Do Stage Makeup
Applying makeup for stage is an art in which cosmetics are the paints, and the human face is the canvas. Different situations require different makeup application techniques. Stage makeup is applied in a very dramatic manner to ensure the audience can see the actor's visual expressions. Makeup artists apply stage makeup in a way that enhances the actor's features but does not look overdone to the audience.
Instructions
1. Cover the actor's entire face, neck and ears with foundation. It is very important to cover the actor's entire face with foundation to create color. Use a foundation color that is about a shade darker than the actor's normal skin tone. Using a triangle makeup sponge, apply foundation to the sponge and spread out over his skin. Start with the actor's forehead and work your way across his entire face. Make sure to apply foundation near the hairline as well. Continue with the actor's ears and neck. In person, the makeup will look very caked on, but on stage it will look great.
2. Apply blush. Now that the foundation will give the actor's skin color, you need blush to add back the natural bone structure of the face. For men, choose a light rose color, and for women, choose darker pinks and reds. Use a large blush brush to apply the blush. Start at the apple of the cheeks and, in a fluid motion, swipe the blush color up the cheek bone toward the outside of the eye. You may have to apply 3 to 5 layers of blush. Remember, the colors need to be very dark in order to be seen on stage.
3. Enhance the actor's eyes with eye shadow. Eyes are the main focus of a person; therefore, the eye makeup is the most essential. Use a white eye shadow highlighter pencil to cover the entire eyelid all the way up to the brow line. This will highlight the bone structure of the actor's brow line and open up her eyes. Draw over the entire surface with the highlighter pencil and use your finger to blend in the streaks of color. Apply eye shadow to the eyelid using an eye shadow brush. For men, choose a light brown eye shadow; for women, you may use any dark color. Fill in the entire base of the eyelid with even color. Then, apply a darker shade of the eye shadow along the crease of the actor's eyelid.
4. Darken eyelashes with mascara. Use dark black mascara to allow the actor's eye lashes to be seen. Hold the mascara brush underneath the actor's eye lashes and asking him blink. Generously apply mascara to the top lashes only. Mascara on the bottom lashes will easily smear under the heat of stage lights.
5. Apply lipstick color following the natural lines of the actor's lips. It is best to use darker colored reds on women and dark pinks on men. After applying lipstick, blot her lips with a tissue to ensure no lipstick attracts to her teeth.
6. Cover the actor's entire face with loose powder. Use a large blush brush to cover the entire surface of his skin with with loose powder. This will settle in all of the makeup and help it not to smear under the heat of the stage lights. Also, it will attract all oils from the actor's skin so that it won't allow the makeup to settle into the lines of his face.
