Many people are sensitive to makeup and can end up with eye infections, skin blemishes, and even asthma attacks. Always proceed with caution.
1. Avoid Eye Infections. Always apply eye makeup with a clean brush. If you're applying shadow on several people's eyes, consider using disposable brushes, or even cotton swabs. If you use professional brushes, clean them thoroughly after each use. Not doing so could result in sties, pinkeye, and other infections.
2. Watch for Allergies. Communicate with your model/performer about whether you need to avoid using any makeup you might normally put on her skin. People can be sensitive to ingredients certain brands commonly use. Remember your model might not be aware of any allergies, but may react to a particular brand of makeup. Check whether your model's skin is turning red or showing other signs of irritation.
3. Be gentle. For effects make-up that involves placing rubber/prosthetic materials onto the face, be gentle. Attach materials with Spirit Gum--a makeup adhesive--but remember you're working with a person and not a dummy. Take care in application and removal of any prosthetic pieces.
As a makeup artist, the tools you use are integral to your success. You need to experiment to get your technique just right. Buying ample supplies allows you to practice until you get up to par.
1. Latex body parts. You can purchase latex pieces to help you create wounds, warts, birthmarks, different shaped ears and noses--and anything else you can imagine.
2. Spirit Gum. Use this adhesive to attach any latex pieces to your model. Never use an adhesive not meant for stage makeup purposes.
3. Brushes. Just as a painter wouldn't grab just any brush to paint a tiny flower, you need to know the type of stroke each brush creates. Arm yourself with a collection of different types of makeup brushes and experiment until you know exactly what to expect before you even pick one up.
Though your original fantasy characters will include touches individual to you, it's important to learn some basic artistic techniques to guide you along the way.
1. Clean Skin. Apply make-up to clean, dry skin. Use a moisturizer beforehand if your model's skin is dehydrated to avoid caking.
2. Realism. For typical stage makeup, you must base your work on the location in which your actor is performing. Makeup for a 50-seat theater is a lot more subtle than makeup for 900-seat theater. Typically, you'd want your performers to appear "natural" after factoring in how much the lights will wash them out. For fantasy makeup, however, you're apt to want your performer to stand out more than usual. Colors are up to you, but keep in mind what you want to accomplish. Use appropriate coloring. If you're going for a scary vampire look, you're going to have to do more than paint your performer's face white. Rather, you want to create the look of immortal vampire skin and avoid the sort of obvious look you would create with a basic white face.
3. Set your work. Don't let your hard work disappear when your actor starts to sweat under the hot stage lights. Set your artistic efforts with powder, and keep extra makeup on-hand for touch-ups.