What Process is Best for Applying Stage Makeup?

Stage makeup has been utilized by many performers over the centuries to help create a particular character or emphasize the natural features of a performer. Stage makeup has a particular purpose and learning how to apply it is key.

Women in particular have been wearing makeup for centuries, from Ancient Egyptian times throughout history in many parts of the world to the present day. Moreover there are many different reasons why makeup is utilized by women and men.

Why Women in Particular Wear Makeup?

Women use makeup for a number of reasons. Some women like to feel comfortable and confident, others wear it to have people look and admire them, others wear it because their culture requires them to wear it in a specific manner.

However social scientists believe that the reason why women wear makeup whether they realise this or not is because they want to portray themselves as attractive to men and highly fertile. The makeup below indicates the physical characteristics of arousal.

• Blush – creates the illusion of flushed cheeks, which indicates sexual arousal
• Lipstick or Lip Gloss – lips that have more contrast with the skin indicate higher fertility. So, having plump, rosy lips makes it look like it’s that fertile time of the month.
• Foundation – creates the illusion of unblemished and even skin, a classic sign of youthfulness and good health.

 Of course makeup is an artificial alluring practice, but due to its prevalence in today’s society, many women and men recognise its drawing power not only with men, but also with women as well. 

Why Do Performers Need Makeup?

When it comes to the stage, women and men utilize makeup for similar purposes, to enhance their own natural features so that they aren’t ‘washed out’ under the harsh stage lights. Another reason is for performers to help create a particular character; makeup and costume is a great tool to do so.

Supplies

Assuming you have your own makeup kit ready to apply your own stage makeup the following would be very helpful in keeping all your makeup bits and bobs together.

Items You’ll Need to apply stage makeup

You’ll need a kit of some kind: The first kit is a simple craft kit which you can get from any craft, plastic store or even from the fishing area of a large mart like Kmart or Walmart. They are big enough to hold your foundation, cream eyeshadows and bits and bobs. This one is perfect for the community theater actor, dancer or mother for a performer.  

This large container is perfect for acting, dance and singing coaches, singers and teachers. I have personally had use of a large kit filled with a lot of makeup of many colors and shades to cater for all needs. Large kits like these are great to have for large scale productions such as school musical theater and college productions. You can get it here from ” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Amazon Affiliates

If Many people already have a personal kit.  One reason why you’d use the kits as suggested is because they hold more items and you can easily pick and choose the makeup you need for a chosen purpose. Also plastic kits are more robust and can take constant moving from venue to venue. 

This is my home makeup kit and yes it holds quite a few items, but it isn’t easy to see what is actually in my kit. So have an easy to pull out or place in kit is good for the theater. 

Why not go all out and buy a kit reasonably inexpensive but has all the bells and whistles such as this kit from

More conventional makeup kits for the performer they would take for their own application for the stage, should the production not supply their own makeup artist, these 

What Supplies Do You NEED?

Besides the makeup kit, case or bag, you’ll need the following: 

• Foundation (two shades darker than your own)
• Concealer 
• Translucent powder
• Eye liner
• Mascara
• Lip liner (not necessary)
• Lip stick
• Blush
• Contour cream or sticks
• Eye shadows

For the Hair

• Bobby pins
• Hairspray
• Hair ties
• Comb
• Brush

You do not necessarily need to contour, but this can help define cheekbones and de-emphasize a double chin on stage. You will need a foundation that is two shades darker than what your normal skin color is so that the stage lights don’t wash your features out. 

Eyeliner is utilized so that your eyes do not look smaller than what they normally look like in real life under the harsh lights and all other makeup is there to emphasize your features.

Should Men Wear It?

If a male is on the stage in front of many people, then the answer is yes. Men also need the makeup basics such as:

• Foundation
• Eye liner (brown to black)
• Contouring creams
• Translucent powder
• Mascara

If a male is playing a woman then he’ll need the same makeup as the women. But generally as a male playing a conventional male, he’ll need the makeup above, which has a more muted tone. 

What is the Difference Between Stage and Conventional Makeup?

Stage makeup is more caked on than the everyday application of makeup.

 Lipstick is usually darker and redder. Women use brighter blush, darker eyeshadow, eyeliner for both the top and bottom lashes. Remember this is to counter the bright lights which can wash the face out, especially if you have light skin tones. Darker skinned tone people are more lucky in that they don’t look as washed out. 

In general stage makeup would include a cream based foundation which is thicker than liquid but lasts longers. In past-times, performers used grease paint made from lard and pigment. Nowadays they tend to use greasepaint for coverages such as for characters such as a clown.

In What Order We we Apply?

