Thread: Same makeup every performance or change it up?

I have such a tonnage of makeup and indecisiveness about it that deciding how to do my makeup before every performance puts me in a tizzy. I make costume decisions quicker and with less mental frenzy than makeup decisions! Do you guys have one basic look you do all the time? Or do you do like me and get yourself worked up about it before every show? I need to streamline my mind and routine for my sanity.

Also I was wondering how long before stage time do you put it on? The greater quantities we wear tend to "wander" and smear, and probably a lot of your answers are going to be "as close to show time as possible". But if you have a different strategy I'm curious to hear it. I think I may apply foundation and concealer before I leave home (3 or more hours before), and apply color backstage, but I still need to narrow down to one pool of colors and stick to that.

On a related note, how much makeup do you take with you to a show?

If I didn't change my make up a bit from time to time, I'd go stir crazy, but I do have a basic look that goes with a costume- and make sure I have a stage version as well as an up close & personal version. It takes me *forever* to do my make up & I usually do most of it at home, if at all possible, and just take a touch up case with me for last minute fixes- what are you specifically having trouble with in regards to smears/runs? I try to work with makeup that is NOT going to move once I set it, but it's a lot cooler here, so sweating (when not dancing) is not as much of an issue as it is in some areas!

Nothing wrong with having a signature look or a few signature looks that work for you. If you have an absolutely standout feature, then you should play it up!

I have big, light blue eyes and I like to make sure my peepers always take center stage. My repetoire is fairly limited because I generally stick to a few sophisticated, tried-and-true color palletes that make my most expressive feature pop. Usually, it's some variation on a charcoal, plum, bronze or copper smoky eye, with a glam-nude lip. Glitter and AB crystals around the eye optional

As for applying makeup before or after the show, I apply it just before I leave, and I bring a bag of all the makeup I used with me so I can make touch-ups if I need to. I'd never roll into a gig without full makeup, because I want people to think that I wake up looking this gorgeous ,r:;..l;,

I use the same techniques, but in true 80's style, change my eye shadow and Eye Kandy to match my costume.

I have a basic look of light base, heavy black eyeliner, and dark red lips, and then vary the eyes according to the costume style and colour, and the venue. I like to match my eyes to my costume as far as possible, and have at least three different shades going on eg.

orange fading into red, with a dark charcoal sweep

light purple into royal purple, with bright pink highlights

I perform mainly on a stage, rather than up close to people, so I feel I have the scope to go totally drag queen with my makeup. I also use 8 hour wear lipstain and use eyeshadow primer, so the whole lot stays on for as long as I need it to- I can put it on anything up to two hours before I go onstage.

i only change two things, eye shadow&glitter color, and the level of contrast and blending. the first to match my costume, and the second to fit the lighting at the gig. other than that i go with what makes my face look good. (oh, and if im doing a folk-type thing i'll go more natural colors, but still match the contrast level to the lighting and use liner and mascara)
if i were doing a fantasy thing where i was a fish or fairy or.... something i'd change it, but otherwise i don't feel the need to.

I do my makeup basically the same every time. I've just started to use false eyelashes, so now I'm changing it up a bit. Without the false eyelashes I do dark smokey eyes with sometimes a bit of gold to highlight the eyes, and sometimes a silver glitter liner on top. Now that I'm using false eyelashes I don't do as dark on top with the eyeshadow- I think that would be too much. Lipsticks change on what I feel like, sometimes a pink, sometimes a red.

I like to change it up to match my costume. I usually wear purple eyeshadow unless I'm wearing turquoise or green, in which case I match. I am forever buying new beauty products so I've always got something new to try too! I also change lipstick based on my costume...Orange costume gets the oranger shades of red, then I have cherry and dark pink shades for my other outfits.

My goal with make-up is to complete my look. Instead of doing the same thing each time, I try to pick my colors on what looks complimentary with what I am wearing. I suppose one would have to know what colors look good on them first.

Oh and I put my make-up on before I leave the house. One of my pet peeves is when show organizers tell dancers to come in costume with their make-up on and then the whole mirror is being used for people who have their whole face to do. I just need touch ups! I bring a little bag with mascara, eyelash glue, pressed powder, blotting papers and lipstick. That's almost always enough.

If you do put your make-up on before leaving the house, I recommend a finishing product. I like the MAC fixative.

I sometimes change the tones of my eyes - like if I'm wearing a costume with mostly warm tones I'll do more golds and browns in my makeup, and if I'm wearing cooler tones I'll do more silvers and some purple.

I put on everything before I leave the house, sometimes sans lipstick bc I like to snack in the car. I have learned my lesson bc sometimes I'll get to a place and have tons of time to freshen up and tweak, BUT if I'm running late, or they're running early, I need to be able to get on in an instant and being like "OH crap I forgot the xyz" is baaad.

I stick to what works (and what goes on the easiest with the most impact.) I'll change it up if my usual look doesn't match the costume, gig mood or music.

Originally Posted by andalee-oriental

If you do put your make-up on before leaving the house, I recommend a finishing product. I like the MAC fixative.

This is what I need. Thanks, guys!

I wear the same basic makeup every performance, but changing the colour depending on what I'm wearing, and the intensity depending on what the gig requires (don't want to have uber drag queeny stage makeup for a close up performance, :P)...

I always overestimate how much time it'll take to do my makeup, but it always stays in place... I use good brands though, and I go out of my way not to touch it... For lighter makeup though, nothing works better for me than that old hairspray trick... just a light squirt over your face. Which, in makeup land probably violates every law ever written, but it does work for me... Just make sure it's only a light squirt, or your face will be all sticky, shiny, and rigid. :P

And I take my whole makeup case for our end of year concert... But I think that's mostly paranoia, for everyday stuff, i take eyeliner pencil and lipstick. And a toothbrush, cuz I use that Infallible lipstick, which is a ***** to get off your teeth.