Competition Makeup

[rels77]

I swear by makeup forever hd foundation. Looks great and stays FOREVER!!!

 

[Dance Mad Helen]

What's your skin type? What do you prime/set with?

n I use benefits stay flawless primer. my skin is normally quite dry but i just sweat a lot so it looks like im oily

 

[theAnnelis]

n I use benefits stay flawless primer. my skin is normally quite dry but i just sweat a lot so it looks like im oily

Sorry it took so long for me to reply! You definitely need to hydrate your skin - there are also skincare serums that'll really help product bind to your face. Also, if your foundation separates on your skin, that usually has to do with mixing bases. Stay Flawless is silicone-based, which a, is additionally drying on dry skin, and b, REALLY doesn't go well with other bases, so if you're putting a water or gel based foundation on top (or anything but silicone), it will separate, and usually very quickly. If you're really attached to Stay Flawless, Makeup Forever HD actually would pair really well with it. Another thing, I actually work at Benefit and found out the trick with Stay Flawless is that you have to apply the foundation before the primer dries, when it's still tacky. Then again, I never use that primer because I'm very attached to the Porefessionals, so you've probably already figured that trick out =P

 

[j_alexandra]

I swear by makeup forever hd foundation. Looks great and stays FOREVER!!!

I used to use this, liked it very much. Then I tried the MFU Mattifying primer. HOLY COW. Convert! Sephora has travel sizes, so I was able to try it without committing my entire bank account.

And yes, the salespeople at Sephora did try, one more time, to sell me bronzer. Le sigh.

 

[Miss Silly]

Maybe someone can elaborate on this... I can't remember the details.

Certain foundations (or maybe even setting powders?) can super reflect light so even if it looks okay in person, in a flash-photography setting, this is not ideal since you get some pretty heavy-duty ghost-face happening. This may or may not be a primary concern in a dance competition LOL. But I am curious if anyone knows which products are known for this?

 

[FancyFeet]

Often, it's anything with SPF - especially those products that use physical blockers (like zinc oxide). Shimmery highlighters or 'radiance boosting' foundations can do it as well... as can too many layers of translucent powder. I like to powder once, then set with setting spray... then it's blotting papers to address shine.

(I remember watching a dance makeup YouTube video once that recommended using sunscreen as a primer... no thanks!)

 

[flying_backwards]

Up until now I have relied on my friends to do all my make-up for performances and the one competition I've done. I know nothing about make-up. Not just comp make-up, any make-up. So there's a comp next Saturday, too early in the morning to ask my friends to do me, nobody there offering the service, so finally I must face doing my own face. I've studied this thread and delved into YouTube but it's all so very complicated. And so many products to buy!

Tomorrow a ballroom friend is going to take me make-up shopping. I've been told these are the items I need. Which ones can I skip? It's just syllabus, not all day, so maybe it does not need to be so complicated?

primer
foundation
setting powder
eye primer
eye shadow palette
eye liner
brow something (I think she said powder?)
fake lashes & glue
lip gloss (she said 4 layers after alcohol scrub)
blush and bronzer
concealer
setting spray
brushes, sponges, thingies for applying the stuff

So, of that list, which are optional?

At least I already own make-up remover. Learned that the hard way: buy that before the event or face walking into the drugstore in stage make-up.

One more wrinkle: I am going to have to do my face during the drive, with my partner driving my car (and not used to the clutch). I'm more apprehensive about the make-up than the dancing.

 

[rels77]

So, of that list, which are optional?

At least I already own make-up remover. Learned that the hard way: buy that before the event or face walking into the drugstore in stage make-up.

One more wrinkle: I am going to have to do my face during the drive, with my partner driving my car (and not used to the clutch). I'm more apprehensive about the make-up than the dancing.

So, you probably don't need eye primer. I would vote for a good lip liner and lipstick over gloss.

And I would say do not do your makeup in the car under any circumstances. Depending on the drive, do it at home and then just touch up when you get there or leave earlier and do it at the comp. if you';re not familiar with it, that's jsut asking for trouble.

and if you're not that used to it, you should plan for it to take you like 45 minutes to do. at least.

 

[FancyFeet]

And I would say do not do your makeup in the car under any circumstances. Depending on the drive, do it at home and then just touch up when you get there or leave earlier and do it at the comp. if you';re not familiar with it, that's jsut asking for trouble.

At least, don't do your eye makeup in the car!

My minimum kit (assuming lower levels of syllabus and only a few rounds):

Make-up:

Moisturizer
Medium-full coverage foundation
Concealer
Powder
Bronzer
Blush
Eyeliner
Eyeshadow (2 neutral shades, preferably three: skin colour, medium brown and dark brown. Preferably matte or low shimmer.)
Mascara (black)
Lip liner
Lipstick​

Tools:

Blush Brush
Eye shadow brush (way better than the sponges!)
Clean mascara wand/comb (you'll use this to address any mascara clumps, or to tame wayward eyebrows with a little hairspray)
Small angled brush (you can use this to smudge eye liner, and to use for your brows with the med/dark brown eyeshadow)
​

To take it up a bit, add some or all of:

Make-up:

Primer
Highlighter
Liquid eyeliner
Eye primer
Eyebrow pencil/powder brow kit
Setting spray
Clear brow gel/brow wax
Self tanner​

Tools:

Eyelash curler
Foundation brush
Contour or kabuki brush
Powder brush
Blending sponge
Crease eyeshadow brush
False lashes and glue
Tweezers
​

My best tip: Practice beforehand. Preferably twice. And leave more time than you think you need day of... because it's harder when you're nervous.

