Choosing the best makeup for theater is crucial for creating the desired character and ensuring your makeup looks great on stage. Stage makeup needs to withstand intense lighting and be visible from a distance, making foundation selection a critical step.
Understanding Stage Lighting and Audience Visibility
Stage lights are notorious for washing out actors. To counteract this, you’ll need to go darker and warmer with your foundation than you would for everyday wear. Since you’ll be seen from a distance, boldness is key. Ensure your makeup is visible and stands out from a distance.
Character Portrayal and Performance Type
Your makeup should reflect the character you’re playing. Consider their age, personality, and social status. The type of performance also influences makeup choices: is it a period piece, a musical, or a drama? Each genre may require different approaches to stage makeup.
Foundation Types and Durability for Stage
Opt for high-pigment, long-lasting formulas like cream or cake makeup. These types of foundations offer better coverage and durability under the demanding conditions of the stage.
The Theatrical Creme Kit is your all-in-one solution for professional stage makeup. Featuring a full range of richly pigmented, blendable cremes, this kit ensures flawless coverage and vibrant, long-lasting color under any lighting. Perfect for actors, students, and makeup artists, it includes foundations, blushes, and eye colors tailored for dramatic transformations and realistic character portrayals.
For performers in film or on camera, the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation is highly recommended. This foundation picks up well on camera, providing a natural finish that is neither too matte nor overly luminous. It offers buildable medium-full coverage.
For those requiring full coverage, Estee Lauder Double Wear liquid foundation is a strong contender. Both Makeup Forever and Dermacol were initially used for studios/theatre because of their impressive coverage capabilities.
Stage makeup is essential for dancers as it enhances their facial features and stops them from looking washed out under stage lights. Whether you're dancing ballet, jazz, or tap, the right stage makeup will make sure your expressions can be seen right in the back row.
Essential Products for Dancers' Makeup
Before you get started, make sure that you have a few essential products to hand:
- Foundation: A tone closest to your skin color or one shade darker, as you often appear paler on stage.
- Matte foundation powder: To matte your complexion and prevent shine under stage lights.
- Blush: Pink for paler skin tones and brown blush for darker tones.
- Several shades of eye shadow: Three shades should be enough. White, beige, and brown are the most common.
- Mascara: Waterproof might be a good call, as you’ll sweat.
- Matte lipstick: Opt for a red or dark pink. Shiny colors don’t work well on stage and tend to look too pale.
- Eyebrow pencil: The shade closest to your natural color.
- Cotton buds and makeup remover: In the event you make a mistake.
- Brushes: A brush for your eyes and a foundation brush for the powder.
You can also add glitter, fake lashes, highlighter, corrector and concealer, and a lip pencil to enhance your look.
Foundation Application for Dancers
If you tend to have dry skin, you might want to add some moisturizer or a BB cream before applying foundation. Move your hair out of the way and wear a plunging neckline so that you can apply the foundation to your neck, too. With many stage lights shining on you, you'll want to opt for a matte foundation.
You can also add a corrector and concealer to any blemishes or spots. Add a liquid foundation starting at the center of your face and working your way outwards. Don’t forget to apply this to your neck so you don’t have a discolored oval on your face. Some prefer to add foundation by hand, but if you want to use a brush, keep a liquid foundation in mind.
You might also want to use a foundation for dark circles. If you don’t have one, you can apply it from under your eyes outwards. You then need to matte your foundation to stop it from shining under the stage lights. Opt for a foundation that’s a little darker than the previous one so that you can contour a bit. Avoid foundation with sun protection, as they tend to appear white when filmed or photographed.
Budget Pick: Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless - lightweight, blendable, and perfect for oily or combination skin under stage lights.
Pro Pick: MAC Studio Fix Fluid - full coverage and long-wearing, ideal for dance recitals and photo-heavy performances.
Eye Makeup for Stage Performance
For eye makeup, you want it to be bold and solid, and you don't want it to run during your performance. Start by applying a white eye shadow across your whole eyelid from the lashes to your brow. This will catch the light nicely and act as a foundation for subsequent layers.
Next, add a darker layer of shadow onto the moving part of your eyelid, starting from the outside and working inwards to create a darker gradient on the outside. Finally, add the darkest layer to the outside of your eyelids to add depth. Apply the remaining pigment on your brush to the base of your eyelashes.
Apply eyeliner along your lashes and extend the line beyond them, drawing an accentuated “comma” at the end. Your eyeliner needs to be thicker than you usually wear, as your audience needs to see it. Don’t let the eyeliner collect at the edge of your eyes, as this will make your gaze look smaller. Use a white eye pencil to make your gaze look bigger. We’re not looking for a natural look here, as it won’t be visible on stage. Add a generous helping of mascara.
