Making-Up for the Stage

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 916, 8 March 1930, Page 21

Making-Up for the Stage

Some Practical Hints for Amateurs THE art of “making-up” for tlie stage is by ho means as simple as many people seem to think, and as there are quite a number of amateur dramatic aud operatic societies in Auckland, a few hints may prove of practical use.

Firstly, lceep to your own colouring as closely as possible. Secondly, accentuate nature a little. By this is meant that it is not necessary to turn the mouth into a long red cash like that of a clown, nor make the eyelids so dark that they look like burnt holes in a blanket. Look like yourself. When preparing for the stage, make up under a strong electric light, and have a good mirror. If a blonde, No. It or 2 flesh tint is about the colour of the skin at night; if a brunette, No. 2). or even 3, according to tlie colour of the eyes and hail*. Having cleansed the face thoroughly with cold cream, or auv cream preferred, wipe it ciuite try and apply tlie flesh tint thinly. Rub into the skin until it is an even colour without streaks, then apply No. 1 car-

mine for blondes, or No. 2 for brunettes (avoid No. 3, as it is unnatural in the limelight). Rub in where the colour shows, and tone down the edges of the red till they are imperceptible in the flesh tint. Now take a blue pencil (for blondes), or black (for brunettes), and draw a fine line round the eyelids as close to the eyelashes as possible. Powder the face —starch powder is good and most adhesive —aud brush eff superfluous powder with a hare's foot. Use water cosmetique for the eye-lashes, as it thickens the lashes without sticking them together, as does black grease paint. To apply, damp a brush —a small tooth brush will do- —and rub it on the cosmeti-' que till there is plenty on the brush. While damp and slightly sticky, brush the eyelashes till they are as thick as | desired; lightly brush the eyebrows, 1 but do not make them too heavy. This water cosmetique can be obj tained in different shades to suit individual lashes and brows. THE MOUTH i Now the mouth; this is important as

It is characteristic. Take a crimson lip stick and work from the bow of the mouth outward, but on no account take the red to the corners, as this ini creases the size when seen from the front; keep to the line of the lips, the only part that can be accentuated -with good effect is the bow itself, and that may be enlarged a little. ! Do not use any rouge, it changes | colour in the limelight and is apt to | look purple, and do not be persuaded ! to redden the chin, ear lobes, or above | the eyebrows, they all alter the conj tour of the face as seen from the I stalls and other parts of the house, j For character parts, or wrinkles; smile, frown, scowl, and notice where j the lines come, then put them in I thinly with a "liner,” smoothing them t off at the ends. This is done before | the powder is applied. For bushy eye- ! brows, rub backward with a little ! white grease-paint, and powder thickly | with white starch powder. 1 These suggestions are all for

J women amateurs, the flesh tints and j carmines referred to do not apply to | men, their tints are of deeper hues. I Make-up can be removed with cold i cream or any grease that does not | promote the growth of hair. Rub j thoroughly into the skin until all j colour is loosened, then clean the face with a dry soft cloth until the skin regains its natural hue. If an}* I cosmetique clings to the eyelashes, j warm water will remove it. Practice j soon makes perfect, and a quick eye i with an artistic sense can achieve wonders.