Game Day Makeup Tutorial - Masks - Pro Dance Makeup Artist
Tori Apodaca, a makeup artist for the professional dance and cheerleading teams in Denver, walks us through her step-by-step on how-to get the professional dancer game day look… In a mask.
6 year makeup artist for the professional dance and cheerleading teams in Colorado (NBA, NLL, NHL, MLL).
Professional dance team audition photo shoots, pro dance team photo shoots, and provides game day makeup for the dancers at nearly every home game.
SS - The first conversations my teammates and I have with each other now is: Are you wearing a lipstick? How did you guys do your makeup? Do I even need to put foundation on half of my face for the next game?
Things are opening up again but we’re not so sure that the masks are going away anytime soon - dance auditions, game days, dance practices. It’s time to get used to getting ready with them because it is probably here to stay for the foreseeable future.
Tori takes us through her techniques on how she is currently doing professional dancer’s makeup for game days during these times, her go-to makeup products, and her tips&insiders to get the professional dance team look.
Game Day Stage Makeup - Masks
We are having a different approach based on the times we are dealing with and are mainly focusing on the eyes for this look.
Foundation
Dancers should start with a regular foundation routine because it is difficult to do just half of your face. On top of that, you definitely do not want to reveal that you did half of your foundation when taking a sip of water or eating.
There isn’t really a need for blush, contour, or lipstick because it is not being seen. SS - If you do want to contour on top of your foundation, maybe just a bit on the upper face. I did a contour for my first game back at the arena - It wasn’t visible and it just ended up on my mask, so take our advice here!
*Use a spooly to brush your brows in place before starting your eye shadow!
Eye shadow
Dancers are always asked if they have any makeup preferences. Sarah (our professional dancer in the tutorial) mentioned that her uniform has black, maroon, and silver so we subtly add in those colors to the eye makeup look. Of course, we always add some shimmer in there as well! You can switch up eye shadow colors for your own look but keep in mind that you always want to go for a natural makeup look as professional dancer. SS - Eye primer is a MUST. Especially since we are spending hours dancing and performing. Highly recommend investing in a primer, especially since eyes are our sole focus right now!
Maroonish shadow
“We’re going to start her out with a maroon-ish color on the outer lid and then later, on the center of the eye. You can prep the eyelid with a bit of concealer, foundation, or an eye primer to keep your eye shadow locked in - especially if you have more oily skin.”
Black/brown shadow
A combo of black and brown for the outer corners and under the eye (making sure to apply upward - we always want to give the eye a lifted look.)
Light shadow
Add a light eye shadow below the brow for a highlight.
Silver Shadow
Adding in that shimmer with a “silver shimmer shadow” to the inner corner of the eyes.
“Dancers are not allowed to wear any type of loose glitter on the eyes or body so make sure that you are using a shimmer shadow or liquid glitters.” (recommendations below)
Brows
You want to start out by brushing your brows upwards and then filling them in with your own technique preference.
Clean up the extra product
Before you start the eyeliner you want to make sure sure that the eyes turn upwards not downwards. Take a beauty blender or something to clean up the excess eye shadow and shape the shadow in an upwards motion. We want a more lifted eye look verse accentuating them down.
Eyeliner
“I start with a shadow eyeliner and then add a gel liner afterwards. Starting with the top lid and then adding it right underneath the waterline. Make sure to get the top liner all of the way to the corner of the eyes to prep for false lashes. I buff out the gel liner underneath the waterline at the end so that it is still a strong hold gel, but it is not so thick and has a softer look.”
Lashes
You’ll first want to curl the lashes and then apply your fake lashes.
“Typically for our teams, the girls supply their own lashes but I have some too if they need. Dancers try to use the same pair a couple of games, but it just depends on if they’re putting mascara on top of the lashes or not. It really just depends on the lashes. If you put the lashes on top of the mascara then you don’t have to put any more on top which will help preserve those lashes for longer.”
Mascara
Last we apply the mascara into the lashes in an upward motion.
Instagram: tori_bronzeandbeautiful
Makeup Recommendations Mentioned
EYE SHADOW
BROWS
Glitter Shadows
Eyeliner Gel
Mascara (Tori’s pick)
Mascara (Megan’s pick)
Current NBA dancer
“I have been using the Maybelline one forever! I hate mascaras that flake off and you get that dark circle under your eyes at the end of the day. That happens to me really bad with most mascaras. This Maybelline mascara doesn’t do that for me!”
Mascara (Sarah’s pick)
Current NLL dancer
