Beautifying SAG-AFTRA’s Best

SAG-AFTRA members received on-camera skin care tips and makeup tricks in four workshops led by expert makeup artists at SAG-AFTRA Plaza on May 11 and May 17. In these informational sessions conducted by representatives from MAC and NARS, attendees reviewed recommended styles of makeup for headshots, auditions and self-audition tapes.

The experts addressed specific concerns from attendees, such as how to minimize the appearance of blemishes with SPF foundation, which tends to look whitish on camera, and how to hide skin discoloration without leaving lines of demarcation, which the camera can also pick up. A few lucky members were chosen at random to participate in a demo that illustrated the difference between the application of daily and on-camera makeup. 

Among the tips shared:
• Use moisturizer and primer prior to pigmented products like foundation and blush, in order for the colors to blend correctly and keep the camera from noticing dry or overly oily skin.
• Contemporary makeup fads, such as contouring and highlighting, need to be exaggerated for the camera — but there is an art to perfecting the technique. 
• Actors should highlight and bronze more than in daily makeup application, but should be wary of using shades that are too dark for your skin tone, which can result in an unnatural look,  
• Be wary of using a highlighter that has too much shimmer and sends light in all directions. Using highlights with a slight shimmer emphasizes the area to which it is applied — usually cheekbones. 

SAG-AFTRA members left the workshops feeling more confident in their mastery of cosmetics and empowered to look their best for their next audition.

Top photo: NARS makeup expert Alix Mimran displays highlighting techniques on an attendee volunteer at SAG-AFTA Plaza on May 17.