1. Apply a primer to set the skin. (This allows moisture to last longer a be applied smoothly)
2. Apply cream foundation which are two shades darker with a sponge. (water based liquid will evaporate under harsh lights)
3. Use a concealer to cover dark rings under the eyes, and apply in the middle bridge down the nose. You can use it to highlight your t-zone of the head.
4. Use a darker shade contouring stick or cream in the cheek and jaw areas and blend in. 
5. Apply dark eyeshadow to the upper ring areas of the eyelids. 
6. Apply a light coloured eye shadow to the middle of the eyelids
7. Apply a line of eyeliner on the lower eye area from the corner to three quarters along the eye. 
8. Apply a line of eyeliner on the upper lid with a wing
9. Apply mascara on the upper and lower lashes.
10. Use a brow liner and color in the eyebrow area
11.  Use red liner to line the lips
12. Apply a red lipstick to the lips.
13. Use a blush to highlight the cheekbones. (above the contour line)
14. Set your makeup with translucent powder. 

Some people apply the concealer before the foundation and that is ok, it all depends on your preferences.

For males you’d use most of the steps, but avoid using blush, heavy eyeliner, and eyeshadow. A male’s makeup should emphasize features, but not highlight them using bright color. 

Should You Use foundation on the eyelid?

No because you don’t want to get grease marks where your eyelids crease naturally, but you can use your finger to get an overall coverage with a little bit of foundation on it.

Should We Do the Makeup First or the Hair

Often hair is done after the makeup has been applied. But many people prefer to do their hair first so that any hairspray which has been left on the skin can be wiped off during makeup application. Sometimes hair setting means lose hanging hair, which can get in the way of makeup application. That is usually why hair is usually done after the makeup has been applied. However each to their own preferences. 

How to Apply Makeup to the Face

Here are a few videos to show you how to apply makeup for the stage.

Male

You can get Ben Nye Makeup mini kit here (not an affiliate link)

Do’s and Don’t

• Don’t use foundation only on the frame of the face. This can give a mask type of look. You must use foundation on your neck behind her neck on your ears and your face. And remember to fully blend the foundation in to your skin. 

• Don’t use a lip liner to overly outline your lips

  Unless this is for a particular character. You can use it to outline your lips to seal in the lipstick so it won’t blend in.

• Don’t use eyeliner on the inner rim of the eye in black. Or if you so, it should be outlined white eyeliner instead. This often makes the eyes look smaller than they are. This will make your eyes look bigger and on stage they will look in proportion.

• Don’t use old clumpy mascara. This goes without saying it is time to change up your mascara something new and suitable. 

•  I don’t wear makeup to bed. You will not give your face enough time to breathe  which isn’t good for the skin’s pores. Also bacteria could be present in built up mascara and these have caused nasty infections. You want your face to look healthy and glowing. Use wipes to take off makeup with a small dollop of cold cream.

• Don’t go on stage without makeup in a large theatrical production.  This includes males and females. Keep in mind the lights will flatten your face out and your features such as your eyes can get a little bit lost under the harsh stage lights.

What is the difference between Cream Foundation and Liquid Foundation. 

A cream foundation is usually thicker and will last longer when applied to the skin compared with liquid eyeliner. Liquid foundation is often made with water so even though you’re getting an even coat the foundation won’t last long, especially under hot lights on the stage.  You’ll notice that with any foundation you will still need to set the makeup with translucent powder.

If you’re interested in becoming a clown for the circus check out my other post blog here.

How To Take It Off

The best way to take makeup off is to use coldcream or shaving cream with a wipe. Dot some on the cheeks, forehead and chin. Then use the wipe to wipe all makeup off. Many companies’ have a variety of makeup removers, but sometimes they are a hit or miss situation. Using coldcream or even shaving cream will do the job just fine. Cold Cream is used to help seal in moisture which is good for the skin. 

Packing Up your Kit

There are a number of steps to ensure you’ve got all your makeup ready and set to go home with you after a show or the end of a season. 

1. Make a list of the makeup you started with and intend to take home. 

1. Lay your makeup out and place it neatly in your kit. Preferably put similar items such as compacts in the same department. 

1. Use Ziploc bags to contain any makeup which may leak. (This is especially true for liquids as the movement while walking and in the car tends to make liquid which isn’t secure leak). You do not want to get it on the rest of your makeup or in your case. 

1. If you make sure that your kit, bag or case has everything you intend to take home, take note of any items which you think you hardly ever used and is just taking up space. 

What To Do After Your Gig?

• Remember to wash out your brushes
• Throw away old rubbish and tissues
• Throw away makeup you have almost used or is old
• Take out the makeup you’ll need for daily purposes
• Make a list of new stage makeup you’ll need for your next show

Further Research

There are many websites, books and videos to find more information on how to apply stage makeup. To keep relevant, research different characters you might like to try on yourself. Keep in mind that you’ll have to purchase new makeup and accessories such as spirit glue to make scars for special effects. 

The more your practice with different characters, the better makeup artist you’ll be. 

In Conclusion

Stage makeup is applied more heavily and emphasised in  such as way to give definition to a person’s natural looks on stage. There are a variety of items and cases to choose from online. For the beginner there are products especially for them and of course products for the more confident artists. To get skilled one has to practice and it is a lot of fun to do so when playing different characters or portray different looks on stage.