Dress Etiquette

Stage Make Up Steps.

1. Apply a skin moisturizer before doing anything else. (This helps the makeup to last longer and it will help your skin from becoming dried out later). Actors with oily or combonation skin should use a skin toner this step. Apply moisturizer all over the face and neck, and a light balm on the lips.
2. Add foundation. Typically, foundation ONE shade darker than your skin works best. Spread it all over the face, neck, into the hairline, and anywhere shoulders-up that is NOT covered by the costume.
3. Add old age lines (if necessary). These should be placed on nose, forehead, by smile lines, crowsfeet, under-eye bags, and along the under-side of the jawline. Have the actor furrow their brow, smile, and squint (not at the same time) as a guide of where to draw the old age lines.
4. Apply blush. This blush should be about a terra cotta color for men or a pink or red for women (no light colors). Make it slightly curve up along the cheekbone. Have the actor smile, then color the apples of his or her cheeks.
5. For eye shadow, use only browns and tans, no purple or pink or blue! Apply a medium color to the bottom and use a lighter color on top. If it looks like one color, add a little white to the lighter color.
6. Add eyelashes if necessary. 110 or 105 ardell black are best, but not too long. To look natural on stage, use ardell glue. It dries the color of what it's on. Eyelash applicators are best and can be found in the big long packs. Apply as close as you can get to the natural tip. If you do not use eyelashes, just apply heavy mascara.
7. Apply eyeliner about 2 mm high, 1 mm to the bottoms. There is also the choice of adding "wings"; these should extend about 3 mm out from the outside corners. If you put 2 wings they should extend from the natural curve of your eye, making the top wing extend downward and the bottom up. If you do 1 wing it should extend about 3 mm from the eye as well starting 1 mm wide and taper. Use brown eyeliner for men and brown or black for women. (Black eyeliner is used more often for more dramatic characters.) Also, depending on the time period and the mood of the play, more vibrant colors of eyeliner and mascara may be used.
8. Apply lipstick; stains work well too. Most men use a natural shade of lipstick; women can use varying shades dependingon character, time period, and mood. Try to use a matching lip liner or the lipstick will bleed.