Thread: Matching make up to costumes

Hi all,
I have a couple of questions that have been bothering me for a while.
1. How do you match your eye make up to your costume. Do you use the same color palette? Do you go with colors that are complementary to the main color of the costume or analogous?

2. If you do a show with costume changes do you adjust your make up to match each costume, or rather try to come up with some "generic" version that will work for all of them?
I'm specifically bothered by adjusting eye make up, because it takes much longer to apply than, say, lipstick, and often times there is just not enough time in between the sets to do the fully blown thing and with fake eyelashes and all it becomes quite a challenge...

If you go with the "generic" option how do you determine what eyeshadow colors will satisfy all of the costume choices, especially in cases when they have no common hues to start with and they are not exactly in complementary colors either.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by sophie

Hi all,
I have a couple of questions that have been bothering me for a while.
1. How do you match your eye make up to your costume. Do you use the same color palette? Do you go with colors that are complementary to the main color of the costume or analogous?

It depends. Mood, lighting of the venue, ability to match/complement/or provide an analogous color to the main color field.

Originally Posted by sophie

2. If you do a show with costume changes do you adjust your make up to match each costume, or rather try to come up with some "generic" version that will work for all of them?
I'm specifically bothered by adjusting eye make up, because it takes much longer to apply than, say, lipstick, and often times there is just not enough time in between the sets to do the fully blown thing and with fake eyelashes and all it becomes quite a challenge...

If you go with the "generic" option how do you determine what eyeshadow colors will satisfy all of the costume choices, especially in cases when they have no common hues to start with and they are not exactly in complementary colors either.

Thanks!

In this case, I would go with a makeup application that complements my skin tone, rather than the costume itself. You can do a stageworthy (or whatever venue in which you are performing)-worthy application with, for example, charcoals/blacks/whites, or browns/bronzes/golds, and have it work for all costume colors. Sometimes it doesn't even matter because you are too far away from the audience for anything to be seen. What's important is to accentuate facial features, which can easily be done without colors, per se, and instead with contouring & highlighting.

Originally Posted by Azhia

In this case, I would go with a makeup application that complements my skin tone, rather than the costume itself. You can do a stageworthy (or whatever venue in which you are performing)-worthy application with, for example, charcoals/blacks/whites, or browns/bronzes/golds, and have it work for all costume colors. Sometimes it doesn't even matter because you are too far away from the audience for anything to be seen. What's important is to accentuate facial features, which can easily be done without colors, per se, and instead with contouring & highlighting.

Thank you, Azhia! Your answer leads me to a swarm of new questions :)))
I've read all over the internet about the importance of contouring and highlighting, especially for stage & photo shoots, however I'm not sure how exactly it applies to my face. I have very prominent features. Everything is big - eyes, lips, nose, cheek-bones and most importantly jaws!!! Most often when I see my pics I mourn over too prominent jaw line and I don't see anything that I wish to contour :))) Any facial expression, even the slightest of smiles cuts really weird triangles against my jaw. I'm afraid that contouring might enhance it. Like on the pic below (meet my hubby, didn't want to cut him out, he's too cute :)) )

I don't have any makeup advice, I just saw the thread and wanted to drop in and tell you that I think you are just adorable!

Originally Posted by Mahsima

I don't have any makeup advice, I just saw the thread and wanted to drop in and tell you that I think you are just adorable!

Wow, thank you *blushing*

If I have the colors, I do chose from the same palette as my costume.

For costume changes, I would just stick with a black or brown smokey eye. Something that looks good on your face and is neutral enough to just "go" with what ever you wear.

Wow, you're stunning! And your defined features are a blessing - many women would kill to have your cheekbones and jawline.

I'll leave the advanced highlight & contour advice to Azhia, but I think pretty much everyone can get away with a little shimmery highlight swept over the top of the cheekbones. This adds beautiful dimension to any regular blush application, and will enhance your naturally gorgeous cheekbones without making them look overly prominent.

As for palette, I'm pretty boring with mine. It's usually some variant on a smoky eye, either in browns and bronzes, or charcoals and silvers. But these colors are tried and true for blue eyes, and go with all different costumes.

For costume changes, it can be fun to change your lipstick color, maybe smoke up your eyes a little more, or swipe on some glitter. Remember, it's easier to put more makeup on than to take it off. So always allow enough time for these changes - or save the bolder, stronger application for your second set. Switching from a red lip to a nude is no easy task ..c::

Oh, and some may disagree - but I think analogous color families are way nicer than trying to directly match your colors.

A violet eye can look beautiful with a turquoise costume, and so does a deeper cherry red lip (i.e. - MAC Dubonnet) with a fire engine red costume. There's no need to go Barbie matchy-matchy unless, of course, that's your intention.

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

Oh, and some may disagree - but I think analogous color families are way nicer than trying to directly match your colors.

A violet eye can look beautiful with a turquoise costume, and so does a deeper cherry red lip (i.e. - MAC Dubonnet) with a fire engine red costume. There's no need to go Barbie matchy-matchy unless, of course, that's your intention.

