CAMOUFLAGE 101: HOW TO HIDE TAN LINES AND LOOK GREAT IN YOUR COSTUMES

 You put on your favorite costume, the one that always makes you  look and feel amazing, but like a slap in the face, you suddenly realize you can’t possibly wear it. It’s not because the hooks need to be replaced or you’ve gained or lost a few pounds, and certainly not cause you dribbled some form of condiment while scarfing down a post-gig meal backstage.

 It’s because your summer wardrobe doesn’t match your dance costumes!

Maybe you wore a halter-top this past weekend and your SPF wore off. Your chest and midriff are now evenly tanned… but the tops of your boobs look like two giant glow-in-the-dark white Hostess Cakes. Or perhaps you  got a sunburn while wearing that Kendall & Kylie “celeb style caged harness” swimsuit from Top Shop…and now there’s such an insane network of pink lines on your torso, it looks like you’ve contracted a hideous tropical skin condition!

 If you’re not religious about using sunblock -and you damn well should be- you’ll wind up with a tan or a painful burn. But even if you’re careful about using sunblock, you can still get those pesky tan-lines. And believe me, they look like absolute  %@$# on stage!

 I am  super-anal about wearing sunblock, but because of my mixed heritage and olive skin, I tan in a heartbeat, no matter what. Seriously, I can take out the trash in the early morning, and by the time I get out of the shower fifteen minutes later; I’ve got stripes across the tops of my shoulders from my tank top.

 Hey, it’s summer; we’ve all been there.

 But let’s get you back into your favorite costume, shall we?

To get rid of tan-lines quickly, first thing you need to do is exfoliate, cause it gets rid of all the dead cells on the surface of your skin. Exfoliating will literally buff away a bit of your tan, and it’ll keep your skin looking fresh and dewy, too.

 Please note that this works only for those who are tanned, not burned. If you’ve got a sunburn, it’s an absolute must to let it heal to the point where it’s not painful or tender, because you don’t want any scarring to occur. Instead, slather the burned area with Aloe Vera gel. Straight from the plant is best, but there are also plenty of gentle commercial formulas on the market, too. Take an aspirin or two, stay out of the sun and let your skin heal for a few days before exfoliating.  A nice all-natural spray to relieve sunburn pain is black tea.  Brew up a strong pot of black tea, let it cool in the fridge and transfer it into a spray bottle. Spritz the cool mixture on your skin after you bathe or whenever you want. The misted tea is refreshing and calming to the sensitive sunburned areas. But black tea also contains a high amount of tannic acid, which will help fade the marks on your body quickly.

 But back to exfoliation: I recommend Oil Of Olay Exfoliating Body Wash or St. Ives Purifying Sea Salt Body Wash.  Both are terrific, inexpensive options, plus they’re under ten bucks at most chain drug stores like Target, CVS, Rite Aid or Walgreens. If you wanna splurge a bit more, try Guyton Exfoliating Body Wash. It’s available on from www.glytone-usa.com or from Amazon; some department or beauty supply stores carry it, too. The glycolic acid isn’t a chemical peel, it’s easy on your skin, but helps your cells to shed and your skin to rejuvenate faster.

To make an ultra-cheap (but very efficient) D.I.Y exfoliating scrub, get a large glass bowl and add in these ingredients: a tablespoon of sugar with one cup of baking soda and half a cup of water. Mix it well, until it becomes a thick paste. Bring it into the shower with you, and with bath mitts or your bare hands, glob it onto your skin, scrubbing in long strokes or small swirls  (your choice, just as long as your hitting the affected area) like your damn life depended on it.

 Once you’ve exfoliated, now it’s time to camouflage those hellish tan lines.  If you’re skin is medium, olive-toned or dark, get a matte bronzer in a shade that’s a close match your actual skin tone; a shade or two darker is fine. If you’re fair, a rosy pink ought to work well. Just make sure you don’t use pearly or metallic shades- it won’t look natural and will only draw attention to your “disguise”. You can use cream or powder, whichever you prefer, both are fine. With a small soft dome blush brush – or even a cotton ball- dab the product onto the lighter area, but then blend it out onto the tanned area as well. If you apply the makeup only on the un-tanned skin,  instead of hiding the tanning marks, it’ll  make them look way too obvious.

