Every year a new crop of young eager dancers perform on competition stages all over the world and so there will always be the question, “why do I have to wear stage makeup?” and “how dark does it need to be?”. Dance moms ask me these questions ALL THE TIME because they feel that “makeup is makeup” and stage makeup seems to be yet another “special” item to buy and add to the bottomless dance bag.  (the bottomless dance bag-now, that’s a great product!)

Are there really good reasons for buying and using professional stage makeup or is the studio owner/director/choreographer just trying to pull one over you?

Before we discuss, take our poll:

Learn more….

If you are a competitive dancer, college level dancer, or professional dancer you need to be wearing professional stage makeup for the following 5 reasons:

1) Distance between the performer and the audience - When I am sitting in the audience, I am too far away from you to see what is going on in your face unless you enhance your features with makeup.  Your makeup actually needs to be dark enough for your features to be visible to the first 8 - 12 rows of the theater.  Many street makeup brands do not intensify when layered - they stay one color no matter how much you put on.  Professional stage makeup is versatile because it is highly-pigmented so that you can wear a little or a lot, depending on how you much you apply - the less you apply, the lighter it is - the more you apply, the darker it gets.

2) Intense stage lighting - Stage lighting can really “flatten” your features and take away all of the dimensions that help the audience see your facial expressions clearly.  Most street makeup brands are limited in their amount of pigment and just cannot get dark enough to be seen under stage lighting.  Great professional stage makeup will be highly-pigmented so that it can be seen under colorful, intense stage lighting - it won’t disappear when the lights hit you.

3) Decorative costuming - Your performance makeup is part of your costume.  If you were to put on a long evening gown, have your hair in an up-do, put on your high heel shoes and then put NOTHING on your face, you would look like you were missing something.  Your face would be overshadowed by your outfit and would look drab.  We NEVER want our costume to overshadow our face.  EVER!  Professional stage makeup is primarily earth-toned colors to adapt to every costume change, every lighting situation and every skin tone.

4) Sweat-factor - When we are performing on stage, under intense stage lighting, dancing our butts off, we will sweat (and as I used to tell my dancers - if you are not sweating then you are not working hard enough!).  There is nothing more uncomfortable than having a bead of sweat roll down into your eye while you are dancing and having your eye sting like crazy because all of your eye makeup is now IN your eye - making it tear even more - smearing mascara, eyeliner, and eye shadow - all while you are ON STAGE!  Many street makeup brands are either NOT sweat-resistant or are chemically altered to be “long lasting”.  You are eating chemicals (in lipsticks) and absorbing them into your skin.  High quality, professional stage makeup will be naturally sweat-resistant and will not irritate sensitive eyes or skin.

5) Protect the skin - Professional stage makeup should be highly-pigmented, hypo-allergenic (no known allergens used), non-comedogenic (non-clogging to the pores, so no break outs), and as NATURALLY sweat-resistant as possible.

Hey, guess what, you are in luck…JAM cosmetics professionally designed performance makeup kits are ALL THAT!!! And more!!!

Jessica Dupont writes the DanceMakeupBlog, she is a former Professional NYC Dancer and Makeup Artist.  She also writes “The Beauty Blog” for DANCE.COM and is the owner and founder of JAM cosmetics, the ULTIMATE performance makeup resource for dancers.  Follow her on Twitter

After so many requests for a makeup video specifically for dancers with Asian eyes, here it is!  This is the first of two (2) how-to makeup video for Asian eyes that I will be posting.  This look is the more difficult of the two I will present but you can easily achieve it with practice.

Step by step printable instructions appear after you take the LEAP…

 I use the JAM cosmetics Prima Diva Essentials Performance Makeup Kit

1. Start with clean, moisturized skin.
2. After applying foundation, apply loose powder under eyes to catch any drops of dark eye shadow that may fall.
3. Fill in eyebrows with Fear Me (brown) Mineral Eye Shadow.
4. Apply Elegant Me (peach) Mineral Eye Shadow to lids.
5. Apply Innocent Me (white) Mineral Eye Shadow to brow bones.
6. Apply Fear Me (brown) Mineral Eye Shadow to lash line and crease and blend together at outer corners of eyes.
7. Brush away loose powder
8. Using a damp/wet makeup brush, apply Innocent Me (white) Mineral Eye Shadow to inner corner of eyes.
9. Apply Fear Me (brown) Mineral Eye Shadow as an eyeliner under the lower lashes leaving a space.
10. Using a damp/wet liner brush, apply Double Dare Me (black) Mineral Eye Shadow as an eyeliner on the top lash line.
11. Apply JAM cosmetics White Highlighter Pencil in between lower lash line and lower eyeliner.
12. Apply White Highlighter Pencil in inner lower lash line.
13. If lashes are straight, curl them with a lash curler before applying false lashes.
14. Apply false lashes.  Need help?  See How to Properly Apply False Lashes.
15. Apply mascara to coat and bind real lashes to false lashes.
16. Apply Superstar Mineral Blush
17. Using a makeup sponge, apply Innocent Me (white) Mienral Eye Shadow to tops of cheekbones.
18. Line and fill lips in with Warm Brandy Lip Pencil
19. Apply Fierce (red) Mineral Lip Stick
20. Check your HOT self out in the mirror and go dance your butt off!

