Stage makeup is worn by actors, singers, dancers and others in the performing arts. In what ways is stage makeup different from regular cosmetic makeup?

Firstly, this make-up will look thick and excessive up close, but this is necessary for it to look normal on stage. The foundation used is a lot thicker than regular cosmetic makeup. Then, highlights and shadows using light and dark colors are used to sculpt the face as desired, for example to make the bridge of the nose look thicker. This is similar to the concept in regular makeup of making the cheekbones more pronounced by judicious positioning and color of the blush. However, often in stage makeup traits that may be considered less desirable are emphasized, for example use of shadows in the neck area and where natural creases would form in the face in order to look older, if aging is required. For lips, the lip liner needs to be applied to give a slightly fuller than normal outline, otherwise lips may look unnaturally thin on stage. Another way stage makeup differs from regular makeup is the final step: application of loose powder. For normal cosmetic makeup, loose powder is utilized relatively early on; after the foundation but before the blush. In contrast, for stage makeup, loose powder is used as the final step so that the makeup will not run under the stage lights.

Lastly, it will look significantly different under the various lighting colors on stage. Application of regular makeup is done under the assumption that light color will be roughly similar in different circumstances. Light intensity may vary under normal daily conditions (for example, outside on a sunny day compared to indoors in dim lighting), but the color of the light is not usually vastly different. In contrast, stage lighting usually employs a wide range of different colored lights which may be used to give a variety of visual effects on stage during the performance. These lights may dramatically change the appearance of the makeup different times during the performance, and this factor needs to be taken into account at the time the stage makeup is applied.