Choosing the right colours.
Get the wrong colour for your stage makeup and the audience will be looking at your face for all the wrong reasons!
The Grimas range includes colours to suit all skin types and colours. The base colour should be close to your own skin tone but, if you are white, you will need a colour with more red or pink in it. This is because white faces "wash out" under strong stage lighting making them look too pale. This is why theatrical makeup colours may look quite different to the colours you might use normally.
The table shows the colours we put in our stage makeup kits. These colours will make your skin look natural under stage lighting.
| Skin type | Base colour | Blusher/Shading |
| White female | 1002 stage women | 504 bordeaux |
| White male | 1027 stage men | 1075 brick red |
| Asian/Oriental female | J2 olive | 504 bordeaux |
| Asian/Oriental male | J5 olive | 1075 brick red |
| Black female* | D2 for dark skin | 1075 brick red |
| Black male* | D12 or just powder | none or 101 black |
* Many black actors don't use a base colour at all. Transparent powder on its own often does the job. The main reason for using makeup is to even out any colour variation in the face. Choose a colour to match the darkest area. The colours D2 to D12 are specially made for dark and black complexions.
