Event Makeup

When the cameras are rolling, the scene is set, and you're in full makeup, you expect to look good on film. But all too often in the final print, you are let down.

5 Tips for Looking Good on Camera

When the cameras are rolling, the scene is set, and you’re in full makeup, you expect to look good on film. But all too often in the final print, you are let down by a shiny forehead, dark under eye circles, or barely-there lip color. You’re left wondering, “What happened? It looked so good in my bathroom mirror!” The camera lens “sees” makeup differently than the human eye, and the surrounding lighting also affects how makeup looks. As a makeup artist on set and at special events, I face these obstacles every day. Let me share my makeup tips for looking your best on camera.

1. Primers Help Makeup Stay Put

Primers and Mattifiers

Before applying makeup for a special event, consider your skin type. If your skin is oily, use an oil-free makeup primer or a skin mattifier to stop the oils in your skin from mixing with the makeup. Makeup mixed with oil wears off quickly. Primers and mattifiers also reduce shine, which can be exaggerated under the camera’s lights. If you have dry skin, use a moisturizer to stop your makeup from looking dull and lifeless. Avoid moisturizers with sunscreen—the SPF will reflect the camera’s lights and make you appear pale.

	The lights from a camera will soften the appearance of makeup.

Using Eye Primers

Prime your eyelids so your eye makeup doesn’t leave the party before you do. Eye shadow can mysteriously disappear because the eyelids’ natural oils break down makeup quickly. Keep your eyeliner and eye shadow from vanishing by priming your eyelids with a dry concealer or any “eye primer” product. My favorite is Paula Dorf’s Eye Primer. Natural oils and intense heat from camera lights cause mascara to smudge, so I recommend using a waterproof formula to prevent “raccoon eyes.”

2. Avoiding Under Eye Circles and Darkness

The area just beneath your eyes can also be a cause of concern. Everyone wants a bright-eyed look on special occasions. While under eye darkness can result from many things—thin skin to dark shadows—creating brightness is the best way to fight it. Apply a concealer that is slightly lighter than your skin tone to the inner corner of your eye. You can also use a concealer that contains light-reflecting pigment to bounce light out of shadowy areas.

3. Blush is Your Best Friend

You can never wear too much blush. I have learned from having my work photographed that even if you use primers, the skin’s oils can still breakdown and absorb makeup. In addition, the lights from a camera—personal, professional, or film—will soften the appearance of makeup. Make sure you apply enough powder blush, reinforced with a foundation of cream blush, to ensure a stunning and vibrant look.

4. Lip Color for a Vibrant Look

Lip color extremes are intensified on camera. I remember watching the Academy Awards a few years back when nude colored lipstick was the hottest trend—all of our favorite actresses looked like corpses. Pale tones look washed out, shimmery glosses shine like the sun, and darker tones look extra vampy. So unless it’s a signature style, I would recommend sticking to a lip color that you’re sure will be flattering. To find that successful shade, get a recommendation from a professional makeup artist or use a color that’s proven to be pretty in pictures.

5. Touching Up the Makeup

Your makeup will need a touch-up at some point, so carry a few essentials with you. I recommend stashing a lightweight, oil absorbing powder, such as Blot Powder from Mac, and a few cotton swabs to repair runaway eye makeup. Make sure you bring your lip color along to reapply as the evening goes on. If you find your lipstick is “bleeding” into any fine lines around your lips, roll a cotton swab in your powder and use it to lightly powder your lip line before reapplying.

With these new tricks up your sleeve, you’ll look stunning at your next big event and you’ll have the pictures to prove it!