FYI:  Everything listed above is available in the Prima Diva Essentials Kit. 

Keep dancin’ PRETTY!

Jessica Dupont writes the DanceMakeupBlog, she is a former Professional NYC Dancer and Makeup Artist.  She also writes “The Beauty Blog” for DANCE.COM and is the owner and founder of JAM cosmetics, the ULTIMATE performance makeup resource for dancers.  Follow her on Twitter

Beautiful lashes make a statement!

Believe it or not, I have had to rewrite this blog several times as I kept coming up with too much information.  Who knew that I knew so much about false lashes?  I didn’t!  Suddenly, I had 11 pages all on LASHES.  So, I will begin with the simplest and most useful information I can think of.  Below you will learn how to put the darn things on successfully so that they will stay on through hours of dancing and not rip out your lashes when you remove them.

Step by step, printable directions and a video follow the jump…

1. Loosen the lashes from their container by peeling them off gently with tweezers
2. If using a full band of lashes, PLEASE trim or they will be quite uncomfortable to wear.  I, of course, recommend and carry The PERFECT False Lashes on my website, JAM cosmetics.  They are easy to apply, do not need to be trimmed and they fit every eye shape and size beautifully.
3. Drop a little puddle of eyelash glue on a corner of the opened lash container.
4. Recap the glue.
5. Dip the capped glue top into the little glue puddle and draw a thin line on the eyelash band.  If you are using DUO Eyelash Adhesive, a little goes a long way.  It is the best eyelash glue on the the market and that is why it is th eonly glue I use as a makeup artist. 
6. Wait 30-40 seconds for the glue to get a little bit sticky.
7. Line up the end of the lashes with the last natural lashes on the outside corner of the eye.
8. Apply false eyelashes to lash line.
9. Hold in place, pressing the lashes in and up.
10. Use JAM cosmetics BLACK Water-Reistant Mascara to coat and bind your natural lashes to your new false ones.

And, just in case you are still baffled, you can watch this video: 

PLEASE help those in need and pass this information on…you know who they are!

Keep dancin’ PRETTY!

Jessica Dupont writes the DanceMakeupBlog, she is a former Professional NYC Dancer and Makeup Artist.  She also writes “The Beauty Blog” for DANCE.COM and is the owner and founder of JAM cosmetics, the ULTIMATE performance makeup resource for dancers.  Follow her on Twitter

Because recitals come only once or twice a year - stage makeup skills can get a little rusty. And when are we ever taught how to properly apply makeup to a squirming six year old face?

Here are some quick and easy tips that should make recital makeup application super EASY and FUN!

Keep the makeup simple on these little ones!

Eyes:

• Brown eye shadow ONLY ON EYE LID blended up to crease will help frame the eye and will make their lash line look fuller. White eye shadow can be used to highlight the brow bone under the eye brow.
• No mascara necessary. No black liner as it can look harsh on these young faces.
• If they will sit still long enough, use a chocolate brown pencil liner on their upper lash line.
• Use the same brown eye shadow under the eye as a liner (much easier to apply than using an eye pencil) but start at center of eye and go to outside corner of eye – ONLY HALF WAY under eye to keep eyes looking large.

Cheeks:

• Take your blush brush and start at the hair line and sweep forward under cheek bone and swirl upward over apples. Blend upwards to make sure blush color does not go lower than lip line on the cheek. Blend well to avoid any harsh lines – no “punk rocker” cheeks.

Lips:

• Using a lip liner, fill in entire lip with liner first to keep your dancer’s lipstick on longer then apply lipstick. A rose-tone looks beautiful on this age but check with your studio owner to confirm color preference.
• This age group needs to be distracted when you are applying their makeup. So I usually ask them to tell me about their favorite dance and while their eyes are closed they are going to practice it while I count (and speedily apply makeup!)…5, 6, 7, 8…I continue to count while they do their dance in their head. If they are too young for this, I have them think of their favorite song and as long as I am not doing their lips, they can sing it for me while I do their eyes. Any kind of mental distraction will work so that they are not focused on the fact that you are poking them with makeup brushes. Try and find something that is special for you and your dancer and make it your annual “makeup” tradition.

