Stage Makeup For Young Children

I am often horrified at how awful young children can look in makeup when it is not applied properly, especially in such situations as dance recitals. Young children should never look as if they are wearing makeup. They should only be wearing enough to avoid being washed out by the lights, and it cannot be applied the same way as it would be applied to an adult. Remember that children aren't used to wearing makeup and need makeup that won't easily smear or come off.

For the safety of your children (and yourself) never try to put mascara on a child under the age of 8. It will end up everywhere but on their eyelashes, and since most children of that age can't stay still, you run the risk of poking them in the eye.

If eyeliner is necessary to bring out their eyes, apply a thin line (the same shade as their lashes) only to the top lid, as close to the lash line as possible.

At all costs, avoid the rectangular, orange, "old-lady" blush.To keep blush looking natural and to give children that natural rosey look, apply a brownish pink blush (same colour as their skin after it has been pinched) in a rounded triangle that naturally occurs between the cheekbone and the nose. Blend out. Also lightly blush the chin, tip of nose, and center of forehead just above eyebrows to give them the flushed, just-came-in-from-outside look that is so adorable in children. They will look like little cherubs.

Lip-liner is not necessary unless lips are extremely undefined or extremely thin. A lipstick that matches their natural lip colour and won't rub off easily is the best choice.

Lightly powder to set so it won't all come off when they wipe their noses.