Ageing Makeup Research

One of the differences between ageing makeup for stage and the ageing makeup for screen is that the screen makeup is more close up meaning that the makeup would have to be softer. The makeup for stage would be stronger than the makeup for screen even though the strength of this makeup depends on both the audience and stage size. 


A lot of the formulas used for screen makeup would consist of powder while there will be some liquid products this may include the foundation. This is due to camera resolution and close ups that make the pores and other imperfections on the skin more visible. This means that the makeup cannot be too thick and must look more natural. 

On the other hand the products used for stage makeup would more consist of cream or liquid products with translucent powder to set the makeup. The stage makeup should make the talent’s features visible by an audience of any size even though up close the face would look painted.


Some brands used for ageing makeup include,

  • Ben Nye

  • Mehron

  • Michael Davy

  • Kryolan

  • Wolfe Face Art and FX

  • And Graftobian Makeup Co.


The makeup techniques used for stage makeup is that the makeup should be applied thicker and should be made to be seen as natural looking by the audience. The amount of product used is determined by the size of the audience and the size of the stage. 

As for the makeup for the screen, the audience isn't directly in front of the talent but the camera shows imperfections in the skin so minimal makeup should be used to create a more natural look. 

Both stage and screen use similar makeup application techniques just the formulas and the amount of makeup used is different.


Sally Rose Davidson and David Malinowski both worked on The Legend of Barney Thomson where Emma Thompson played a character older than herself. This means that Sally Davidson applied the ageing makeup to Emma Thompson whereas David Malinowski is the one that created the prosthetics that were used on Emma Thompson.


The picture on the left shows what Emma Thompson normally looks like with the addition of some traditional makeup while the picture on the right shows Emma Thompson after the addition of ageing makeup and prosthetics.


A makeup artist that has worked on theatre and that has created some aged looks for the stage is Rochelle Barlow. Her website ASLRochelle.com has a step by step guide on the creation of an aged look for the stage. This guide shows that she is able to complete the look but unfortunately I cannot find references of her work on this outside of images of herself.

final

This image is an example of an ageing makeup look created on herself for the stage. This image was taken from her website as stages in the image itself.



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