Basic Stage Makeup

How to Apply Basic Stage Makeup

See full detailed (and printable) instructions HERE. 

1. 1. Prepare Your Face: Wash your face with a gentle cleanser, pat dry, and start with clean skin.

   2. Apply Foundation: Apply and blend onto your face, ears, and neck with a sponge, brush, or fingers.

   3. Apply Concealer (Optional): Tap onto dark circles or blemishes and blend gently.

   4. Add Highlighter & Contour (Optional): Apply highlighter to cheekbones, nose bridge, and above eyebrows for a glow. Apply contour under cheekbones, jawline, and forehead edges; blend well.

   5. Apply Blush: Smile to locate the apples of your cheeks. Lightly blend blush outward toward your hairline.

   6. Set with Powder: Use translucent powder to set makeup, focusing on oily areas.

   7. Define Eyebrows: Fill in gaps with a matching pencil or shadow and blend with a brush.

   8. Apply Eyeshadow: Apply a light shade on the lid and brow bone, and a medium or dark shade in the crease; blend edges.

   9. Add Eyeliner: Line the upper lash line and, optionally, the lower lash line. Keep lines smooth and even. (No wings). 

   10. Apply Mascara: Wiggle the wand through lashes, applying 1–2 coats to upper and a light coat to lower lashes.

   11. Add Lip Color: Use a natural shade like pink or coral and apply evenly.

   12. Final Touches: Blend and fix any streaks or harsh lines. Set makeup with setting spray or powder.

FAQs

Where can I get my stage makeup? 

You can find your stage makeup anywhere you find regular makeup. We recommend checking your drawers, asking around, and seeing if your caregiver or an older sibling has any they'd let you borrow before you go out and buy a bunch of new products. 

That being said, here are some stores we'd recommend trying: 

• Dollar Tree or Dollar General ($1-$5): This makeup is inexpensive and works well for dramatic stage looks. Most products will cost between $1-$5. The downside is that there are not always many options, and there aren't always products for sensitive skin. This is not the best quality makeup in the world, but if you are only getting makeup for a 4-day show, plus dress rehearsal, the job will be done at the lowest cost. 

• Five Below ($5-$10): Don't go here for most basic makeup because the basic makeup costs will be comparable to a big-box store or drugstore, both of which will have better selections. But this IS a good place to get bigger eyeshadow palettes with more color options, some specialty makeup (sparkles, rhinestones, false eyelashes, etc.), and application tools (brushes, mirrors, and makeup bags).  

• Target ($3-$15): Target, of course, has a huge selection of products at various price points. Target also has the added benefit of having an Ulta Beauty and Color Pop collab, so there are some slightly higher-end products readily available, as well as the drugstore brands.  

• Walgreens, CVS, and Walmart ($3-$15): Similar to Target, these stores will have various drugstore makeup brands (Cover Girl, E.lf., NYX, Maybelline, etc.) to choose from. 

• Amazon ($3+): This is a great place to find really specific SFX makeup. For example, if you need to get "lime green eyeliner," "pink face glitter," "purple hair spray," or "spirit gum," Amazon is the place to go. It'll likely be the easiest find for the amount of money. It's sometimes harder to find drugstore-brand makeup at a reasonable price and quantity. There are often knockoffs, but you'll want to test the quality of those products before deciding to keep them. Just make sure you plan ahead to receive your items on time. 

• Sephora ($15+): Sephora will have a wide selection of slightly more upscale makeup. They often carry fun, bold-colored brands like Anastasia Beverly Hills, Bobbi Brown, Charlotte Tilbury, Urban Decay, and Fenty. They also have some luxury brands that I'd personally stay away from in this context. (ie. Channel, Dior, Givenchy, etc.) The great thing about Sephora is that they'll match your skin tone for you to help you pick out the correct foundation and/or concealer. (This is free). Make sure to ask for a foundation that is about two shades darker for the stage. They also have a digital Sephora beauty account that will let you log the product color they matched you with and then find alternatives from other brands, which is super helpful. 

• Ulta Beauty ($10-$50): Similar to Sephora, Ulta Beauty can color-match your foundation and other skin products to match your skin tone. (This is free). They also have a digital color profile that will tell you what colors correspond to different brands of foundations. Unlike Sephora, Ulta carries drugstore makeup brands and some more upscale products. Ulta also carries Colour Pop cosmetics, unlike Sephora.  Personally, for a stage production, I am more likely to go to Ulta to get my makeup than I am to Sephora. If I were going to a Gala, I'd be more likely to go to Sephora. 

Some brands to keep an eye out for: 

• E.l.f.: My overall recommendation. A discount makeup brand that you can find at Walgreens, CVS, Target, Walmart or Amazon. This is a good and inexpensive option, with most products costing between $3-$12. E.l.f. is known for their designer "dupes" (duplicates, fakes, replicas...) at lower costs. I (Cristiana) have had good experiences with E.l.f. Products. However, they don't always have more niche products, and their colors are sometimes limited. Check out their $4 tubing mascara (it will come off easily post-show but hold up under the lights), their setting sprays (matte or dewy finish), "bite-sized" eye shadow palettes, and reasonably-priced applicators. 

• Colour Pop: As the name suggests, this brand is known for their bright, colorful, pigmented makeup. This is great if you are looking for quality, but not too pricey, bold makeup products. Great for eyeshadow palettes and colored eyeliner. 

• Wet N Wild: A discount drugstore makeup brand that you can easily find at Five Below, Walgreens, or CVS. They tend to have good eyeliner, eyeshadow palettes, and some lip gloss. 

• NYX: A discount drugstore makeup brand that you can easily find at Five Below, Walgreens, or CVS. NYX often has bright-colored alternatives to the slightly more expensive Colour Pop palettes, although they may not give quite as vibrant a color. 

• Maybelline: A staple legacy drugstore makeup brand that makes various makeup products. I personally love their lipsticks and stains in all sorts of colors. Comparable to a much more expensive lipstick. They also have a bunch of good mascara options.