush on your cheeks. The best way to apply blush is to smile and blend in the blush into the apples of your cheeks.
Stage makeup is quite heavy and needs to be taken off properly at the end of the day. Check out the next section to find out how to remove stage makeup the right way.
How To Remove Stage Makeup
Wearing elaborate stage makeup can take its toll on your skin and removing it the right way is an essential step in maintaining your skin’s health. Stage makeup is not designed to stay on your face for very long periods as it can clog pores and cause breakouts. So, depending on how much makeup you are using, you may have to use a more heavy-duty, professional makeup remover than you usually use. Also, make sure you wash your face thoroughly at the end of the night.
That was our take on how to apply basic stage makeup in nine simple steps. Learning how to do the basics will always come in handy for performers as the talent at small venues is often expected to do their own makeup. We hope this tutorial helps you in achieving the perfect look for your next performance. Have any more questions? Comment below, and we’ll get back to you!