7 Performer-Approved Products for a Stage-Proof Makeup Look
A definitive list of long-wearing and out-of-the-ordinary products fit for any kind of artist
Words Mika Geronimo
Featured photo courtesy of about-face
February 26, 2024
Eyes here, performers! With live performances making a strong comeback, it’s not enough to solely experiment with your make-up looks. After all the dancing, singing, and acting, it would be a waste to sweat off all your hard work due to not having a proper arsenal of long-wearing, stage-proof products at your disposal.
But wait, there's more! The post-pandemic concert scene has shifted drastically, with concerts like The Eras Tour, The Renaissance Tour, and K-pop concerts becoming avenues for creativity and self-expression.
That's why we've compiled 7 high-performing products that any creative can play with, whether you're onstage or in the audience.
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour® Cream Skin Protectant
as seen on IVE’s Wonyoung
The make-up artists for Korean celebrity IVE’s Wonyoung swear by the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour® Cream Skin Protectant as a crucial base for achieving a flawless look. They recommend blending a small amount of the cream with your primer to achieve glowing skin that appears stunning both on and off the camera.
Estée Lauder’s Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation
as seen on the Asian Tour Cast of Hamilton
The Estée Lauder’s Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation became a love-at-first-launch product. The brand served as the official makeup partner for the hit musical Hamilton's momentous Asian Premiere in the Philippines, emphasizing their high-performing liquid foundation.How could we say no to buildable, medium-to-full coverage, with a matte yet natural finish? The formula also claims to be sweatproof, and comes in 55 shades.
about-face Matte Fluid Eye Paint™️
As seen on Halsey, Rina Sawayama, and NIKI
Unleash your inner artist effortlessly with about-face, also known as Halsey’s brand, and their eye-conic Matte Fluid Eye Paints. With an array of 31 pigment-rich colors, these vegan and cruelty-free liquid eye colors offer limitless possibilities. Whether you prefer a diffused or detailed look, or even if you mix them to create your unique shade, about-face’s hero product is as flexible and dynamic as your creativity demands. For an added touch of brilliance, explore their Fractal Glitter Eye Paints, the lustrous counterpart to the mattes. Makeup artists for singers Rina Sawayama and NIKI have even adorned our favorite songstresses with these paints.
Dior Backstage Glow Face Palette
as seen on IVE’s Wonyoung and Sabrina Carpenter
What do IVE’s Wonyoung and Sabrina Carpenter have in common? Besides “It Girl” status, it’s twinning with the Dior Backstage Glow Face Palette. The secret to the two popstars’ natural to full-glam glow is none other than Dior’s bestselling highlighter quad that also comes in five luminous shades.
M·A·C Cosmetics Lipstick
as seen on Jillian Ita-as
What can we say, it’s a cult favorite for a reason. While we love the Retro Mattes, we can’t help but also gravitate towards their other formulas. Sick of true matte? For a similar, rich color pay-off, might we suggest their Powder Kiss, Amplified, Cremesheen, Frost, or Satin variants? Filipino theater performer and beauty content creator Jillian Ita-as cites the latter as a staple among her lippie collection.
ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr's On 'Til Dawn Setting Spray
as seen on the cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race Philippines Season 1, Ariana Grande, and Gwen Stefani
On top of coming home with the title of the Philippines’ first Drag Superstar, the winning queen of RuPaul’s Drag Race Philippines debut season was also entitled to a year’s worth of makeup from ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr. Drag artists and other glamazons alike love the brand’s On 'Til Dawn Setting Spray, a 16-hour mattifying waterproof spray that will lock your look in place. Can you believe that pop stars like Ariana Grande and Gwen Stefani also can’t get enough of this budge-proof product?
GOT2B Glued Blasting Freeze Spray
as seen on Trixie Mattel
All hair looks (and wigs) are unfortunately not made equal. To keep the fantasy alive, drag queen Trixie Mattel swears by the staying power of GOT2B’s Glued Blasting Freeze Spray. Like their ever-reliable gels, taming your mane has never been as fuss-free with this hair must-have.
Photo by: TRIXIE MATTEL (YouTube)
