Thread: Overwhelmed and need stage makeup advice please!

I find the possibilities of all the eye makeup and overall makeup colours so overwhelming! I need some advice and suggestions for my next performance.

My complexion: Middle Eastern,Light olive skin, chocolate brown eyes, dark brown hair
My costume choice 1: white skirt with silver bedlah
My cosutume choice 2: Dark purple skirt with silver bedlah

Can you plz suggest some good makeup colour combo ideas for the above choices?

I have once tried the black/silver eye makeup but i want to add some more colour rather than the monochrome colours.

Also, i know this has been asked before, and i realize for stge, it's best to wear bright colours. I find deep reds too dark for my face and too strong. Any suggestions for lips?

Thanks very much::)

How about a deep brown or purple eye shadow?

As for lips - you need a heavier lip colour for stage. It may look harsh up close but without it your mouth disappears on stage. How about plum or brownish tones for lips instead of reds?

I am of similar coloring to you, but have black hair.

Super dramatic: I use a combination of 4 colors on my eyes. I use a deep purple on the lid but layer the other colors on top. For crease area is a fushia to add some brightness to the purple (the pruple is almost black). Then I use a true gold/bronze in the crease and up just before the brow bone, and a very pale gold on the brow bone. Just blend like crazy. I'll try to post a pic tonight when I get home. I wear a nice rosey pink lipstick and gloss with this.

Less dramatic: 3 different shades of purple work REALLY well with our eye color. :) you could also use a tiny bit of silver on brow bone for highlight. Again, just blend like crazy!

*I did a LOT of research and studied enormous amounts of videos and photos before my first show - I only ever wear make-up when I dance so I know how overwhelming it can seem. A FANTASTIC help was youtube videos by Michelle Phan.

Hope this helped a bit

Originally Posted by alibellySA

How about a deep brown or purple eye shadow?

As for lips - you need a heavier lip colour for stage. It may look harsh up close but without it your mouth disappears on stage. How about plum or brownish tones for lips instead of reds?

I have always been told this too, but lately I have been questioning this. If you look at the picture below, Sadie on the left has much less heavy makeup on than the girl on the right yet somehow it works. The way the girl on the right looks is how I've always understood I should be doing my makeup, yet the more subtle look on the left seems better. I can't break down what I'm looking at here to reproduce it, but that is because of all the variables (lighting, camera differences, our computer monitors, etc.).

makeupgeek! shes on youtube and has a website. tons of ideas there

Originally Posted by Darbla

I have always been told this too, but lately I have been questioning this. If you look at the picture below, Sadie on the left has much less heavy makeup on than the girl on the right yet somehow it works. The way the girl on the right looks is how I've always understood I should be doing my makeup, yet the more subtle look on the left seems better. I can't break down what I'm looking at here to reproduce it, but that is because of all the variables (lighting, camera differences, our computer monitors, etc.).

off topic, but where did you find this photo? the girl on the right is a former troupe mate of mine.

Originally Posted by Darbla

I have always been told this too, but lately I have been questioning this. If you look at the picture below, Sadie on the left has much less heavy makeup on than the girl on the right yet somehow it works. The way the girl on the right looks is how I've always understood I should be doing my makeup, yet the more subtle look on the left seems better. I can't break down what I'm looking at here to reproduce it, but that is because of all the variables (lighting, camera differences, our computer monitors, etc.).

There ya go then! Sadie's lipstick is a browny red.
And her eye colour is also in tones of bronzes and browns. She looks lovley!
Lighting etc play a big part - Ive slathered on the eye make -up only to look barefaced in photo's because of too harsh stage lights.
I think you're going to have to experiment at the make up counter.

Originally Posted by Darbla

I have always been told this too, but lately I have been questioning this. If you look at the picture below, Sadie on the left has much less heavy makeup on than the girl on the right yet somehow it works. The way the girl on the right looks is how I've always understood I should be doing my makeup, yet the more subtle look on the left seems better. I can't break down what I'm looking at here to reproduce it, but that is because of all the variables (lighting, camera differences, our computer monitors, etc.).

If you have a very fair skin like the pretty dancer on the right, and are not
blessed with full lips, it can sometimes be better to use a medium tone on the lips and really play up the eyes instead (I have a small mouth and fair coloring, and when my mouth is closed, my lips can look like a little dark spot from a distance if my lipstick is dark). If you picture Sadie with bright red lips in the photo above, she would look fabulous.

What is not helping the girl on the right is that her make up is very reflective. That always looks bad in photos, although the make up may look fine in real life.

I'm learning to keep the shine down, and to be very careful with what eye make up I wear for photos.

Hi guys:)
Thanks very much for all your great advice and suggestions!
I did a brown/burgundy eye look with a reddish brown lipstick and worked out great!

Originally Posted by Darbla

The way the girl on the right looks is how I've always understood I should be doing my makeup, yet the more subtle look on the left seems better.

The more subtle look seems better... in a photo. There's no way to tell from this which makeup application would look better onstage. What works for photos taken with an on-camera flash is not usually the same as what works for photos taken with studio strobes, what works onstage, or what works in film.