Makeup application tips and tricks

Below you will find some helpful tips and tricks to make your competition makeup application run as smooth as possible!

• Use a Foundation Base
  • Using a foundation base creates a blank canvas, allowing colours to show up more vibrant.
  • It also ensures that all other makeup applied is adhered to the skin and will not slip off throughout the day. 
  • Foundation Bases can be liquid foundation, powder foundation, tinted moisturizer or mineral foundation.
  • Below are a few of my favourite foundations:
    • L'Oreal Pro Glow Foundation (for dryer skin) - Drugstore
    • L'Oreal Pro Matte Foundation (for oily skin) - Drugstore
    • Covergirl Outlast 3-In-1 Foundation (for normal skin) - Drugstore
    • Bare Minerals Original Powder Foundation (for highly sensitive skin) - Sephora

• Set the Face with a Powder
  • Setting the face with a powder locks in the foundation base you have applied, and ensures it will stay all day. 
  • Using a powder is also important to take away any shine on the face. The bright stage lights can really emphasize any shine on the skin, so setting the face with a powder creates a smooth, shine-free base. 
  • Below are some great setting powders:
    • Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder - Drugstore
    • Maybelline Fit Me Powder - Drugstore
    • Cover FX Perfect Pressed Setting Powder - Sephora

• How To: Winged Eyeliner
  • The best advice I can give for perfecting winged eyeliner is to find the right applicator for you. In my opinion, felt tip eyeliners are the easiest way to apply eyeliner.
  • Hold the eyeliner horizontally, instead of going straight into the eyelid.
  • Try doing small, short strokes instead of attempting to line the entire eyelid in one go. This minimizes mistakes and gives you more control over the shape of the eyeliner. 
  • For the wing, have the dancer look straight ahead as opposed to closing their eyes. This ensures you place the wing in the correct spot. Use the felt tip eyeliner shape to stamp on the wing on the outer corner. Then simply fill in the gaps.
  • At the end of this post is a photo of winged eyeliner to help you 
    
  • Below are some of my favourite eyeliners:
  • • L'Oreal Infallible Super Slim Eyeliner - Drugstore
    • Annabelle Liquid Eyeliner - Drugstore
    • Kat Von D Tattoo Liner - Sephora

• False Eyelashes 101
  • The first tip to help you easily apply false eyelashes is to trim them to fit your dancers eye!
    • Most false eyelashes come way too long for even adult eyelids. 
    • The eyelash should only take up 3/4 of your dancers eyelid.
    • Make sure to always trim the eyelash from the outer corner (usually longer eyelash hairs) so you don't lose the tapered effect in the inner corner. 
  • Before putting on glue, test the trimmed eyelash by placing it on the outer 3/4 your dancer's lash line to ensure you have trimmed enough off. 
    • You don't want any false eyelash poking your dancer in the inner corner of their eye. 
  • The most helpful tip I can give you for applying false eyelashes is to let the glue dry before attempting to place it on the eyelid!
    • Place the glue on the band of the false eyelash and wait at least 30 seconds for the glue to get tacky. 
    • This ensures that the eyelash won't slip and slide around, and instead will stick exactly where you place it. (Don't worry, since it is not fully dry you will still be able to adjust parts that aren't sitting right).
  • Another helpful trick is to have your dancer look down when applying the false eyelash, instead of having them close their eyes completely.
    • This keeps the lash line from folding/wrinkling when your dancer squints, and makes it easier for you to apply to false eyelash in the correct spot.
  • Try to place the eyelash as close to the lash line as possible, however still sticking it to the skin. 
    • The closer you are able to place the false eyelash to the dancer's lash line, the more secure it will be. 
  • After you have the eyelash glued where you want it, you can pinch the false lashes with your dancer's real lashes to really ensure they're stuck where you want them. This also blends the false lashes with the natural lashes to give the most seamless look possible.
  • You may choose any false eyelashes to apply that you wish. Simply avoid any coloured eyelashes, or eyelashes with sparkles/rhinestones. 
  • Below are some of my favourite false eyelash adhesives:
    • Duo Glue Eyelash Adhesive (squeeze tube) - Drugstore
    • Duo Glue Eyelash Adhesive (brush on) - Drugstore/Sephora
    • House of Lashes Eyelash Adhesive (brush on) - Sephora

• Use a Makeup Setting Spray
  • Using a setting spray locks the makeup in place and ensures that it is going to stay all day, despite the sweat and quick changes. 
  • Below are some great makeup setting sprays:
    • NYX Matte Finish Setting Spray (for oily/normal skin) - Drugstore
    • NYX Dewy Finish Setting Spray (for dry/normal skin) - Drugstore
    • Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray (normal skin) - Sephora
    • Urban Decay De-Slick Setting Spray (oily skin) - Sephora
    • Urban Decay Chill Makeup Setting Spray (dry skin) - Sephora