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+ Fandom: Naruto
+ Location: Nan Desu Kan 2007
+ Photographer: Eurobeat King of Cosplay.com
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Fullmetal Alchemist
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Envy
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Please post any questions relevant to this topic in this thread, and I'll do my best to answer them when I have the time.
I have been noticing a lot of questions about general makeup for human characters, so I have decided to make my own contribution to this forum by writing up a basic tutorial for doing your own cosmetics for costuming. The brand of makeup I will use for this tutorial is MAC. Other brands will be noted specifically, but these specific brands are by no means necessary for a good appearance. I only recommend these for the quality and good experience I have had using them.
A Basic Skincare Regimen
Tools of the Trade
The basis to any work of art is a clean canvas. No matter what variety of makeup you plan to do, a skincare regimen is the first way you can look your best. Skincare is a continual process. You will not be able to clean up acne and dry skin with only a few weeks of washing. Once you start, and stick to it, the improvement will only continue if you keep maintaining the health of your skin. One of the most effective (and cheaper) lines you can get for skincare is Clean & Clear, which can be found at any Target or Wal-mart near you.
Cleansing
The first part of any skincare regimen is washing your face. Yes, I know, it may be a trial for anyone who dislikes bathing, but I can assure you that your skin will not melt off. Only the nasty dirt and grease that has taken up residence in your pores will disappear. There are many different kinds of face wash you can use, but generally scrubs and deep cleansing treatments are the best. While washing your face, be certain to stay away from you eyes and lips, but get deep in those cracks where your cheeks and nose connect. That's the worst place for grease to build up, and you can often see acne of the worst kind show up here. Be certain to clean your cheeks, forehead, and chin (and neck, if necessary). Follow the directions on the package, but the majority of cleansers are meant to be used on a daily basis. Be sure to rinse and dry thoroughly when you've finished this part of your routine.
Purify
Astringent is the simplest part of the process, really. You soak a portion of a cotton ball with it and apply it to your nose, cheeks, forehead, and other places that have acne problems. It cleans out the impurities in your blackheads, and definitely works with the cleansing process.
Moisturize
Once you've worked on cleaning out all the dirt from your pores, it's time to make sure your skin doesn't get dried out and crack from all the extra attention you're giving it! Using facial lotion can give you a healthier appearance, and definitely helps when you're putting makeup on for everyday use and for costuming. Only put moisturizer on your cheeks, chin, and neck, however- Put it anywhere else and your sweat will combine with it to clog up your pores more than they were in the first place. If you have dry skin on your nose or above your lips, Neosporin is the most effective treatment. Repeated application will have the problem fixed within a few days. It may take a bit longer if the dryness is caused by a cold and repeated noseblowing, however, since it is preventing the problem from getting worse and does not have time to do much repair between abrasions.
Be certain to perform a basic cleaning regimen before applying makeup for costuming! It will clean your face off and make the application that much easier and long-lasting!
~+~
The Foundations of Applying Cosmetics
There are several ways you can go about the first step of applying your makeup. My personal preference is to use MAC's Strobe Cream before applying my foundation; it moisturizes your face (yet again) while giving your skin a dewy look that is very effective for stage lighting and photography. They have a variation for use on only eyelids, as well, which feels refreshing while moisturizing and helps you wake up that extra bit if you're applying your makeup in the morning at a convention. Either way, the concealer will go on next. Apply your concealer beneath your eyes to hide dark circles or shadowing that can make you seem sallow or tired, and also cover zits, irritated areas, or acne spots that you don't want to show up.
The foundation will go on next. For cosplay, liquid foundation is almost a necessity. It evens out your skin tone but it doesn't take away from the highlights your flesh naturally provides. You can also variate on the color of your foundation to match the skin tone of the character you are trying to look like. A foundation brush, like this one from Mac, is the best bet you have for applying liquid foundation. Foundation is meant to cover everything, so paint it on evenly and thinly. Look in the mirror while you are doing this to be sure it doesn't go on streaky or too thick. You should still be able to see the natural blush of your cheeks, if you have that natural blush; if you are so fair that your cheeks are pale, as is my situation, any small imperfections (like beauty marks) should still be visible, though tinted to the shade of your foundation.
When you have finished applying your foundation, you are ready to start working on your eyes.
