Stage makeup hacks that work on everyday looks
By Clinton Duncan
THIS is clearly the era of the Femme music icon. We all have one we idolise, whether we want to admit it or not. We have lyrics from some 20th-century musical diva ingrained into our heads that pop out when we least expect it. We relate to their lyrics, we stalk them on Instagram, we aspire to travel where they vacation, and we even steal bits and pieces from their style and makeup routines. The question, however, is, who or where do they steal from?

The truth is that pop divas usually have the money to afford the best and brightest in the industry, who often transition into their “glam-squads” from a lengthy tenure in the theatre industry. Makeup over the years – especially glamour makeup – has consistently stolen from the stage and underground drag culture.
This feature is my gift to the prying eye; my gift to the person wanting to know a few of the secrets of the stage and underground cultures that have been conspicuously injected into “the modern face”.

ELMER’S WASHABLE GLUE. For years professional makeup artist to Beyonce, Sir John, has used washable glue to tame her eyebrows before setting with powder and creating a blank canvas to be able to achieve the perfect brow shape. This is a trick that is used in stage-makeup to create a higher arch for those who don’t have a naturally arched brow. It helps to achieve a more feminine and defined brow shape and provides more space for intricate makeup eye looks.

COCONUT OIL. For centuries, coconut oil has been used as a universal solvent for makeup. It is used as a moisturizer that is safe for all skin types and can be mixed with foundation to achieve a more sheer and natural finish to makeup. It’s a process that allows for coverage but also provides a breathable finish that is not “caked on”.
“LIFT TAPES”. These are clear short tapes glued to the perimeter of the face, attached to clear elastic and pulled and tightened at the back of the head. This is used to lift eyebrows, lift cheekbones, and eliminate the double chin effect. It is then covered with foundation in the normal manner and there would be no need for contouring as the face would already have a pulled and “snatched” appearance.

Hairspray. High strength hairspray has been substituted for makeup fixative in theatre makeup for years. This is an affordable, waterproof, and sweat-proof way to ensure your makeup lasts for a full 24 hours, because, in theory, if it could withstand the heat from stage lights with multiple thousand watts then it is almost a guarantee that it will stand up against the severe tropical sunshine.
As any great diva would know, the trick to keeping your fans is to always leave them wanting for more, so I will take my bow on this list of revelations.