Makeup (SG)
* Writing this for a Carousell post because paragraphing don’t work there*
Eh, don’t think this is a very good place to ask about this. Also, 7 cosplay is a tad too much for a beginner. Perhaps shorten the list to be more manageable?
1st important thing: Know your skin type i.e. is it dry, oil, combination, sensitive?
2nd important thing: Good skincare. It helps to keep your makeup on longer.
3rd important thing: What works for other people may not work for you. Trial and error.
Now, look at your characters that you intend to cos: Shouta boys type? Sweet girl next door type? Cool ikemen type? All of them will require slightly more or less makeup items other than the standard list I will give below.
Basic list:
- Makeup primer (Some sunscreen also double as a makeup base)
- Foundation (Your skin type will determine what foundation brand and type that will work on you)
- Concealer ( To cover skin blemishes/ moles/ dark eye circles)
- Contouring powder/bronzer (Recommend to get matt
colour so that you can use for both genders)
- Matt brown eyeshadow palette (No pearl/shimmer so that you can use for both genders. Yes, male characters still need some eyeshadow. Also works as subtle shading palette)
- Highlighter
- Eyeliner pencil (Recommended for beginners)
- Eyebrow pencil
- Makeup setting spray (So that makeup don’t melt)
Additional (depending on character type and gender):
- Eyeshadow palette ( If your characters have vivid color eyelids i.e. red,yellow)
- Lip concealer ( Not the same as above mentioned concealer; this is to cover your lip’s color for male characters. Alternative: use a nude lipstick )
- Loose powder ( For setting liquid foundation )
- Blush ( For female characters)
- False eyelashes ( For female characters and feminine looking guys)
- Fake double eyelid eyeliner (Will explain more in Part II)
- Eyelash glue ( For above. )
- Lipstick ( For female characters or some bombastic color that some wacky character has)
Brands and where to shop?
Sephora is expensive, even to a working adult like me. I only go there to get NYX stuff once in a blue moon. Watsons/Guardian and Sasa are usually good enough, and sales are frequent (which means savings!) I will only recommend the items in Sephora if there’s no other equivalent outside at a lower price. Since I don’t do makeup frequently (usually only for cosplay), I don’t want to spend so much on makeup and rather throw the money on skincare.
Spend more money on foundation, eyeliner, and makeup remover items. I have used Daiso items for brow pencils, eyeshadows (for some sparkly effect) and highlighters, but prefer Japanese brands’ eyeliner. Most brands in Sephora tend to have pearly/shimmerly eyeshadows which I don’t use ( I cosplay guys 90% so sparkly eyelids not required) If you get a matte eyeshadow palette, you can use it for both genders and add sparkle when needed.
I don’t use mascara so nothing on that.
Brands @ Watson:
Silky Girl - Matt brown eyeshadow palette ( Works well enough for me close to 10 years. Didn’t need to invest in a Urban Decay palette )
Za - Powder foundation and concealer (Pretty decent coverage and tones are suitable for Asians because this is a Taiwanese brand )
Canmake - Glow Fleur Highlighter, any of their makeup base/ primer and shading products (I use a shading powder which is no longer sold locally, but the other two types sold here might work for you)
Cezanne - Mix Color Cheek (pearly), Highlight/ Shading Stick, Drawing eyelid eyeliner ( a very light brown liquid eyeliner for drawing fake double eyelid)
Maybelline - Hypersharp Liner (liquid, my favourite outside Japanese brand) & Instant age rewind concealer (very good for covering dark circles)
Revlon - Photoready Primer (silicon based primer so please use with silicon based foundation like Kate’s)
Kate - Base Zero liquid and powder foundation (very good coverage), Double eyelid remake liner ( for faking double eyelid; however have not seen it in a while), Brow mascara (when your character is blonde)
K-Palette - Eyeliner
Brands @ Guardian
Catrice - Single eyeshadow colors, eyeliner pencil, loose powder, matt eyeshadow palette (In fact I think you can try most of the items from this brand)
Brands @ Sephora
NYX - Matt lip cream (many nude colors), setting spray [ NYX has standalone shops at Westgate and Bugis Junction with a lot more products. Sephora has a limited range ]
Urban Decay - Any of their makeup setting sprays and eyeshadow primer (if needed i.e. need eyeshadow stay on more than 6 hours )
Sephora - wacky single eyeshadow colors (do not buy a palette just for one or two colors) and lip stains (if your character has wacky lip colour)
Brands @ SaSa
DUP - Eyelash glue
Brands @ Tokyo Hands
Chacott - Loose powder (extremely good in SG’s horrible weather. Recommend the light blue cool type)
What works on me may not work for you. Please test at the stores and also research online.
Beside makeup, you will need tools. 2 eyeshadow brushes (one for dark colour and one for light), 1 powder brush and maybe 1 eyebrow brush (if you decide to use eyeshadow colour as your brow colour). Eyelash curler is a must so that false eyelashes go on easier.
