Simple Beauty Pageant Makeup Techniques

How much makeup is too much? I've heard that when you're on stage you should wear a lot, but some people say that's wrong. What do you think?

It’s not about wearing “a lot” it’s about wearing stronger colors and using them in different ways. We “see” by focusing on the way light reflects off a surface. Thus you don’t see as well at night, shiny surfaces look bigger, and stage lights make normal “street” makeup disappear.

Stage lighting is intense. It is very bright and hard - with the result that it “washes out” pale colors. To compensate, people who work onstage learn to use strong colors in ways that make their facial expressions stand out under the harsh lighting.

I think that is why there is a difference of opinion on this subject.

When competing in a pageant you want to look pretty and fresh under the harsh lights – for the judges. Judges are generally seated in the front row of the audience. Therefore you want to design your makeup to make you look beautiful to the first few rows and not worry too much about it “carrying” tothe back or you will risk looking over-made-up.

Try choosing stronger shades of the same colors you normally wear. A darker shade of your customary color in a pancake or cream foundation will provide more coverage and stand up to the lighting better. Be careful to blend the edges well to prevent a “line.” Powder your entire face and neck with loose translucent matte powder to avoid a shiny face.

Choose only matte finishes in all your cosmetics for a natural look. Never wear frosted colors onstage. Avoid bright unnatural eye shadow colors like blue or green.

Use dark eyeliner/pencil to define your eyes, soften with a cotton swab and try individual lashes combined with your own rather than heavy artificial eye lashes.

Use cream, off-white, gray or brown to contour (no white.) Don’t wear a vivid color nail polish – it pulls attention away from your face and is distracting when you move your hands.

Two Offbeat Makeup Tips:

Contrary to the urban legend you may have heard – don’t use Vaseline on your teeth, it makes them look yellow. If you truly have a difficult time with a bright natural smile because your mouth becomes too dry, try rubbing just a very small dab between your lip and gums.

If you are worried about your thighs jiggling as you walk the stage in your swimsuit there is a temporary cure - have plenty of hemorrhoid cream on hand. If you rub it on your skin right before you walk out on stage, it will make the skin appear firmer for those few moments when you walk past the judges.

A final thought about makeup: when you appear for your initial interview with the judges you will most likely be seated directly across a table from them. You want your make up to enhance your natural beauty and make you look just that – natural! So leave the stage makeup for the stage.


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This is an excrept from "Insider Secrets To Winning The Beauty Pageant". Hang on a few weeks before you can lay your hands on it :-).