It's performance time for many dance studios, even as competitions come to a close, here come the recitals! A very exciting time but it can also be pretty nerveracking for a lot of people too! There's a lot that's needed in preparation for rehearsals and year end recitals including dance make up. Here I have made a list of some of the essential pieces of makeup and supplies that every dancer needs for their make up bag. Enjoy!
1. Lipstick
One of the most essential pieces of makeup for almost any performance that is probably the most captivating and noticeable piece of makeup that you'll be wearing. An important tip for lipstick is to have multiple shades of red. Ideally you should have a bright red cherry lipstick, one that's dark red, and two different lipsticks that are in between the cherry and dark red. This is important because depending on your costume it may require a different shade or to match all of the other dancers in your group, so as not to have someone with an orange red and another with a dark red lipstick. Generally, you'll need to change your lipsticks every 2 years because makeup does have an expiration date unfortunately. Some signs that your lipstick may be expired include changes in the colour, smell, or texture, then you should definitely throw them out. Also for maintenance of lipsticks remember to sanitize them by wiping them, and spraying them with a bit of alcohol, to clean them. As for applying them try to follow the natural guidelines of where your lips are for the best results. All of these tips are important in the presentation and preservation of your lipsticks.
2. Mascara
To help make your eyes pop out on stage to help with your expressions becoming visible, mascara helps to do the trick. Depending on the colour of your eyelashes you can get them either brown or black mascara. As for waterproof mascara I tend to stay away from them, since they aren't very good for your eyes in the longrun. However, if your eyes do tend to water a lot or you rub your eyes often, then this option will work wonders for you. To apply the mascara try to delicately brush your eyelashes in an upward motion and remember to get all of your eyelashes and not just the ones in the center. Typically, mascara lasts 3-6 months, so if you aren't going to use mascara for a while consider buying a smaller tube of it.
3. Eye Liner
For eye liner you'll need both a black and a white eye liner. You can either buy it in pencil or liquid form. I find that liquid form is easier to use but remember to always to put the cap back on immediately, to make sure it doesn't dry out. Even if you do remember to put the cap on all the time, eventually it will dry out, so you'll need to buy it more often than the pencil eye liner. Pencil eye liner works great too, but once the tip of the pencil becomes dull, it becomes difficult to use. There are pencil sharpeners that are specifically used for eye liner pencils, but it still breaks very easily as the eye liner is quite soft. Another reminder is that you should keep it away from heat, otherwise the tip of the pencil will become soft and rounded, making it difficult to use. Generally liquid eye liner will last 6-8 months, whereas pencil eye liner will last about 1 year.
4. Blush & Brushes
Just like lipstick you'll need multiple shades of blush. The main reason is because depending on your studio or your dance you may need a very cherry red for playing a part of a clown or a deep bold red for playing the part of Hispanic dancer. Also depending on the lighting it may be hard to see your blush, which is used to make you look alive and expressive. Generally, you'll use a bright red blush to be seen under all of the lighting. Also brushes are extremely important to help spread the blush around your face, although this will only be necessary when using powder blush. For powder blush you should use a dome shaped brush or a slanted blush brush. For a cream or mousse blush you should use a stippling brush. There are multiple forms of blush including stick (a.ka. chubby stick), powder, cheek pencil, liquid, and cream. My favourite form of blush is the blush stick because it comes out in a strong colour so it doesn't take much and it doesn't take very long to apply. Although, because it has such a strong colour you won't need to use as much as you would with powder blush. Powder blush is great too, but you need to use a lot of it to make it visible and it can also become itchy. Cheek pencils are great for beginners as the colour doesn't come out too strong at first so you have lots of room for errors. Liquid and cream form are okay, but they can create streaks making some areas of your face darker red then the rest. Typically blush will last 1-2 years, so you'll have more time to use them! :)
5. Eye Shadow
For eye shadow you should have multiple shades ranging from black to white with multiple in between brown shades. Generally you'll need a dark brown for the base of your eyelid close to your eyelashes and a light brown for right above the base. You'll need to go all the way across your eye lid and to blend the shades at the point where they meet, so that the crease isn't obvious. Also try to stay away from sparkly shades despite how tempting it is, because it can become distracting while performing onstage. You'll also need brushes for your eye shadow. For the entire eyelid you can use a stiff flat brush and for the crease and blending of the two shades you can use a stiff or soft dome brush. Generally, eye shadow will last 1-2 years as it's very similar to blush.
6. Foundation
Foundation can come in different shades to match pretty much any skin tone, which is great! There are typically two forms of foundation: powder and liquid. I've used both powder foundation and liquid foundation, and they both work great. However, I tend to prefer the powder foundation because if the shade isn't quite the same shade as your skin tone it'll appear blotchy and becomes difficult to remove afterwards. Although, if you don't need a lot of foundation the liquid form works out just fine as long as you don't use too much of it. Typically foundation will last from 6 months to 2 years, with liquid foundation lasting anywhere from 6 months to a year.
7. Concealor
Concealor is an extremely handy item to keep in your makeup bag especially during performance season. I always like to use it under my eyes, so that it I appear energetic and happy onstage. The importance of concealor is mainly for those who have to perform in multiple performances and rehearsals, as it can become very tiring over time but with a little concealor the dark circles under your eyes will be gone in a jiffy. You will need to switch your concealors every so often as they typically last 6 months to a year.
8.Fake Eyelashes
Fake eyelashes are generally used to create better expression while onstage. For some mascara may be enough, but for those who have average-short eyelashes, fake eyelashes will help create an extension of your eye focus making the audience more attentive during your performance. They do this by making your eyes seem bigger, so that you can connect with the audience as well. Fake eyelashes can be difficult to apply so I wouldn't recommend using them anyone 7 and under. Also make sure to change up your eyelash glue as they don't last forever and over time they will lose their adhesive that allows them to stick to your eyelids. It takes a lot of practice to put on your fake eyelashes, so be patient as the glue does sting when it gets into your eye. However, it isn't harmful so don't be afraid to try.
9. Q-Tips and Cotton Pads
Q-Tips and cotton pads are terrific items to keep in your makeup bag, as they help to remove any errors you may have made while applying your makeup. They are also great for smudges or for using makeup removers. I like to keep a lot of them in my makeup bag, as it doesn't take much to go through all of them, when you're constantly putting on and taking off your makeup throughout your year end performances. Be sure to keep these on hand at all times.
10. Makeup Remover & Moisturizer
Makeup removers and moisturizers are important for anyone's makeup bag, for both smudges and removing your makeup afterwards. My favourite makeup remover is made by Neutrogena and it's called oil-free eye makeup remover. It works great and you don't need a lot of it to get rid of makeup. It's also great for your skin, as it doesn't make it oily or dry afterwards, which is a concern for a lot of people. The importance of moisturizers is for your face after removing your makeup, as you want to make sure your skin isn't raw after stripping away some of your natural oils, so that for the next day of performances you aren't squinting or twitching everytime you apply eyeshadow or eyeliner. Majority of the time moisturizers will last 1 to 2 years.