Should you buy a complete kit?Design your own?It depends.
A comprehensive personal and professional kit is often much less expensive (sometimes half!) than what you would pay to develop your own.
But you have to give up something.
First, the variety of choices is limited: usually around six tones, from ultra-light to dark African-American, with an olive or two in between.
Creating your own gives you more knowledge of your products and your own skin.
Furthermore, it's fun!So read these ideas and browse through all the wonderful products offeredonline or in your favorite theatrical makeup shop.
Think about what YOU need to enhance your image.
Do you do a lot of old age characters?Fantasy?Teen-agers?All your parts require different makeup.
But first, everybody needs the basics! Find an appropriate box for your things.
Lots of people use a small tool box or a fishing tackle box.
There are boxes available from various makeup companies (Mehron is one), but they tend to be a bit more expensive.
Now, fill your box.
Most actors start with foundations.
With Ben Nye, you have three choices of type:crème, matte, cake.
The crème is the easiest to start with and it blends with the other crème rouges, highlights, etc.
Matte is great if you are in film, because its texture does better under those lights.
Cake is water soluble, so it can wash off with soap and water and doesn't need powder for setting.
After you have selected a type, you'll find your shades.
One should be closest to your skin tone.
Next get one which is two tones lighter, and another two tones darker.
These will subtly vary your characters, but still look natural.
You'll want a sallow tone to produce an old age effect, and a specialty tone, for whatever you are likely to need-clown white,rosy tone for sunburn effect, yellowish tan if you do cats, etc.
Highlight comes next-they come in lots of shades, but we think that one off-white highlight will be enough to start.
It will help create lots of effects, and will blend into your foundation nicely.
Shadow is the opposite-probably two, one in red-brown and one in grey-brown.
These help define facial structure such as cheekbones.
Cheek rouge-at least one, in a tone which coordinates with your basic foundation.
Powder is necessary to set your crème or matte foundation.
Start with a translucent shade, so it won't disguise your foundation color.
Ben Nye also has several non-translucent skin tones,which define your color, and you should check out the fine quality of their luxury poudre choices, as well.
Eye makeup: Your eyes are the most expressive part of your face, so it is worthwhile to choose makeup carefully.
You'll want pencil eye liner, shadow and mascara.
Plan on a couple of shades of each one.
Lateryou can experiment with glows and fireworks, as well as various colors for your shadows.
Lips are usually outlined with a lip liner for stage, then filled on.
Lipstick or crème lip color can be used, also.
If you are an actor, you should try to have at least two distinct shades, so you will be able to switch characters quickly.
Basic tools: a pack of latex sponge triangles, which are discarded after use; powder puffs, a variety of sable brushes.
You might want a mixing pallet for creating shades for various characters.
Ben Nye has a product called Final Seal, to spray over your makeup before you hit the hot lights.
It keeps your makeup from running and sweating down your face, and is useful for anyone who has to depend on her makeup for several hours, in any weather.
Cleansers are very important-failing to do thorough skin cleansing can cause real problems for the actor.
A brush cleanser is also essential.
You'll need some spirit gum and spirit gum remover-this attaches facial hair, minor prosthetics, etc.
Next, leave a little box space for an old t-shirt-we like to have them slit up the front so they are easy to put on-it will protect your costume while you apply the makeup!A few scraps of soft fabric comein handy, too.
You'll make lots of decisions that affect your career in different ways-your makeup decisions will be major in determining your career image! No time for all this fun?OK.
You can still buy a good kit that gets you started with no hassle.