It’s a fact. No costume is complete without Costume Makeup.
Whether it is for a Masquerade Ball, Halloween, or a stage production, your makeup should be carefully planned out in order for it to look good. There are many magazines at specialty shops that can give you plenty of costume ideas. Whether you want to be an alien and “go green”, or stomp around with stiff arms as Frankenstein’s monster, the makeup you choose will complete the picture. Otherwise you’ll just look, well . . . half-dressed.
One great costume idea is if the outfit’s difficult to get into, wait until after you are fully in it before you begin to apply the makeup. If not, you’ll just have to redo it anyway, especially if your attire has to be pulled over your face. Another tip is to get your hair out of the way with a scarf, band or a towel. Drape a towel or paper around your neck so you do not drip the makeup onto the costume when you are trying to apply it. Costume Makeup can stain. A little baby powder can set the costume paint and keep it from streaming down your face if you perspire.
When it comes to deciding on what to be, the sky is the limit. With the popularity of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies and Johnny Dep’s use of makeup, pirate costume makeup is big right now. Beyond the patch and a few blackened teeth, is the use of black kohl under the eyes or a few well placed scars on the face. It’s fairly authentic, actually. Pirates often did use makeup to look like ghosts. It hid their real features and scared their victims.
Ever since the Wizard of Oz, kids young and old have wanted to dress up as the Scarecrow. A little straw sticking out of old clothes, a red triangle for the nose, and black stitching around the mouth are common touches in scarecrow costume makeup. Some people go with yellow or white foundation as well. But for that you want to only have a brain. (Sorry, couldn’t resist).
Clown makeup is probably the first type of Costume Makeup people think of. The white plastered foundation for the face, exaggerated red lips, red honking bulb of a nose and even a few painted on tear drops are classic facial touches. You can have the big shoes and the horn, the juggling balls or the ruffles, but without the face makeup, you just wouldn’t look the part.
Other popular costume makeup ideas are rosy cheeked Fairy Princesses, Vampires with blood drooling down the edges of their scowl, and of course the greenish Witch with the well placed wart. For those who want to “act their age”, painted on wrinkles and age spots can be effective.
For those who wish to get others to ask what the other guy looked like, a post-fight bruise and a few knocked out teeth under a bloody nose is always a hit. (Pun intended).
Of course, the latest Costume Makeup trend is dying yourself in your favorite Sport team’s colors, or dressing up like the mascot, whether it’s an animal or imaginary creature. The avid fan dons a wig and body paint to make sure everyone knows which team they are rooting for. For the not quite so willing to be noticed fan, face painting of the team’s logo or symbol is a less blatant way to show your loyalty.