Makeup for TV presenters: preparation and important features

Alla Yakimova-Maklyuk will talk from a scientific point of view about the details of makeup for TV presenters , and will also dwell in more detail on the correction of facial asymmetry and mistakes in makeup.

Alla Yakimova-Maklyuk, makeup artist, special effects specialist and expert in the field of facial asymmetry correction, has extensive experience in the field of media, theater and show business

The secret to the success of any television program largely depends on how the presenter or presenter looks. Marketing specialists know this very well, which is why a good make-up artist is an integral part of the team of each film crew.

Preparing presenters for a live television broadcast is an incredibly responsible, labor-intensive and versatile process. When we see famous people, celebrities and show business stars on television, we are delighted and surprised by their attractiveness, the harmony of their hairstyle, clothes and makeup. But most often we don’t even think about what happens before our idols go on air, and to whom they often owe their attractiveness. We’ll talk about this in more detail later.

I worked in the television industry for many years, and I must say that the experience of this work cannot be compared with any other experience as a make-up artist. The very dynamics of the process of preparing presenters for going on air involves much more than just mastery of the art of makeup. In this article I would like to talk in detail about the features of makeup for television, as they are of great importance.

About preparing for work in the studio

Let me start with the fact that preparing a make-up artist to work in a television studio is a special process; it requires knowledge of the structure and operation of the entire television studio. First of all, a television make-up artist needs to study the set, become familiar with its equipment and lighting score. This is necessary so that he knows where the light sources are, what kind of light is used (warm or cold), what reflective surfaces are in the studio, what decorations are used, etc. It is very important for the make-up artist to have information about how the operator will work , whether a close-up will be used, camera zooms, etc.

It is common knowledge that professional photography uses intense lighting to avoid shadow effects. This lighting cannot but influence the work of the makeup artist, so assessing the location of the presenter’s workplace in relation to the camera and lighting fixtures, as well as the presence or absence of air conditioning in the studio, is of great importance. The make-up artist must take into account the possibility of the presenter sweating during filming, which will lead to smearing of the make-up. In addition, it is important to correctly assess the color temperature of the light, since the audience’s perception of the presenter’s makeup depends on it.

The general atmosphere of the television studio is also significant. And even before you start working directly with the TV presenter, it is important to assess and understand his psychological state and mood, because this largely determines the makeup artist’s further work on the image and the process of interaction with the person. The most important component of the work of a makeup artist on a television set is the correct assessment of the time allocated to prepare the presenter for the broadcast. When working in a studio, you need to be prepared for the most unexpected situations related to unforeseen delays, the presenter being late for makeup, etc.

As for the makeup artist’s work itself, it depends mainly on who needs to work with on the set: a man or a woman. When it comes to women's makeup for television, first of all, you should evaluate the problem areas in the face: these could be dark circles under the eyes, skin unevenness, curvature or asymmetry of the nose, specific asymmetry of the eyebrows and eyes, features of the oval of the face. And only then does the hairstyle selection take place.

Speaking about my personal principles in work, the next stage is that I mentally draw up a clear plan of action and determine the sequence of my work. And only after such a plan has crystallized in my head, I begin to create the image.

About the peculiarities of working with a female TV presenter

The most important element of a make-up artist’s work with a female TV presenter is not the makeup of the eyes, eyelashes or lips; the most basic and fundamental thing is the development (preparation) of the face. This is as important to a makeup artist as preparing a canvas is to a painter.

First of all, you need to prepare a perfectly smooth, symmetrical, carefully worked surface of the face for your work. For these purposes, I use foundation, combine dry and oily correctors, and level out the asymmetry that is inherent in 80 percent of faces. In the work of a make-up artist, when it is necessary to take into account the specifics of lighting, eliminating facial asymmetry becomes one of the most important conditions for applying the correct make-up.

First, you should work with the asymmetry of the nose, adjust the contour of the oval of the face, forehead, cheekbones and chin. I would like to note that the cheekbones should be in their “own”, geometrically correct place. One of the most common mistakes is to “draw” cheekbones in a completely inappropriate area.

The profession of a make-up artist requires a good knowledge of the anatomy and structure of the human skull, as well as a sense of proportion, the ability to see natural deviations from a visually attractive norm. It is very important not to create something that other people will perceive as such a deviation. Proper makeup for television shouldn't turn into coloring. Makeup is the art of transformation using appropriate materials and their correct application.

About the makeup process for TV presenters

The next stage, after eliminating natural skin defects and facial asymmetry, is to work on enhancing the natural advantages and individual beauty of the presenter. I believe that eyebrows are a kind of geometric support, a frame for the face, so they become the starting point of my work. I hasten to repeat that this process necessarily includes the moment of eliminating eyebrow asymmetry. For example, eyebrows that are too low should be filled in from above, and eyebrows that are located higher than necessary should be drawn in from below.

The same principle applies when working with the eyes. You should catch the asymmetry and, based on this, draw 2 arrows in order to visually align the eyes. These arrows can be thicker or thinner, shorter or longer, depending on the location of the eyes. Such manipulations are again necessary in order to achieve balance and symmetry. Shadows on the eyes should also be applied taking into account the correction tasks: if the eyelid is drooping and drooping over the eye, it is impossible to get by with a light arrow. For stage and television, working on the eyes is very important. The TV presenter's gaze should be open, her eyes large and expressive.

Every touch in the work of a professional make-up artist is intended to have a specific purpose and be justified. A true master must be able to justify every touch of his brush to the face he is working on. Applying a certain color, drawing a line, applying shadows, etc. must have its own logic, meaning and purpose. Blush, lipstick, eye shadow - in all applied decorative products you need to maintain one color tone.

I often see mistakes in the work of makeup artists when, for example, the eyes are painted in cold pink and purple tones, and the lipstick on the lips has a coral-red tint. This is a serious mistake by the makeup artist, as such a color imbalance catches the eyes of the audience, and the presenter creates a repulsive impression. This is unacceptable in the work of a television make-up artist.

At the very end of working on the image of the TV presenter, you can start making up your lips. Their shape, clarity of lines and once again symmetry are the three main parameters with which the make-up artist works on the set. Following the modern trend, the shape of the lips, as a rule, has to be imperceptibly increased. However, regardless of trends and fashion, it is very important to maintain consistency and not lose a sense of proportion. This is especially important when working with TV program presenters.

You can’t overdo it, get carried away with the process of applying paint, you must always maintain style. It would not be superfluous to mention once again how important the ability to capture and highlight the advantages of a face and hide its shortcomings is, since this is precisely the art of makeup, including for television, and the success of the master’s work.

About working with hair

Only after finishing work on the face can you move on to working with hair. First of all, you should start with the clothes, consult with a stylist, and then start styling. The choice of hairstyle, naturally, depends on the length of the hair, but when working with TV presenters, you also have to take into account the format of the program, because the choice of hairstyle depends on it.

When the appropriate style is found, you can decide which method to use: resort to blow-drying, curling or braiding, working with collected hair (the most acceptable style for a business format). Each choice is individual.

The article was first published in MAKEUP&YOU Professional magazine