Life's A Stage: The Tips And Tricks Of Grease Makeup

Whether you are thinking about using grease makeup for a theatrical event, a special Halloween party or some other occasion, you need to know what products are out there and how to apply them.

While grease makeup takes more time and preparation than regular water-soluble face paint, it also lasts much longer. Most importantly, grease makeup will not fire or run under hot lights or conditions where you might perspire. With grease makeup you can create a more dramatic and even professional look.

In addition to your grease face-paints and pencils you will need:

  • face-cleanser or cream cleanser and / or baby shampoo
  • clean towels or paper towel
  • clothing cover-up and hair-ties or shower cap
  • possible shaver for men
  • mirror if you are not working from home
  • good quality painting brush, powder brush
  • professional setting powder, talcum or baby powder and applicator (see below)
  • Q-Tips or fine painting brush, tissue paper, paper towel are all handy
  • Other items that you might also consider:
  • light moisturizer
  • baby oil (to fix mistakes after painting has 'set')
  • charcoal pencil for eyes
  • mascara
  • sponge
  • mister or water-spray
  • glitter and other decoration

Before you start applying the makeup, you need to prepare your face so it goes on smoothly. Thoroughly clean your face, tying back hair where necessary, and for men, have a shave. (Bearded men can apply grease paint makeup but it can be tricky keeping it out of the hair.) Remember that grease makeup will stain clothes, so put on an old button-up shirt. After your skin dries, apply a very light moisturizer.

Working with the lightest color first - usually white - and a good quality brush or sponge, or your fingers, you can outline the area and then fill it in. Alternately you can paint following the contours of your face. The grease makeup may not go on smoothly if it is too cold, which you can remedy by putting a little dab of the color of in the palm of your hand for a minute. After painting, use your fingers to 'pat' the makeup into your skin.

Unlike water-based makeup, grease makeup requires you to paint your face and then 'set' it with a professional setting powder, or baby or talcum powder. (If you go with talcum, be sure to confirm beforehand that you do not have an allergic reaction to it.) You can 'set' the grease makeup either in stages following each color's application, or at the end of all the painting. Some people prefer the latter, applying all the colors before setting with powder, because they can fix mistakes more easily. The downside is that you risk mixing colors accidentally and smearing your work.

Whether you're set in stages or at the end, one reliable way to apply the powder is to partially fill a small, clean, cotton tube sock with the powder, tie it up, and then gently dab your face. Allow the powder sit for a half a minute or so before dusting the excess off with a powder brush. The painted areas should no longer feel moist or sticky - if this is not the case, you probably need more powder. Once the grease makeup has set, it should be fairly smudge-proof. If something needs correcting at this point, you can use Q-Tips soaked in baby oil, but remember that neighboring areas could now be smudged.

Be careful not to apply the grease face makeup thickly or in layers. If you do have too much in one spot, press down on it with your fingers to smooth it out. Continue to refine your face, using Q-Tips or a fine brush for the smaller areas. Grease pencils also can be used for the face, charcoal pencils for the eyes, and do not forget color for your lips too!

Allow the grease makeup to thoroughly dry, and apply a last light coating of powder, dusting off any excess with a brush or tissue paper. A damp cloth at the end can help remove the excess powder, or spray with a very light mist of water. In warmer climates you can probably skip this step because the extra powder will absorb any perspiration.

If you are applying glitter, it should be done at the very end. Generally glitter is most effective when applied over the eyes or on the cheeks, A glitter gel is often used instead of dry glitter to minimize the chances of it flaking into the eye. With dry glitter, first slightly dampen your face and cheeks, then 'poof' on the polyester glitter. Remember to let the makeup settle for about half an hour before you go out. If you have stray paint on your eyelashes, cover it with mascara.

Products available

For just about any type of face design you will need at a minimum white greasepaint foundation and a black greasepaint pencil, but of course there are many colors in between and you will probably want to try at least a few of them. The leading producers of grease makeup are Mehron and Ben Nye. Mehron grease makeup is focused on the theatrical professionals who want ease of application with good coverage. Ben Nye also appeals to the same community, although Ben Nye grease makeup is actually a cream. Grease face makeup comes in a range of forms, from palettes (generally sold as a kit), to individual liners. Pencils, crayons and sticks are useful for smaller areas of the face. Both Mehron and Ben Nye also make eye-shadows, blushes, a range of glitter and setting powders and sealing mists. You may also want to consider sweat-blocker sprays for the face to help reserve the greasepaint under strong lights or in a hot environment.









0 comments

  • A Guide to Auto Detailing If you want to enhance the look of your vehicle, take it to an auto detailing shop. Most places charge a nominal fee for auto detailing services. If you find that you are in between paychecks and can not afford to get to an auto detailing shop…
  • Hard Drive History The hard drive is an important part of modern day computing, because it allows for information to be stored and then accessed at a later point. However, the modern day drive has its roots in technology that was developed over 50 years ago. The…
  • Instant Car Insurance Quote - Save Money and Your Car TooCar insurance is must because you never know when what damage can occur to your new car. Owning a car is not so easy and therefore, after buying your favorite car would you like to loose it? Even though anything bad happens to your car, after…
  • Trading Soft Commodities Soft commodities include sugar, cocoa, coffee, orange juice and cotton. Sugar People have been using sugar for over two thousand years, when it was originally reserved for the very rich. Today, sugar is one of the most heavily traded…
  • Architectural Rendering SymbolsArchitectural rendering refers to the visualization of a proposed design. The architecture rendering of visualization presents the replica of the planned project for the approval of the person who wants it to be constructed. Once approved, the plan…