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BUILDING YOUR
MAKEUP KIT
Ben Nye makeup features many comprehensive personal and
professional kits, the prices of the pre-packaged kits are
approximately half what you will pay to develop your own from
scratch. But creating your own may give you more knowledge
of your products--and it's fun! So read these ideas and
browse through all the wonderful products offered at Theatrical
Makeup, think about what YOU need to enhance your image.
Every
beginning actor needs a basic makeup kit—you’ll want to enhance
your own image with the right shades and styles. After you get
started with the basics, you’ll add your own specialties,
experimenting with effects and makeup types. But for now, the
basics!
First, find an appropriate box for your things. Lots of
people use a small tool box or a fishing tackle box.
There are boxes available from various makeup companies
(Mehron is one) but they tend to be a bit more
expensive.
Now, fill your box. Most actors select five
foundations. With Ben Nye, you have three choices of
type: crème, matte, cake. The crème is the easiest to
start with and it blends with the other crème rouges,
highlights, etc. Matte is great if you are in film,
because its texture does better under those lights.
Cake is water soluble, so it can wash off with soap and
water and doesn’t need powder for setting.
After you have selected a type, you’ll find your
shades. One should be closest to your skin tone. Next
get one which is two tones lighter, and another two
tones darker. These will subtly vary your characters,
but still look natural. You’ll want a sallow tone to
produce an old age effect, and a specialty tone, for
whatever you are likely to need—clown white, rosy tone
for sunburn effect, yellowish tan if you do cats, etc.
Highlight comes next—they come in lots of shades, but we
think that one off-white highlight will be enough to
start. It will help create lots of effects, and will
blend into your foundation nicely.
Shadow is the opposite—probably two, one in red-brown
and one in grey-brown. These help define facial
structure such as cheekbones.
Cheek rouge—at least one, in a tone which coordinates
with your basic foundation.
Powder is necessary to set your crème or matte
foundation. Start with a translucent shade, so it won’t
disguise your foundation color. Ben Nye also has
several non-translucent skin tones, which define your
color, and you should check out the fine quality of
their luxury poudre choices, as well.
Eye makeup: Your eyes are the most expressive part of
your face, so it is worthwhile to choose makeup
carefully. You’ll want pencil eye liner, shadow and
mascara. Plan on a couple of shades of each one. Later
you can experiment with glows and fireworks, as well as
various colors for your shadows.
Lips are usually outlined with a lip liner for stage,
then filled on. Lipstick or crème lip color can be
used, also. If you are an actor, you should try to have
at least two distinct shades, so you will be able to
switch characters quickly.
Basic tools: a pack of latex sponge triangles, which are
discarded after use; powder puffs, a variety of sable
brushes. You might want a mixing pallet for creating
shades for various characters.
Ben Nye has a product called Final Seal, to spray over
your makeup before you hit the hot lights. It keeps
your makeup from running and sweating down your face,
and is useful for anyone who has to depend on his makeup
for several hours, in any weather.
Cleansers are very important—failing to do thorough skin
cleansing can cause real problems for the actor. A
brush cleanser is also essential.
You’ll also need some spirit gum and spirit gum
remover—this attaches facial hair, minor prosthetics,
etc.
Next, leave a little space for an old t-shirt—we like to
have them slit up the front so they are easy to put
on—it will protect your costume while you apply the
makeup! A few scraps of soft fabric come in handy,
too.
You’ll make lots of decisions that affect your career in
different ways—your makeup decisions will be major in
determining your career image!
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