 After you’ve applied the product, make sure to set it so it won’t rub off on your fancy costume. There are several makeup-setting sprays available. One of my go-to fixers is Ben Nye Liquiset, which is a theatrical makeup sealer in a spray pump.  It’s pretty inexpensive and really keeps any pigments in place, even when sweaty from performance.  However, aside from Amazon, it’s usually only available at costume/theatrical stores and some beauty supply places. There are drugstore brands that work just as well, such as L’Oreal Infallible Fixing Mist or Urban Decay Chill Cooling And Hydrating Makeup Setting Spray.  All of these products are made to be worn on the face, but they work just fine for tan marks on the body, too. None of them crack or smudge, and they come off with whatever sort of makeup remover you use also.

 My very favorite camouflaging product, which I use with or without tan lines, is Sally Hanson’s Airbrush Legs. It used to come only in a spray, but now, they’ve added a cream formula as well. This stuff is pure magic- it makes you look like the best filters on Instagram! It stays much better than any self-tanner, never looks streaky, doesn’t cake, and really lasts on stage, even through multiple performances. It gives your skin a gorgeous look, truly like you’ve been airbrushed. I’ve used it to hid bug bites, bruises, and scratches from my kitties, and even to completely hide my tattoos! Let it fully dry before you put on your costume, though. After it sets, it won’t rub off on anything. The only other thing you need to know is that if you’re using the spray, it would behoove you to use it in the shower, cause it could stain clothing (or a carpet) and it’s kind of smelly to use in a dressing room. However, the smell goes away as soon as the product dries. Also, sometimes it stays on the skin for an extra day or two, even after bathing… but who doesn’t want to look airbrushed, right?

These tips will allow you to have fun in the sun, but still look great onstage- tries them out and sees for yourself.

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photo: Dusti Cunningham, graphics: Natasha Vetlugin

  For more cosmetic  tips, purchase  my  double-disc instructional stage makeup DVD  “Bombshell” or a copy of "The Belly Dance Handbook  here:  http://www.princessfarhana.com/shop.htm

photo and graphics: Maharet Hughes/Graphic Vibe

COSMETICS AND BEAUTY PRODUCTS PERFECT FOR SPRING

  

Oh, you know  me and my mania for makeup and beauty products- I’m certifiably insane! But this obsession is something most women- and all dancers- have in common.  I’ve  been test driving  a ton of  cool  cosmetic products  lately, and all of them  absolutely perfect for Springtime,  and  most quite affordable.  Many are available at   chain drug stores, target or Walmart.

 I’m sharing my current  favorites with you here :

 SKIN

E.l.f Skincare Daily Hydration Moisturizer

This is a light and super-hydrating  moisturizer, great for every day use, and rich enough to apply at night. Best part is that costs less than ten bucks, and that’s a lot of bang for your  Beauty Buck.  Also, E.l.f. makes insanely great Makeup Remover Wipes that are so saturated  with product, you don’t have to scub  them on your face to get clean, even if you’re rockin’ serious stage makeup. These are  a  mere $3.00 , so stock up and use them throughout the summer!

Rimmel Stay Matte Primer

 Another genius drugstore find, this silky crème  can be used alone, or as a primer under foundation. It glides on soft and smooth, and  gives a matte finish for hours, even in the often-oily T-zone area.

EYES

L’Oreal  Colour Riche La Pallette in  Nude

  An eyeshadow palette with ten gorgeous neutral shades, this  is splendid for every day use or the stage! The highly pigmented colors go on smooth and don’t flake, and  will create  velvety dimensional smokey eyes. The shades  range  from beiges and pinkish/lavender neutrals to rich chocolate browns and taupes, so this palette would be marvelous for  women of any age or  skin tone! With a retail price is $19.99, this is a great beauty investment.

Sugarpill Heartbreaker Pallette

If the Natural Look isn’t what you’re after, this quad-color set will knock your socks off, featuring brilliant  neon shades of lime green and  royal blue, violet and  a wintergreen, minty-fresh turquoise.  Stunning on stage, and with a lighter hand and a  a little blending, fresh pretty for every day. A bonus is  that all  Sugarpill products are  cruelty free, meaning no Easter Bunnies were harmed by testing.

