Makeup plays a big role in a cheerleader’s look, especially for games, pep rallies, competitions, and other performances. Deciding on makeup is actually more complicated than it may seem. A team or coach must first consider the age group of the team. That will greatly affect how much and what type of makeup is worn. For younger age groups, keep makeup natural and light or skip it all together. For older age groups, you can incorporate more mature looks, like dark or red lipstick. Next, your team should decide if you want a uniform makeup look or let everyone showcase his or her individuality. For competitions, it’s best to go for a uniform look‚ specific colors and types of makeup. However, for pep rallies, games, or other performances, you may want to have a general look each cheerleader should replicate but allow them to add their own accents. For example, you could require them to wear eyeshadow in one of the two school colors or let them wear lipstick in any shade of pink. Once you’ve decided on the look, there are basic application rules that everyone should follow: Wash your face first. Before you apply anything, wash your face. You want to start with a fresh canvas! Tone, if necessary. An added step that will help prep your skin is to use a toner. If you have oily skin, toners are great for mattifying your skin and removing excess oil. Apply moisturizer. Your face makeup will apply much smoother if you first apply a moisturizer. Go for an oil-free one, which won’t be so thick or greasy. If you’ll be outdoors, look for one that includes sunscreen. Prime. Before you apply foundation, apply primer. It helps your makeup last all day and makes your skin look better! Foundation versus primer. Apply foundation all over your face and use concealer for areas that need a little extra coverage, like under the eyes and on any blemishes or redness. Remember to use a light hand when applying foundation. You don’t want your face to look like a mask. Also, it’s crucial to find a good foundation color for your skin. If you wear one that’s slightly too light, you’ll look like a ghost. If you wear one that’s too dark, your face may look orangey. However, it’s always safer to go with a foundation that’s a little too dark than a little too light. To bronze or not? Bronzer isn’t for everyone. The right shade of bronzer can be really hard to find. If you have fair skin, many bronzers may look too orange. For fair skin tones, your best bet may be self-tanning lotions instead of bronzing powders. If you choose to use a powder formula, don’t apply it all over your face like a regular powder. The bronzer rule of thumb is to apply it where the sun would naturally hit your face‚ your nose, cheeks, and forehead. Always use a light hand with a very thin fan brush; less is more! You want your makeup to stand out, not look scary or unnatural. Keep your blush under control. What’s the easiest way to look like a clown? Applying too much blush. For cheerleaders, blush is definitely recommended. The color brightens up your entire face and keeps you from looking tired. Choose a blush that works with your skin tone. If you have a cool skin tone (you’re probably cool if you have light colored eyes like blue, grey, and light green), go for pink tones. If you have a warm skin tone (you probably have green, hazel, or brown eyes, tan skin or skin with yellow undertones), choose a coral or peach blush color. Apply with a dense brush but a light hand and add the color on the apples of your cheeks. It helps if you smile while applying! To accent your cheekbones, you can apply a deeper shade of blush right under your cheekbones in a thin swipe. Always say “yes” to mascara. Mascara is the best way to accentuate and highlight your eyes. Go for a waterproof formula so you don’t sweat it off. If you really want to make an impact at a competition, consider fake eyelashes. Pencil versus liquid eyeliner. While pencil eyeliner is easiest to wear on a day-to-day basis, liquid, cream, and gel eyeliners last much longer. Spend time on the weekend practicing applying them, as they’re more difficult than pencils. Don’t forget glitter. A cheerleader’s makeup look isn’t complete without glitter! Keep your eyes and skin safe by wearing glitter that’s actually formulated as makeup. This means, skip any arts and crafts glitter. Glitterbug Cosmetics makes a great glitter in a variety of colors. They also have eye, lip, and face “glue” that helps the glitter stick all day long, wherever you apply it. Learn from the pros. The best makeup advice comes from those who have experience! We asked fans on social media for their cheerleading makeup tips. Here is what a few of them had to say: “Use a primer on your face and eyes. It helps keep makeup on until you’re ready to take it off.” ~Stephanie “Sparkles on or around the eyes always pops!” ~Kayla “Wear your team colors on your nails with matching nail polish.” ~Sierra “Vaseline on your teeth. It tastes horrible so you’ll always smile!” ~Ayla “Glitter!” ~Hailea and Makayla “Spray glitter onto your nail polish to add sparkle.” ~Heather “Less is more!” ~Lisa “You can never have too much glitter and sparkle.” ~Rachel “It’s all in the brush. I have a special makeup brush I use for my girls.” ~Angie “A good color of lipstick goes a long way.” ~April “After doing your foundation, put baby powder under your eyes and on your cheeks. Then when you do your eyes you can use your brush to get rid of any makeup that landed under your eyes because the baby powder protects the foundation.” ~Casey “Lots of glitter and bright lipstick!” ~Danni “Make your lips pop so the crowd can see those facial expressions.” ~Alyssa What are your makeup tips?
Apply Your Cheer Makeup Like a Pro