Ages 7 – 12

Eyes:

• Same as above but go ahead and add mascara, black liquid liner on top lash line, false lashes, if studio requests them ( BTW: www.JAMcosmetics.net has many how-to videos that can teach you these skills – liquid liner, false lashes, etc.) Colors can be applied more intensely. Add a gold eye shadow (JAM cosmetics Fool Me Mineral Eye Shadow) to inner corners of eye and underneath. This looks so gorgeous and makes eyes really stand out!

Cheeks:

• Same as above. You can also add some shimmer to highest part of cheekbone just under outer corner of eye to make the eyes pop and enhance the dimension of the dancer’s face.

Lips:

• Same as above.

Ages 13+

These dancers should be on their way to doing their own makeup. The big misunderstanding with this age group about stage makeup is that they often think they don’t need to practice their makeup skills in order for their stage makeup to look good. Makeup is an art, just like dance. You could not watch a pirouette once and then expect to go onstage and perform it perfectly. You must practice to dance well – you must practice to look beautiful in stage makeup.

Step 5 – order your makeup kit and start PRACTICING!!!

Other great resources for recital makeup for teachers, dancers, and moms:

• Read “Facts about Stage Makeup: what every dancer should know” - sign up for your free copy
• Read “Age Appropriate Makeup” - The Beauty Blog… more quick and easy detailed tips for young dancer makeup
• Check out “Young Dancer Makeup Kits” from JAM Cosmetics; perfect color combinations for stage lighting and are safe for young, sensitive skin. The pressed mineral makeup colors are naturally long lasting, water-resistant, hypo-allergenic and non-comedogenic.
• Watch FREE online Young Dancer how-to makeup video/face chart/printable instructions

When I am working with competition dancers, teachers and parents, they often ask this question… “What is ‘age appropriate makeup’ and HOW do we do it?”

I have narrowed it down to three main areas of the face to consider when doing stage makeup for a young dancer to keep them looking their beautiful, youthful selves:

EYEBROWS: I prefer using an eye shadow color that is the same as or one to two shades darker than the hair color. An eye brow pencil can leave too severe a line. Brows definitely need to be darkened but if you darken every little hair growing in the general vicinity of the eyebrow you will literally create a monster! Go to the center of the brow, and carefully, brush a line of shadow in the CENTER of the existing eyebrow. I know, you will be tempted to move that brush through the rest of the brow - just a little here, just a little there. If the urge strikes, I BEG YOU, drop the brush! A little goes a long way on the eyebrows. Blend out the center line of shadow that you just applied with a brow brush. Keep it soft and natural for young dancers. TIP: A thin, defined brow is an older, more sophisticated and dramatic look. A thin brow is more sophisticated, older, and dramatic. A thicker brow is more youthful.

CHEEKS: Okay, have you ever REALLY seen those rouge circles right smack dab on the apples of person’s cheeks? Only if they were a cartoon character or backstage at the local dance recital! Start your blush brush from the hair line blending the blush forward and then up at the apples. Try not to let the blush dip lower than the lip line. Then, blend, blend, blend. TIP: A severe blush line will add years to a young girl’s face (to anyone’s face for that matter!). A blended blush line that adds freshness to the cheeks keeps the face young looking.

LIPS: Every artist has there preferences. My personal artistic lip color preference for a young dancer (13 and under) is a beautiful, natural, deep rose color as opposed to a bright red. We can see a young dancer’s lips on stage even if they do not wear red. In the ballet, Romeo and Juliet, would Juliet wear red lipstick? I think not. She is young and she is innocent. A rose toned color like JAM cosmetics, “Wild Child”, gives enough color for us to see the expression on the face, which shows the emotion of the dancer. THAT is what is important. Red lipsticks are fabulous, amazing…I can’t live without them. But I would tempt you to try something new this year…

Just like a tendu will always be a tendu…stage makeup techniques always come back to the understanding and technical development of the basics. Technique is just as important in makeup as it is in dance and makes a world of difference when you practice!

I have been on tour with Star Systems this year, and had the opportunity to judge the 2008 National Championships in Nashville, TN.  As dancer/makeup artist and owner of JAM cosmetics (THE professional makeup line designed for dancers), I felt compelled to write and talk about the TOP 10 PERFORMANCE MAKEUP MISTAKES that I saw on stages all over the country.

Number 1

MISTAKE:  No Eyebrows!  When there are no eyebrows, we lose the emotional expression of the face.

FIX IT:  Use JAM cosmetics Mineral Eye Shadow in “Flirty Me” with an angled brush to add natural, water resistant color to eye brows to enhance and frame the eyes for stage.

Number 2

MISTAKE:  Black pencil eyeliner on the inside of the lower lash line.  On stage, it makes the eyes look smaller.  This is a great makeup technique for TV, fashion shows, print ads, and in person but not for stage performances.

