A thick pancake base, shadow as eyeliner and TWO sets of false lashes: Make-up lessons from a prima ballerina

By Tamara Abraham

PUBLISHED: 17:18 EST, 14 March 2013 | UPDATED: 18:16 EST, 14 March 2013

A top ballerina has revealed how she does her make-up before taking to the stage.

Sara Mearns, who is a principal dancer for the New York City Ballet, talked Racked through her nightly routine that sees her apply an unlikely combination of products including a bright white powder, the brightest shadow she can find and a double-row of false lashes.

Sitting at her dressing table, complete with a frame of bare bulbs, she begins by spritzing a compact with water and dabbing it onto her face with a sponge.

Scroll down for video

Sarah Mearns NEw York City Ballet make-up lesson

My stage face: Sara Mearns, who is a principal dancer for the New York City Ballet, reveals how she does her make-up before a performance

Sarah Mearns NEw York City Ballet make-up lesson
Sarah Mearns NEw York City Ballet make-up lesson

Good foundations: Sara uses a thick base she calls pancake, which she applies by spritzing a compact with water and dabbing it onto her face with a sponge

'Right now I'm putting on what we call pancake,' she explains. 'Basically it's like this really thick base, you can't really move after you've put it on.'

She then moves onto a white powder, which she brushes under her eyes and across to each side of her face, admitting, 'it can look very scary.'

 

More...

The next step - blusher - would be more familiar to most women, but, as Sara explains, 'we call it contour... this is just emphasizing your cheekbones.'

Less familiar is the way she then drags the contour along the outer edges of her eyes too.

Sarah Mearns NEw York City Ballet make-up lesson
Sarah Mearns NEw York City Ballet make-up lesson

The white stripes: Sara then brushes a pale powder under her eyes and across each side of her face

Sarah Mearns NEw York City Ballet make-up lesson

Trick of the trade: Sara uses eyeshadow instead of eyeliner 'because you can create a better line, so then it can be like eyeliner and extend into eyeshadow'

'I don't really know why we do this, but I just know that it looks good,' she says. 'That's all I know.'

Sara's look really starts to take shape when she begins her eye make-up though. She begins with eyeliner - which is actually eyeshadow applied with a brush as one would normally use eyeliner.

The reason for this is 'because you can create a better line, so then it can be like eyeliner and extend into eyeshadow,' she tells the camera.

For the bottom line she uses a blue shade - but instead of drawing it directly beneath her lower lashes, she leaves a space.

Sarah Mearns NEw York City Ballet make-up lesson
Sarah Mearns NEw York City Ballet make-up lesson

The eyes have it: For the bottom line she uses a blue shade - but instead of drawing it directly beneath her lower lashes, she leaves a space (left). Eyeshadow follows, preferably in the brightest shade possible (right)

Sarah Mearns NEw York City Ballet make-up lesson
Sarah Mearns NEw York City Ballet make-up lesson

Flash lashes: Holding a heavy set of fake lashes to the camera, Sara reveals, 'These are two sets put together' (left) - she applies them for 'that extra va-voom' (right)

'Some people, for their bottom line, they stay close to their eye, it depends on how big your eyes are, and my eyes are really small, so go away from your eye,' she explains. 

Eyeshadow offers an opportunity for a dancer to get creative, and Sara admits she likes to use bright fluorescent colors, though purple is a favorite.

'I think your eye make-up and your face is an extension of the ballet and an extension of your personality,' she says. 'I'm not saying that if your eye makeup is boring you're boring... I'm just saying that it should be just as exciting.'

Next, a dusting of white shimmer on the brow bone helps it catch the light, before fake lashes are applied for 'that extra va-voom.'

Sarah Mearns NEw York City Ballet make-up lesson
Sarah Mearns NEw York City Ballet make-up lesson

Lip service: The final step is lipstick - and of course this is a practiced art too. Sara uses two different shades and applies them with a brush, as 'you don't want it to look all one color'

Sarah Mearns NEw York City Ballet make-up lesson

Making an impact: The finished make-up look is showstopping on stage. People 'shouldn't be able to take their eyes off you,' Sara says

Holding a heavy set to the camera, Sara reveals: 'These are two sets put together.'

She adds that she prefers older lashes that have been used a few times, as 'they get shaped to the way you like them when you put them on your eye, and you don't have to do anything with them.'

The final step is lipstick - and of course this is a practiced art too. Sara uses two different shades and applies them with a brush, as 'you don't want it to look all one color.'

The finished look is prettier than one might first imagine - and is showstopping on stage.

'It's over half your image when you walk on stage,' Sara says. 'It's the first thing people see of you, and they shouldn't be able to take their eyes off you once you step on stage.'

Backstage Beauty at The New York City Ballet from Racked.com on Vimeo.


 
Add your comments

Comments (34)

The comments below have not been moderated.

 View all

I would have been nice to see her FINISHED face full-on instead of a photo of her looking down at the vanity!

Click to rate     Rating   67

Report abuse

Dumb. Max Factor Pan-Cake is the *name* of the base. And ewww, she licked her eyeliner brush.

Click to rate     Rating   29

Report abuse

Now this is interesting with regards to use of make up

Click to rate     Rating   31

Report abuse

ugly girl with bad intentions! pls remove the article xx

Click to rate     Rating   175

Report abuse

The difference between this lady wearing this much make up and the trashing TOWIE wanabes, is that this lady is on the stage, and this is how stage make up is and should be, a bit dramatic and OTT yes, but the bright lights do make performers look washed out , the bold makes up helps make their face and expressions stand out when they perform, its just makes the TOWIE wanabes look a bit too glowy, cakey and ridiculous.

Click to rate     Rating   121

Report abuse

Who ever the photographer is that took these photos needs their camera taken. These are awful blurred photos!!!!!!

Click to rate     Rating   62

Report abuse

Yea but she's on the stage not on TOWIE.

Click to rate     Rating   77

Report abuse

Yea but she's on the stage not on TOWIE.

Click to rate     Rating   37

Report abuse

It's stage makeup. It's always been like that. I remember being in a pantomime once and having to be over the top with my makeup. It's a shame that girls choose to do it for every day life too!!

Click to rate     Rating   123

Report abuse

Scary looking face.

Click to rate     Rating   91

Report abuse

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

You have 1000 characters left.
Libellous and abusive comments are not allowed. Please read our House Rules.
For information about privacy and cookies please read our Privacy Policy.
Terms