When it comes to cosplay makeup, there are so many options. One might find themselves overwhelmed on what kind to use, where to start looking, what brand is best.. so on and so forth.
If you are new to cosplay, finding makeup that works best for you might be challenging. Almost every cosplayer that uses makeup either found out on their own or were guided by other cosplayers.
I will be discussing various makeup topics in this post based on my own personal experiences with cosplay makeup.
I will start by stating that there are basically two kinds of cosplay makeup; water activated powder based and cream based. Each of these has their own pros and cons.
NOTE: this does NOT include other applications like latex or putty. I am also not including basic makeup like foundation, eyeshadow, etc.
So, where to begin?... Well, we will start with the basics.
My personal favorite type of cosplay makeup is the water activated powder based one. This type of makeup is wonderful for small area coverage. For example, if you were only wanting to use it on your face, it is practical for that. It is simple to use and comes in many colors and brands. I like to use water activated makeup over cream based for a few reasons. It is easy to apply, dries fast, and is easy to remove. Using a sponge with this style will give you great coverage and it is lightweight. Use a brush for fine lines and detail work.
Cream based makeup is great for large area coverage. It is also easily applied with a sponge, although it may take a while for it dry. Depending on the brand, you may need more than one coat to achieve the desired effect. You should also use a setting powder for this style as it is kind of prone to run. It is easily removed though.
As far as brands, that’s completely up to you. I prefer Mehron and Snazaroo brands for my cosplay makeup. I also use Cruise. There are many brands out there that I have not tried, because I had these brands recommended to me.
Alright, moving right along to where to get these products. Well, many people, including myself, use Amazon to find these products. There are many websites to find makeup. Also, you can find some of these in stores such as Target and Walmart. I will link some of my favorite ones at the end of this article.
Now that the basics are out of the way, we can move on to how to apply these products. Personally, I like to use makeup sponges for coverage and makeup brushes for fine lines and details. The application process is completely up to you on what you are comfortable with. I would suggest that you experiment with different application processes and watch some tutorial videos. Play around with it. See what works best for you. But most importantly, have fun with it.
Here are some of my favorite products.
Mehron:
Color palette https://amzn.to/3SJ7VAw
Setting powder https://amzn.to/3SKG6rr
Snazaroo:
Note: this is a full color set, but you can find individual ones or different sets.
Brushes and Sponges: Use whatever you prefer.
However, I will add a search link for Amazon for each.
Brushes - https://amzn.to/3C2a7MK
Sponges - https://amzn.to/3SN1qN7
A full set pictured below:
I hope this has answered some questions. If not, please let me know. Stay tuned!
All image credits go to Amazon.
