You get makeup, then you get stage makeup. The latter is a beautiful lie. From the back row of the theater, the performer looks like they have flawless skin, chiselled cheekbones, and eyes that speak a thousand words. Up close? It's a whole different story. At times, one that could belong in the Rocky Horror Picture Show or Ru Paul's Drag Race.
The thing is, stage makeup was never made to be subtle nor to slightly accentuate your features. It's designed to survive blinding lights, beads of sweat and be seen from far, far away. It's loud, proud, bold and obnoxious. And it prefers an audience rather than a close-up lens.
A woman had the internet in stitches recently when she revealed her panel-beaten face on TikTok shortly after being on stage. "Why did nobody warn me about what stage makeup looked like?" quipped @theyluv.mckayla0. What followed was a string of solidarity posts from people showcasing their stage makeup artists' theatrics.
Image credits: theyluv.mckayla0
Bored Panda has put together a list of the best pics for you to scroll through ahead of your next trip to the theater. From the utterly hilarious to the downright scary, all are reminders of what it really takes to look human (or not) from fifty feet away. We also speak to makeup artist and owner of The Makeup Touch agency, Tammy Hardy to get her take on the dos and don'ts of applying stage makeup.
