What type of make up do you use?

I've used good old 5 and 9 for years; mainly because that's what I've got in make up box!

I see people producing all sorts of weird & wonderful pots and containers from their make-up bags, but being a 'chap' one tends not say 'if you show me yours, I'll show you mine!'


So what's good and what's not???

I'm with you Frazer, a dyed in the wool 5 & 9 man, but it seems to be less popular these days. Most people seem to use water based pancake now but I still prefer the old greasepaint

I have to say we don't really use makeup, except for specials like aging or wounds, etc. Our larger theatre is only 96 seats and the good old-fashioned makeup sticks would be complete overkill!

Having said that, I tend to wear my usual makeup, as I don't want to scare the audience by appearing without any.

I think you'll find most ladies use their normal make up these days... p'raps applied a bit heavier but usual Boots and Max Factor does just fine. Greasepaint and "proper" make up always is so hard on the skin. So chaps, just raid your missus' make up box.

Modern 'professional' make-up is much kinder to the skin. There are also less risks of you being allergic to them.

There is now being introduced a 'best before date' on make-up, to comply with EU regs. Grimas (Dutch company) has already started doing this.... others will follow soon. The recommended shelf life is 6 years!

Mehron (an American company) produce a huge range of make-up most suitable for stage use. If you can afford it, spend a little more and use Ben Nye (sorry.... yet another American company!) Both these companies have 'creme make-up' that is non greasy and with a matte finish, and they also do a wide range of 'cakes'.

Grease sticks are still available, but going out of fashion (Leichner is reducing their range, and Kryolan does not have as many as they used too)

We, 'The Three Kings', run short courses for Amdramers at our modern studio in Farnborough, Hampshire to show how to get the best out of your make-up. Details and costs (low!) on www.3kmake-up.com

Advice is always free, so please feel free to call 01252 371123.

Mike
One of The Three Kings!
[URL=http://www.3kmake-up.com]

There's a lot of good info there Mike - I'll pass it on to our make-up lady

We threw our grease paint away donkey?s years ago. I?ve found that water-based makeup allows the skin to breathe much more easily, is easier to take off after the performance and is easier to work.
Many moons ago I was in a group who performed in a church hall. One of our number went on a makeup course at the Royal Opera House and always made up according to what he had been taught. Unfortunately, he neglected to appreciate that both the lighting and the distance between stage and audience is slightly different between an Opera House and a church hall in West London. At least it was easy to spot him on stage ? he was the orange one.

The lighting in most venues these days is so sophisticated and natural that make-up is hardly needed. Being fair in colouring I need to emphasise my eyes, or they disappear, dark haired people with dark lashes can get away without mascara or eye-liner.
I use brown eye-liner along the lashes and through the eyebrows, a little No 9 on the lips. If it is a large venue a little No9 on the cheeks and brown pencil used subtly to outline the lips.
If you have blotchy skin or sweat a lot you need to have a base. Pancake is much better than greasy 5 & 9. Fox's have their own range or Max Factor from the chemists.

Paul

Having recently watched "The Dresser" (an excellent play and an excellent production of it in the West End by the way), it occurs to me that it might be worth hanging on to your greasepaint sticks as potential future props. "Sir" uses them to make himself up.

I suspect in a few years' time they won't be easy to get hold of - or at least not those with the requisite level of ageing/grime.

I never considered that my old grease sticks could eventually have antique value

It was quite interesting to watch "Sir" making himself up - and taking it off - in The Dresser. Lots of grease sticks and a great pot of cold cream and tissues. Facial wipes are a wonderful invention!

Couldn't agree more Maureen, they're certainly the first thing to go into my "show" bag these days

When I first started out I was told 5 & 9 + Rose blending powder. I swapped to water based pancake several years ago. I, personally, find it easier to put on and take off.

I find the biggest problem with this, is the ladies tend not change it from, what they normally wear, going out make up!
They may apply it heavier, sitting under sconce l lights, in the dressing room, looking into a mirror. So even with modern lighting or the old hay burners, which most still have, their features get washed & bleached out. I would think this would be a greater problem there, than that of the sun spoiled skins here!

5 & 9 works for me but I am gradually switching to water based. It don't matter at all but - if I see anyone with a red spot in the inner corner of the eye - I tend to go ape!

Ah the old red spot - I remember it fondly

Or a tidemark between face and neck where the foundation stops...

No makeup here and none used in my group or the groups I know of ... for men anyway

Our hall holds 150-200 and the lights aren't that harsh so none required

and the other groups I have been involved with were very small venue or in the round and you definitely don't want any then.,


When I first started the group insisted on 5 and 9... not any more

Tidemarks!
That reminds me of being in the dungeon of the Grand Theatre in Newcastle, during the winter of ?57, Standing in only my bathers, applying all over soaked sponges of the old body make up!
It was in basins full of freezing brownish liquid, that got all over the inside of all the costumes.
After the first time, I became a total wimp, because I used to put a towel around my waste, to stop the dribbles running down my bathers & freezing off my nether regions.
There was no showers in any of the theatres in those days & this brown gunk used to get every where. So I had to wait until I got home at midnight, to have a hot bath!

I think this also fits in the "above and beyond the call of duty" thread Joe!

Your probably right Maureen!
Although - cannon ?balls freezing & falling off brass monkeys? - comes to mind!
Actually I would have thought it would be things like; crawling 20metrs above the stage in the dark, along the fly grid. With towels buckets & a plastic baby bath, to catch the water from a leaking roof, during the show "Glass Onion?. Might rate an ?A&B? or diving full stretch off the electric bay, to grab hold of the house curtain cable & raising it. By becoming a counterweight & swinging down to the stage. Would be more in line with that - but that?s another one of those other stories!

we don't use greasepaint, there is totally no need. we usually just put on normal makeup a bit heavier, and since we tend to go for things like "oliver twist" it was stuff like making the orphans look dirty. i did the make up on the float for the altrincham festival, that was hard, it was really windy and we were moving obviously but it was fun. i got compliments......
and i think we have some grimas stuff, well we definitely have the book with how to do different things.

not this is of any use to anyone.

My recommendation is:

about two weeks before the show, go for a ten day holiday to the Med. Get a good suntan. Then when you get home, you just need some mattifying product, without any of this makeup nonsense.

Unfortunately, that's almost exactly what happened to me this year because I totally screwed up my holiday bookings!

regards,
/alan