 

[theAnnelis]

Maybe someone can elaborate on this... I can't remember the details.

Certain foundations (or maybe even setting powders?) can super reflect light so even if it looks okay in person, in a flash-photography setting, this is not ideal since you get some pretty heavy-duty ghost-face happening. This may or may not be a primary concern in a dance competition LOL. But I am curious if anyone knows which products are known for this?

Haha. FancyFeet is right, you'll get some flashback with SPF, but the specific type of flashback you're talking about is usually comes from HD setting powders. That's not to say it happens with all of them, but just be wary of powders with a high content of silica in them - that's the main ingredient that causes it. Another thing is, in those cases, the artist just applied way too much of it - just dip the brush and use the tiniest amount, which will be enough for your whole face, and it'll be fine, and please please PLEASE, don't add more HD powder once your makeup is already set and dry!

 

[IndyLady]

At least, don't do your eye makeup in the car!

........

My best tip: Practice beforehand. Preferably twice. And leave more time than you think you need day of... because it's harder when you're nervous.

So much both of these, I cannot emphasize this enough.

Especially the "practice beforehand" advice.

Tangential but somewhat related story: I was a bridesmaid for one of my close friends who never wore makeup. We were all responsible for our own hair/makeup, though she had her hair done at a salon (we went with her, it was fun). A couple hours before the wedding as we were all getting ready, she panicked and asked me to do her makeup for her. She handed me a white highlight pencil, two equally medium shades of creme eye shadow - one brown, one gray, and the eyeliner. Now, I've done my own makeup a bunch, but I had no idea at that moment what the nice lady at the counter who sold her this stuff probably advised her as to how to apply it, as her face/eye shape/lids/everything was very different from mine. So I did the best I could with what I had. Ten minutes later, one of the other bridesmaids (another no- or minimal makeup person) walks in, looks at her, and says "OMG, Jane, you look like a -----". (I can't remember if she said something more akin to "circus performer" or "prostitute"). "You've got to take some of that off." Anyways, she ended up taking all of it off, because as we all know here, creme eye shadow does not really have levels, it's binary - it's either on or off. Bridesmaid #2 ran off and found a neutral powder palette (browns) and re-did it.

Anyways, moral of the story here, a lot of stress happened b/c the star of the show didn't recognize that, like dance, makeup is something you also have to practice to get good at, you don't magically slap it on the day of with no experience and look like a princess.

 

[bia]

I would skip the false eyelashes until you've had multiple chances to practice with them. Once you know how to apply them, they make a big difference to appearance, but they take some learning. When you do start using them, I'd suggest starting with "accent lashes" just for the outer corner; once you're comfortable with those, you can start practicing with the full strip.

I also strongly suggest avoiding liquid eyeliner as a beginner. Personally, for comp makeup, I use black cream eyeshadow for my eyeliner.

And yes, practice!!

 

[FancyFeet]

Yep. Normally, dancesport is of the "more is more" approach... but IMHO, more done badly is worse than simple done well.

You can get by with a simple bun and classic makeup (blush, simple eyeshadow, some eyeliner and mascara, filled-in brows and a bright lipstick). I also recommend bronzer if you are pale. Try to contour or do a smoky eye/cut crease without practice though, and well... just don't. Also, don't do colour on your eyes if you're new to make-up.

(And don't be afraid to ask around. A dance friend is terrible at makeup, and had made an appointment to get hers done for comp... but the makeup artist came down with food poisoning and cancelled last-minute. The night before, she found me in a panic... I had finished competing, it was about midnight... I agreed to get up at 5:30, do her make-up and go back to bed. She brought me coffee and slipped me a few $ to say thanks. Maybe not pro quality, since I was sleep deprived and hadn't brought my full kit with me - just what I needed for myself, and we dance different styles and have different colouring - but better than she could have done herself with late-night drugstore or borrowed stuff.)

 

[flying_backwards]

Practice beforehand. Preferably twice. And leave more time than you think you need day of... because it's harder when you're nervous.

Reality check! Even to go to the make-up store tomorrow I have to miss a dance practice. Zero time to practice applying make-up, not without stealing sleep, work or dance practice time. So... this is not realistic, doing make-up myself for this Saturday. Thank you DF angels for averting that disaster.

I do believe what FancyFeet says "more done badly is worse than simple done well." But I would not even know how to do make-up simply.

I will just have to find someone to do my face this time and then plan farther ahead for next time.

 

[ChaCha1]

For next time you can have some of the makeup store teach you how to do the basics.

I understand that MAC stores, Ulta and Sephora will do your makeup. This is a good start for understanding basics... not enough for the stage, but good basic understanding will help the learning process.