Do you find yourself a bit lost when it comes to getting done up for a show?
Below get the skinny on the makeup I like wearing to perform flamenco.
I’ll start with my ideal situation. Then I’ll tell you what items I could go without if I felt like doing less or simply didn’t have all of these products.
The full meal deal:
Eyes:
Velvet Eyeshadow Palette in Romantic, Colors Used: Flush, Truffle, Smolder, Moto & Moondust. (I’m IN LOVE with Moondust; it adds the nicest silvery shimmer so you sparkle on stage. I’m equally crazy about Moto; it can act like eyeliner or eyeshadow.)
Color Outline Eyeliner in Black
Skin:
Satin Powder Blush in Nectar
Touchup Skin Concealer Pen in Light
Lips:
Color Intense Lipstick in Girls’ Night
Skin:
Eyes:
Lips:
Lipliner
Seem like a lot to you?
This is my ideal situation.
Your ideal situation may be different.
I love a more typical flamenco look, but flamenco allows plenty of room for personal expression, so if you want to go a different route, do it!
If I had to pare things down:
If I really wanted to pare down, here’s what I could go without: 1. lip liner, 2. lip gloss 3. brow gel or pencil 4. blush 5. one of the eyeliners (More on this below, but you do need at least one type of eyeliner.)
I wouldn’t want to leave anything else out unless I were dancing in a casual setting or just doing a short demo. In a case such as this I might skip the foundation, and I might put less eye makeup on.
Why so many products around the eye area?
We say a lot with our facial expressions when dancing flamenco, so I really like bringing out this area.
Taking the time to define the eyes enhances them and helps accentuate expressions. This can be especially helpful when on a big stage.
A note on eyeliner:
Liquid and pencil each have their own qualities, but you could make do with one or the other and still get a similar look if need be.
For example, this Beautycounter Eyeliner Pencil in black is very strong and can mimic liquid eyeliner in its intensity though it’s going to be difficult to get a really thin line with it. Or, this slate grey Moto Eyeshadow is amazing and could take the place of a pencil eyeliner, especially if you were to wet it a bit.
(By the way, the Velvet Eyeshadow Palette in Romantic, pictured above, is hands down the best all-in-one collection of eyeshadows suited for flamenco performance I’ve come across. It is literally PERFECT. You have soft colors for the top of the eyelids, darker colors as you come down, and the unique Moto and Moondust which are so spectacular, all together in one set. I can’t get enough of it!)
Brow Tip:
You can even use one of the browns in the eyeshadow palette, like smolder, to fill in brows in lieu of using a brow pencil.
A note about eyelashes:
You may be surprised that I didn’t mention false eyelashes.
In the past I’ve worn them, and I know this is quite common. Honestly I find false lashes to be quite a pain, and I don’t like them. I feel if I do my eyeliner well it does the trick, but I will wear them occasionally if I’m on a big stage and I really want my eyes to stand out.
No face powder?
You may also be wondering why face powder is not listed.
It’s a step I feel I can skip, but you can definitely add a finishing powder to set your makeup and help control shine. If you know you’re going to be under hot lights or sweating a lot from your dancing powder is a good idea. You also might like to keep some backstage to pat on between numbers.
You can also use this balancing facial mist to set makeup and refresh between numbers.
An important post-performance note:
It is very important to remove makeup before going to bed.
My favorite all over makeup remover and face cleaner is the Lotus Glow Cleansing Balm. It feels like a mini spa experience which is so nice after all that hard work on stage. It will leave your skin clean and feeling ultra soft. Make sure you use a clean washcloth to remove all makeup residue from your face. And guess what? You can even use this cleansing balm to remove eye makeup!
Watch me demonstrate how it works here.
A Clean Beauty Note:
Whatever makeup brand(s) you decide to wear, I highly recommend you choose safer products to put on your body’s largest organ! If you want to check the ingredients your products, take a peek at this list of questionable or harmful chemicals commonly found in cosmetic products.
Product Note:
*As an Independent Consultant for Beautycounter, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission should you decide to make a purchase after clicking thorough a link on this page. I recommend these products because I use and love them and appreciate that they safe, high performing, and ethically sourced. Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel they will be useful to you.
What About Application?
I’ll show you how I apply these items in a future post, so stay tuned for that. in the meantime you can see some quick how-to videos by clicking each link above.
What About You?
What makeup do you wear when performing? How long does it take you to get ready? Who’s interested in a future article about doing your hair for performance?
EDIT: You can see some of this makeup on an actual face here in one of the pared-down looks.
You Might Also Enjoy
How I Prepare For a Show & a Media Letra por Guajiras
How To Prepare For a Show When You Don’t Have Time to Rehearse With The Musicians Beforehand
Nine Things To Do Before You Perform
To learn more about safer skincare and makeup, join my facebook group here.
*A Note About Mica
The secret to all that shimmer in certain makeup products is mica. Mica is a controversial, though clean and safe, ingredient used in products such as eyeshadows, bronzers, and lip gloss to produce shimmer. The problem is how it is sourced, commonly mined with forced and child labor, for example. Learn about what Beautycounter is doing to lead the way in responsible sourcing of mica here.