Thread: "No fail" makeup look when you don't know what the lighting will be like?

Is there such a thing as a "fall back" makeup strategy you can default to when you don't know the lighting situation? I have seen some pics of me lately where the makeup just looked overdone for the lighting, but I didn't know ahead of time. Mostly it's indoor florescent lighting, which always makes me look like $#!^. So I'm thinking maybe a medium intensity palette of colors, but heavily applied might? Like you'd use lots of dark taupe eyeshadow instead of deeper browns and blacks? Instead of black eyeliner, go for a thick line of brown shadow around eyes? And maybe if it's thickly applied then when you end up with dim lighting you still won't look faded?

I think a theater major told me once that if you didn't have time for anything else, go for lots of mascara first, lipstick second. That makes me think that if you play up a couple of key areas (for me it would be brows with those lashes and lips) then you can lessen up on other areas (to keep it from being overly harsh) but still give your face oomph?

This is probably an impossible order to fill but give me an 'E' for effort!

Great question! Wish I could answer..

Well, I am not a makeup artist but my view would be this:

Stick with black mascara and liner (or whatever you usually use for a deep dramatic look) on the eyes, because people expect a belly dancer to have dramatic eyes. But steer clear of bright colours, because they can look tacky tacky in certain circumstances, and black/white shadow, because they can be too intensely contrasting, and instead go for pale cream/beige/gold where you want highlight and deep brown/grey/maaaybe plum where you want shadow. Those are not too freaky up close in bright light and will give you the right degree of depth/contrast in dimmer light. Like Marilyn Monroe's makeup. If you do false lashes choose nice thick black ones that don't look insanely artificial.

Normal preferred blusher, and either a neutral lip for a more modern look or red for a classic look, and I reckon you're set for every eventuality.

Of course if you're on an actual stage all bets are off.

I would also stay away from bright colors and opt for neutral, high-intensity shading (contouring) and highlighting when in doubt + the appropriate enhancements for eyes (liner, mascara and/or false lashes). That way, at least your features will be beautifully enhanced and there is little to no chance of ""clown-age." ;0)

you can do a strong look, and then blend it down to the appropriate level when you get there and see the venue. basically the difference between makeup for strong lighting/far away and makeup for daylight/close up is the contrast and starkness of the lines between colors. you can blend the edges to soften in a few minutes before you go on.