Pro Tip! Always apply makeup in natural light if possible before heading to the theater. Stage lights can dramatically alter how colors appear.
Budget Pick: e.l.f. Bite-Size Eyeshadow Palettes - compact, pigmented, and available in stage-friendly tones like “Truffles” and “Rose Water.”
Pro Pick: Morphe 9-Pan Artistry Palettes - bold colors, smooth blending, and ideal for layered looks.
Lip Makeup for Stage Performance
You might want to follow the contours with a clear pencil for the mouth to stop your lipstick from running into the corners. Using the tip of your lipstick isn’t very practical and requires some skill; it’s much easier to use a special brush to apply your lipstick. Blot the lipstick against a tissue to remove the excess before you add a second layer.
Since your mouth is an important facial feature, you'll need a bold color so that the audience can see it. Additionally, you can add a bit of gloss to the center of your lips, but this isn’t necessary, and it tends to stick. You might want to keep your gloss on hand backstage to retouch. Similarly, you’ll be thirsty, and your lipstick will fade when you drink.
Budget Pick: Wet n Wild MegaLast Matte Lipstick - long-lasting and great in shades like “Stoplight Red.”
Pro Pick: MAC Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo - a go-to classic that stays crisp under stage lights.
Finishing Touches for Stage Makeup
Blush: This can help accentuate parts of the face. To apply it, smile and apply it diagonally across your cheeks.
Eyebrows: You can highlight your expression by using an eyebrow pencil. Blondes can define their eyebrows, but brunettes can also use it, as even the most noticeable features may be hard to see on stage. Eyebrow pencils are helpful if you have thin or fair eyebrows. Apply the pencil from the beginning of your eyebrow to the end, working from the inside. Line up your eyebrow pencil with the bridge of your nose and the edge of your eye; your eyebrow should come up to the pencil. If your eyebrow doesn’t reach the pencil, then you should apply the makeup to this point.
Setting or Fixer Spray: A setting or fixer spray works a lot like hairspray. Once you're done, you can put it on to hold everything in place.
Important Note: Remember to put on your costume before your makeup, as you don’t want to have to pull anything on over your head. You can always wear something over the top that you can unbutton and take off so your costume doesn’t get stained.
Professional vs. Budget Stage Makeup Recommendations
Pro Options:
- Foundation: MAC Studio Fix Fluid
- Powder: Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder
- Eyeshadow: Morphe or Natasha Denona Mini Palettes
- Mascara: Lancôme Monsieur Big Waterproof
- Eyeliner: Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid
- Lipstick: MAC Retro Matte in Ruby Woo
- Brow Pencil: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz
Budget Options:
- Foundation: Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless
- Powder: Rimmel Stay Matte
- Eyeshadow: e.l.f. Bite-Size Eyeshadow
- Mascara: Maybelline Lash Sensational Waterproof
- Eyeliner: NYX Epic Ink
- Lipstick: Wet n Wild MegaLast Matte
- Brow Pencil: e.l.f. Instant Lift
Don’t hesitate to look for tutorials on YouTube to help you apply your makeup or for inspiration. Makeup for dancers has to be applied differently. Learn about putting on makeup for dance competitions with this tutorial.
Expert Tips for Stage Makeup Application
Priming is a very important step for those with combination/oily skin that needs makeup to hold up under hot stage lights. Using an oil-controlling/mattifying primer on the T-zone and a regular primer for the rest of the face can make a significant difference.
The application method is as crucial as the foundation itself. Sponges like the Beauty Blender allow for seamless foundation application and precise concealer application under the eyes. They are also excellent for blending makeup applied on top of the foundation.
Japanese eyeliners are highly recommended for their precise application and smudge-proof qualities, perfect for creating sharp lines and flicks.
MAC eyeshadows are a top choice for their wide range of colors and textures, offering long-wear, multipurpose, and buildable/blendable formulas.
For those with short and straight lashes, mascaras with comb bristle wands are beneficial for grasping individual lashes and lengthening them. The Tarte mascara mentioned has a smooth, clump-free consistency and a wand shape ideal for lengthening lower lashes.
Kevyn Aucoin contour powder is considered by many to be the best contour powder for sculpting the face naturally. Even a small amount of product can create definition.
Charlotte Tilbury's highlighter duo is a favorite for its fine texture, perfect shimmer, and ability to create an angelic glow that looks stunning on camera and under stage spotlights.
A facial mist like Mario Badescu Facial Spray can serve as both a skincare toner and a makeup setting spray, rejuvenating the face and adding radiance with a calming scent.
Classic Ballet Stage Make Up for Little Dancers
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