Agreed! For example, for my royal blue costume I like to use silver, blue and a nice deep purple.

A purple costume its a deep purple would look good without I tried alavender shade and silver and I'm not getting the impact I want.

Alrana

Maybe the lavender needs some dimension. You might need to use some matte charcoal or even black to contour the outer edges and crease of your eyes. This shapes the eye dramatically and adds "oomph." A pearly color is always nice as a highlight for the brow bone, too.

I've even done lavender with like a grape soda color (Nars "Santorini") in the crease. Sounds scary but if you blend it right, it's just luscious and doesn't look hard-edged or 80's.

I tried matching my pink costume with pink eye shadow for a while but it never looked that great. A MAC person did a deep shimmery plum on me instead and it looks gorgeous. (Paint pot in "Artifact", pigment powder in "Heritage Rouge", a taupe bridge color and white brow highlighter)

Sophie,

You are gorgeous! I think your strong jawline is striking!

However, if you wish to soften it a bit, take 2 shades of foundation darker than your skin color (cream works best in my opinion, easier to control for shading, yet has some substance to be able to move it around) and shade along the jawline, the back 1/3 of the jawline, where the line is strongest.
Shading works to balance the face, not just create more "cuts".
Pages 48-52 of the companion PDF booklet to my makeup DVD addresses shading and highlighting...

Originally Posted by Azhia

Sophie,

You are gorgeous! I think your strong jawline is striking!

However, if you wish to soften it a bit, take 2 shades of foundation darker than your skin color (cream works best in my opinion, easier to control for shading, yet has some substance to be able to move it around) and shade along the jawline, the back 1/3 of the jawline, where the line is strongest.
Shading works to balance the face, not just create more "cuts".
Pages 48-52 of the companion PDF booklet to my makeup DVD addresses shading and highlighting...

Thank you, Azhia and all for the advice and the compliments! I have lots of homework now which is always a good thing :) Going to buy some dark foundation and practice contouring & highlighting. I will even try purple eye shadows per SatinWorship19's advice. I never thought I'd do that, not a single item in my closet is purple, all the more reason to give it a go!

I have big blue eyes like you (mine are a little lighter, more aquamarine) and purple eyeshadow ROCKS.

Bright violet is fun for a punch of color, and rich, shimmery plums can make for a nice alternative to the traditional brown and gray smokies.

If you have a Whole Foods or Wild Oats near you, look for a mineral cosmetic brand called Larenim. They make a gorgeous plum called "Surreal." It's ultra sparkly and will pick up any little green or gold flecks you might have in your irises.

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

I have big blue eyes like you (mine are a little lighter, more aquamarine) and purple eyeshadow ROCKS.

Bright violet is fun for a punch of color, and rich, shimmery plums can make for a nice alternative to the traditional brown and gray smokies.

If you have a Whole Foods or Wild Oats near you, look for a mineral cosmetic brand called Larenim. They make a gorgeous plum called "Surreal." It's ultra sparkly and will pick up any little green or gold flecks you might have in your irises.

My eyes are actually green, but it's kinda hard to figure out the color from this pic. I think it will still look good with purples and violets.

Alas, we don't have Whole Foods in Israel. The years I have spent in the Bay Area really spoiled me, but now I am gradually getting used to not being able to satisfy all of my quirks. deelight mentioned MAC consultants... well, we have MAC counters, I've been to two of them, one in Jerusalem and one in the airport. Both had really rude consultants, who on top of that didn't really understand anything in make-up and their faces reflected their ignorance quite well. At least we have the make up itself...

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

Maybe the lavender needs some dimension. You might need to use some matte charcoal or even black to contour the outer edges and crease of your eyes. This shapes the eye dramatically and adds "oomph." A pearly color is always nice as a highlight for the brow bone, too.

I've even done lavender with like a grape soda color (Nars "Santorini") in the crease. Sounds scary but if you blend it right, it's just luscious and doesn't look hard-edged or 80's.

I'm going to have to experiment with your suggestion thanks

Alrana

OMG, Sophie, you have some AMAZING makeup lines there in Israel. I visited a few booths at the Makeup Show in NYC a few years back. Darnit, I wish I could remember the name!

I tried seeing if the Make Up Store is in Israel. Alas, it does not look like it. :0(

MAC is not the be-all, end-all. There are probably some decent local brands there waiting to be discovered!

Originally Posted by Azhia

OMG, Sophie, you have some AMAZING makeup lines there in Israel. I visited a few booths at the Makeup Show in NYC a few years back. Darnit, I wish I could remember the name!

I tried seeing if the Make Up Store is in Israel. Alas, it does not look like it. :0(

MAC is not the be-all, end-all. There are probably some decent local brands there waiting to be discovered!

Really? I'm intrigued, our local brands are usually the cheapo stuff, not that cheap is always bad, but still the quality is just not the same. The are also a couple of brands associated with make up schools but from what I read they are overpriced and again aren't comparable with professional lines. But I'll keep my eyes open from now on, thanks!