How To Apply Old Age Make Up

 

Whether it's a costume party or opening night, looking the part is essential. If you are playing an older character, your makeup can make or break your overall look. Here are some tips to add years (or decades) to your face and keep them saying, "Wow, you look so old!"

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• makeup brushes: fine tip and flat wider tip
• makeup sponges
• stipple sponge
• cream or liquid foundation
• cream makeup (or eyeliner) in dark brown, white and gray
• loose powder and brush
• dark powder or bronzer
• eye shadow, blush, lipstick
• baby wipes

1. • 1) Apply foundation in a shade close to your natural skin color or slightly darker. Your foundation creates a canvas for you to work on, so make sure it is even and smooth. Very important to remember when sculpting your face with makeup is that highlight creates the illusion of an area coming out, while shadow causes it to recede. Both are necessary to create authentic looking wrinkles.
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   • 2) Using a fine-tipped brush and dark brown cream makeup, carefully trace the natural lines on your face (around mouth, eyes and forehead) and neck. If you have no wrinkles (lucky you!), scrunch your face up tightly to see where these lines would be. Taper the lines at the ends for a more natural look. You may use eye liner, but make sure the tip is kept very sharp.
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   • 3) Using the wider, flat-tipped brush and white cream makeup, carefully draw a white line right up against the dark line and blend it upward toward the highlighted areas of your face. The brightest part of the white should be right next to the dark and then fading outward. Do this for all the dark lines drawn on your face. If you use eye liner, blend the area with the edge of a makeup sponge.
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   • 4) After you finish the wrinkles, apply a darker powder under your cheekbones, eyes and vertically down the front of your neck on either side of your esophagus. This will give the illusion of these areas being sunk in. Alternately, smudge white cream makeup on cheekbones, above eyebrows and down the center of your neck as highlight to create more depth. Be sure to blend these areas very well. A makeup sponge works best.
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   • 5) Don't forget your eyebrows or other facial hair. Dab the gray (or white) cream makeup onto hair and set with a dusting of loose powder.
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   • 6) Apply regular makeup (eye shadow, blush, lipstick) according to your character. Remember, even men need some amount of this makeup to avoid looking washed out. Just opt for natural, brownish tones instead of pinks and reds.
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   • 7) Use a stipple sponge over face to give it a rough texture and finish with loose powder to set the makeup. Add a wig and your costume and enjoy!