Makeup/Hair Tips

There certain things you should pick up if you're going to experiment with makeup and you don't have much. Some things you can grab at the local drug store, others will be easier to get at a theatre/costume shop that carries makeup. here's a list of the basics to get you started:

base/foundation:

Typically you're going to want either a tone that matches your skin or one that is several shades lighter for that "naturally" pale look. If you want to do your face white then do yourself a favor and get some cake makeup. Stay away from the clown white greasepaint and cream stuff. it's harder to spread evenly and it's sticky (which means powdering it). Cake makeup is easy to apply, spreads nicely, and goes quite a ways if you know how to use it. it also comes in a variety of more natural colors, and can be used in place of a liquid or cream foundation. The advantage to cake makeup is you don't have to powder it the way you do with the liquid forms. To apply: Get some pieces of foam sponge or the like.(you should be able to get these in the drug store beauty aisle and at theatre shops) DAMPEN the sponge...don't soak it. it has to have enough water to pick up the makeup. too wet and it gets streaky. rub the damp sponge in the cake until you have some color on it, then sponge your face until it's covered. practice a few times til you've got the hang of it and the makeup looks smooth. for those painting their faces white, you should also paint you neck and any exposed area attached thereof so people don't mistake you for a mime and fling creamed corn at you. ;)

eyeliner:

Theatre /drug store pencil liner in blackand a couple other colors you like is always a good idea. Pencil will smudge, and this can be to youradvantage depending on the look you want. if you don't want it to smudge, then invest in some translucent powder (theatre makeup shops have it). After you apply the liner, dust A LITTLE powder into a poofy powder thingy, fold the puff in half scrunch it around to get the powder in, and tap off the excess. Then, press the
puff into the lined area. Liquid eyeliner is great, dramatic stuff but can be tricky to use because it blotches so easily. the advantage though, is it dries and doesn't smudge. it can flake off after extended wear however.

blush:

I really don't use blush for blush's sake in my club makeup, but more for the fact that you can find some great shades of red and pink that doesn't come in
eyeshadow colors. however, if you're trying for that 17 century lead paint/loud rouge look, then by all means find a nice bright blush and go to town!

translucent powder:

This stuff is great. you won't regret investing in this if you wear pencil liner,
especially. This powder is what sets your makeup and keeps it from smudging. go to a theatre shop and get some.

lipstick:

Black is a good stock color to have, but be sure to keep an eye out for some other shades that you like so you can switch off now and then. My personal
favorite is blue. There's some nice purples and greens out there too. Red is also a good stock color to have, and i recommend having both a bright red and an almost black red for variation. If you see fun colors like silver, or turquoise or hot pink, by all means, grab them! Wet N wild still makes some good colors, as does sinful, and sweet georgia brown. Urban decay and the like have great colors but can be pricey-er. Also, try theatre shops for lip colors. While they may be more expensive, they might have some of the colors you can't find. halloween is a great time to stock up...be sure to check out the drug store makeup displays as that's when they introduce some fun holiday colors.

lip brush:

This is a great item to get. You don't need lip liner this way, just stroke the brush over the lipstick and draw in the lines. using a brush gives you more precise control and can help you get the shape you want. theatre shops will carry them, but a fine paint brush from an art supply store will do just as well. make sure it is narrow and flat (about 1/8" across).

mascara:

Not really necessary, but i like to have some black on hand.
find some fun colors if you can!

glitter:

For those of you who feel like being sparkly. :) After much experimentation, I've found that the glitter gel is usually a rip off and the gel dries up sooner than you want. the glitter that comes as pixie dust" without any gel works much better. Glitter has a way of sticking to things, whether you want it to or
not, so usually this kind will stay fairly well where you put it. You can also buy a small bottle of hair gel to put on first before the glitter..this will make
it stay very nicely. Really, the best source for glitter is craft stores. they have EVERY kind you could ever want in quantities that will last you forever.

blush brush:

A big poofy brush that you would put on blush with. clean and cannibalize one from an old compact if you don't want to buy one.

eyeshadow brushes:

Eyeshadow brushes are definitely something to have. The brushes pictured above can be used for shadows, but there are more specialized poofy shadow brushes you can buy from theatre shops. I like to use brushes with liquid eyeshadow especially. More control, less mess.

eyeshadow:

Eyeshadow is a great way to expand your makeup creativity. There's hardly a color that doesn't exist these days, so there really are no limits. The stuff can be expensive though, so shop wise. If you can find a cheaper pallette that has several colors to choose from that you WILL use, then by all means grab it. I picked up some liquid eyeshadow in a tube...which I LOVE to death. It goes on easily and stays on longer than normal eyeshadow because it's wet. when it dries, it's powder. Eyeshadow in general stays put much better if you apply it when damp.

Mehron's white cake makeup in "Alabaster", which is a nice cool pinkish white. I use a large rounded sponge with it.

Bye Nye translucent powder and puff....powder comes in different tones to match skin!

Big poofy brushes are good for blush, because unless you do it on purpose for a theatrical effect, too much blush is too easy to do. Tap the brush before you use it to get off the extra powder.

Move on to techniques and tricks

But what about my hair?????
tips on diy hair extensions...coming soon!

eyeshadow in both powder and liquid form