You’re doing stage makeup for a play. How can you make it look natural?

Know your character. Know the period piece being presented. Do not over due or under do. Make your lips show.....Pick the right makeup for YOUR SKIN TONE.

Saber bien el del personaje para saber como dejarlo lo mas natural posible. Pero siempre tenemos que saber nuestro papel donde nos tocara jugar

É imprescindível conhecer o seu personagem para fazer a maquiagem. Além de entender o que a direção está pedindo, pois podemos ter alguma estética específica para seguir, assim o ator sabe a forma ideal de propor.

I'm a Spencer Tracy fan. If possible, no makeup. But...big but...get familiar with the size/architecture of the theatre and stage. One needs to project one's face over what distance and through what lighting? So, to project a natural face one might have to compromise on the "no" makeup. To project a character face? Well, that depends on how extreme the character is, and whether one's own face can project that character. Or not. I once played the apothecary in Romeo & Juliet - Alan Rickman played Paris - and the director and I decided to play him as a Jew in a ghetto in medieval Verona who was a doctor and dealt in drugs for the rich and needy. I would spend an hour and a half making myself look like Shylock. That was back in 1975, I think.

The prompt is to design makeup for the entire play not just a character. There are the elements of lighting, stage design, and costume to consider as well. Color palettes across all design elements are important to consider if you want to add to the cohesive whole of the production. Lighting design will impact your makeup the most so get with the LD and look at what colors will be in the lights. So many makeup designers consider only highlight and shadow as white and brown and rarely apply color mixing theories to their palettes. To appear natural you want to highlight and perhaps correct features for the bright lights to enhance the physical appearance and work across the cast to make it all work together. Finally, what's your style?

In my professional experience preparing your skin for the makeup application is most essential. You want to make sure your skin is clean, moisturized, and protected from the harsh stage lights and sweat. You can use a gentle cleanser, a hydrating moisturizer, and a primer to create a smooth and even base for your makeup. You can also use a sunscreen or a foundation with SPF to protect your skin from sun damage. A primer will also help your makeup to last longer and prevent it from creasing or fading.

Eu sempre me preparo lavando o rosto com sabonete em gel e aplico um hidratante para deixar a pele suave antes da aplicação da maquiagem.

Get your foundation swatched to ensure you have a color match. Also, use theatrical grade makeup that will hold up under the heat and intensity of theatrical lights.

É importante saber quais os tons da sua pele, além das marcas de maquiagem que não irritam seu rosto. Geralmente faço muitas maquiagens de palhaço, então uso pouca base.

Theatrical makeup is designed to hold up to the intense lights and we see a trend where a lot of artists are airbrushing this makeup to get good coverage. You also have to take into account the skin tone of the actor vs the character you are portraying and whether it will be believable. You also have to set each layer to avoid smudging the previous layer. Many artists have their own preferences and some actors have preferences as well.

Além de definir a maquiagem com pó ou spray, é importante deixar sua maquiagem a vista durante o espetáculo para o caso de retocar.

Setting spray (or in a desperate pinch, hairspray!) will be your savior here! Especially in physically tasking productions like musicals or dance performances. Unlike film or photoshoots, the lighting in stage productions is not direct, frontal light. Stagelights are hung and projected from above and below, so in choosing a setting spray/powder there is less emphasis on shine reduction, in favor of applying something that will hold and last. In fact, highlight and a little shine can be beneficial for exaggerating your facial features to people who are seated much further away in the audience.

In my professional experience, the next step is to add some color and dimension to your face with blush, bronzer, and highlighter. These products will help you to create a natural and healthy glow, as well as to define your facial features and shape. You want to choose colors that complement your skin tone and character, and apply them with a light hand and a soft brush. You can use blush to add some warmth and rosiness to your cheeks, bronzer to add some depth and contour to your cheekbones, forehead, and jawline, and highlighter to add some shine and radiance to your cheekbones, brow bones, nose, and cupid's bow.

Geralmente estou envolvidos em produções lúdicas, então gosto bastante de experimentar as cores no rosto! É sempre importante ter na bolsa uma paleta de sombras coloridas.

In my professional experience to enhance your eyes..The eyes are the windows to the soul, and they are also the most expressive part of your face. You want to enhance your eyes with eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara, to make them stand out and communicate your emotions. You can use eyeshadow to create different effects, such as smoky, dramatic, or natural, depending on your character and mood. You can use eyeliner to define your eye shape and add some intensity and drama. You can use mascara to lengthen and volumize your lashes and make them look more visible. You can also use false lashes or lash extensions to create a more dramatic and glamorous look.

A few things I have found very helpful in my profession, when it comes finishing your lips, being your final step:finish your lips with lipstick, lip gloss, or lip liner. You want to choose a lip color that suits your skin tone and character, and that also contrasts with your teeth and gums. You can use lipstick to create a matte, glossy, or creamy finish, depending on your preference and style. You can use lip gloss to add some shine and moisture to your lips. You can use lip liner to outline and shape your lips and prevent your lipstick from bleeding or smudging.

Something to keep in mind when choosing bolder/more vibrant lip colors in stage makeup specifically, is the light and scene design in the show. Live Theatrical productions usually use a lot of color washing lights, that may end up changing the tone and appearance of your makeup's color palette. Its best practice for makeup artists to be knowledgeable on the shows specific lighting design to plan accordingly. A perfect red lip can turn jarringly purple under a blue-lit night scene!

When removing your makeup make sure to clean your face completely and moisturize it afterwards. Having a good skin care and cleaning routine for afterward is important to keep your skin healthy.

Always have a kit nearby to do any touch ups that may be needed due to environmental conditions or situations the actors must go through in scenes that involve water, sun or humidity.