FIX IT:  Use JAM cosmetics White Highlighter Pencil on the inside lower lash line and on the outside corner of the eyes to open and brighten the eyes.

Number 3

MISTAKE:  Black liquid liner under eye and too far to inner corner.  It closes up the eye and can give the appearance of dancer being “cross-eyed”.

FIX IT:  Use JAM cosmetics Mineral Eye Shadows with an angled brush to add natural water resistant color under outer third of lower lash line

Number 4

MISTAKE:  Dark contour color that is too high on the crease of the eye and too far in towards the nose.   The eyes look like big emotionless, black holes.  This is also why the “Smokey-eyed look” does not work on stage.

FIX IT:  Make sure contour color does not go so high up that it collides with the eyebrows.   Use an eye shadow brush that is angled (JAM cosmetics 7 piece brush set) to add natural water resistant color to crease area focusing on the outer half of the eye.  Blend, blend, blend!

Number 5

MISTAKE:  No foundation worn for stage performances.  Makeup that is worn without a foundation looks blotchy when you get sweaty and as the competition day goes on.

FIX IT:  Foundation creates a clean, matte surface for the makeup to be applied to.  Using a lightweight, mineral oil free/non-comedogenic, water resistant foundation like, JAM cosmetics Perfection Liquid Foundation, will keep makeup looking smooth and clean all day long - without breaking out!   Less touch-ups are needed with a good, professional foundation.

Number 6

MISTAKE:  False lashes that are too big and/or too thick.  When the stage lights come down from the top, big lashes create a shadow under the eyes making them look sleepy, heavy, and closed up.

FIX IT:  JAM cosmetics Dance Makeup Experts recommend Elise Faux Half lashes as the lashes are half size (no pinching of the skin in the inside corners of the eyes), and the focus of the lashes is the outer third of the eye.  This creates a sweeping motion lifting the eye to an almond shape - which is the look we are going for.

Number 7

MISTAKE:  Incorrect makeup colors used for stage makeup.  Just because we see a look on TV, does not mean that it will work for stage.  When a performer is on TV, the makeup is done as if that person will be standing in front of you - which, they will be - on your TV screen.  The makeup is not done for a distance of 50 -100 feet with intense stage lighting.

Foundation

• Pink toned foundations can look “ruddy” under stage lights.  Use warm toned foundations to keep skin looking healthy

Eye Shadows

• Light Purple disappears under stage lights
• Dark Purple and Dark Blue often turn black on stage.
• Baby blue - just because something is “in fashion”, does not mean it translates and works well for stage.  In the 70’s, when stage makeup was first developed, Baby Blue was a “fashionable” color.  That is why is was so often used by dancers then.  It was NOT used because it was the BEST choice for stage makeup colors for the eyes.

Lips

• Purple/hot pink lips - To keep is simple…BAD MAKEUP IS DISTRACTING.  If your lipstick stands out more than you’re dancing - it’s distracting!

FIX IT:  Stick to neutral, earth tones that bring out the natural beauty in the dancers face.  JAM cosmetics Dance Makeup Kits are designed to be the perfect color combinations for stage for all styles of dance.

Number 8

MISTAKE:  Too much blush/sharp line for blush.  This makes the dancer look older, more mature.

FIX IT:  Make sure you are using neutral rose toned or neutral pink/peach toned blush colors like JAM cosmetics “Superstar” or “Idol” to work with all different skin tones on a dance competition team.  And as always…blend, blend, blend!

Number 9

MISTAKE:  Not enough makeup.  Because of the intensity of the lights and the distance from the performer to the audience, the facial features lose their dimension - they “flatten” out without enough makeup on.

FIX IT:  When you go into a new theater/auditorium, do a “makeup rehearsal” before you perform.  Have someone go out into the audience and look at you on stage to see if we can see all of the emotion and dimension in your face.

Number 10

MISTAKE:  Lipstick that is TOO red.  Lipstick that has a “clown-like” look can be distracting to the audience/judges.  This is a very OLD style of stage makeup.  It is just not PRETTY.  I actually heard a studio director say specifically that he prefers a “hooker” red.  My question, “Is that what we are going for?”  Can’t the girls look gorgeous on stage and NOT wear “hooker” red?

FIX IT:  Most red lipsticks can be toned down by adding a neutral tone underneath them.  This gives the red color some depth and looks stunning on stage.  Try JAM cosmetics Warm Brandy or Mocha Mauve lip liner over entire lip under red lip stick.   Using your lip liner over the entire lip will give the lip stick even more staying power.

Please feel free to post any questions/comments or email any questions to: Info@JAMcosmetics.net

So there you have it…now go forth and do great makeup!

Jessica Dupont, www.JAMcosmetics.net