Ben Nye Lumiere Grand Color Pressed Eyeshadow in Cosmic

This otherworldly pinkish blue metallic shadow has been a favorite of mine for years. It is pearlescent and can be used wet or dry. Using it dry, it creates a pretty shade of pink  that, due to the blue undertones,  won’t make your eyes look tired or like you have conjunctivitis.  Applied  with a damp brush, you’ll get a rich, electric violet tone that would make the 1970’s-era David Bowie faint with envy.  For stage, I also use this stuff on my cheeks, and to highlight my lips…it looks fantastic daubed over the first  lipstick I’ve listed  below!

Eco Tools Essential Eye Brush Set

  I adore these brushes to pieces. Whenever I’ve found a random brush in my cosmetic kit that seems to really get the job done right, when I examine it to see the manufacturer, it’s Eco Tools.  Their brushes are lush and full-bristled without being stiff, and can really take a beating- daily use and frequent washings, and the brushes still retain their shape and don’t shed bristles.  this  five brush  set is no exception. This set is  also  a bargain- less than nine  bucks!

LIPS

NYC Color Expert Lipstick in Air Kiss

 This gorgeous orchid color reads  bright pink, but  it’s luscious, creamy formula prevents it from looking chalky or garish  for daily wear.  With a slightly blue undertone, it’ll make your teeth appear whiter, too. And like I said, if you want  to accent your lips and give them a dimensional, pouty look  for  the stage,  use   the Ben Nye “Cosmic” eyeshadow dotted on directly over this lipstick, without blotting it. The powder will set the lip color, and your  mouth will look bright and kissable.

 MAC Viva Glam Lipstick in Rihanna

 This frosty red is just about the same shade as Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers. MAC lipstick always glides on smooth and silky, and this one is no exception.  One coat is sheer and pretty for “off duty” dancers, two coats will see you through a night out or a show. A little pricey, but def worth it! And in case you didn’t know, all of MAC’s Viva Glam  products  fund  HIV/AIDS research, so you can pout pretty while doing  a good deed.

BODY

Pretty Feet And Hands

 This nifty sloughing product, which I’ve used for eons, is the number one eradicator of Dancers Feet !   You can start off looking like  like Sasquatch  or The Walking Dead, and  five minutes later look like a rich lady whose just spent a a hundred dollars on a spa pedicure.  Just slather it on, and watch your icky  callouses roll off, with no burning, peeling  or stench.  It’s kind of a miracle, and also works great on knees, elbows, and your hands. Not only that. It’s a drug store product, which means it’s ridiculously inexpensive…and for dancers, it’s priceless!

Tit Tape by Shape Tape

  No matter what kind of dance  you do,  toupee tape or fashion tape is a godsend for  keeping costume pieces, bindis,  wigs, and other accessories in place during performance. This  burlesque- oriented product was sent to me by the manufacturer to test drive., and it works quite well! The thing that sets it apart from other fashion tape- and the reason it’s called Tit Tape- is because the adhesive is  round ( as opposed to  being a rectangular strip) making it perfect  to use with burlesque  pasties. It works to keep  heavy, tasseled pasties in place, and the backing peels off easily, just like regular fashion tape. Great idea!

Flash Tattoos Temporary Body  Art Metallic Temporary  Tattoos in  Isabella

 My sister gifted me with a set of Flash Tattoos during the Holidays and I was skeptical. They were really shiny and pretty, but I thought there’s be no way in hell they’d stay on through sweaty classes and shows. I was wrong!  Not only do these decals stay on looking metallic and  super-blingy for four or five days, they ;asted me through showers and a hot-tub session without losing their color or peeling. They also  come off quite easily with baby oil or coconut oil. They  come in designs and shapes of bracelets, necklaces, floral  medallions and  mystic-looking, filigree mandalas, and can also be cut up  for mix’n’match. They’re  so darn  pretty  that from the stage they look like actual real jewelry-  and the beauty is, they won’t snag on any costume pieces or in your hair, cause they’re temporary tattoos!

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 For more info on my worldwide workshops & events, or to get a signed copy of  The Belly Dance Handbook or my memoir Showgirl Confidential, please visit  http://www.princessfarhana.com/index.html

 If you’d like to see what I do on the rare occasions when I’m not dancing, please visit http://www.pleasantgehman.com/index.html