I have heard a lot of complaints over the years about makeup mishaps.  Most of our clients are Small Business Owners, not Makeup Artists.  Pretty Girl Cosmetics has extensive experience on how to avoid makeup mayhem on competition day. Here are the top 5 cheer and dance makeup mistakes we have heard over the while talking with dance studio owners and cheer gym owners across the country.

1. Eyeshadows fade - Most Cheer Mom is not a makeup artist so the importance of a good eye primer is not understood.  The difference in color and wear is night and day when you use a good eye primer. Apply your primer from your lash line to your brow before applying your eye shadows.  The colors will pop and the shadows will not crease or wear.  Eye Primers are like a tacky mat for your makeup to adhere to and provide a waterproof barrier so eye shadows do not fade or crease.
2. Glitter falls everywhere - The key to applying glitter is in the glue.  When using with an applicator, apply the glitter glue to the area where you want the glitter to stick.  Think about the shape you are trying to achieve before applying the glitter.  Planning on what you want the finished look to be is the key.  Always dip your brush into the glitter and then PAT onto the eye.  If you rub, the glitter will fall everywhere.  You can hold a tissue under the eye to catch any fallout.  The other alternative is to apply the glitter wet for a no-fall-out application.  To apply glitter wet, you need to purchase a special formula glitter adhesive that you dip your brush into to wet the glitter.  Most people do not even realize they can apply glitter wet just like a cream eye shadow.
3. Lipstick transfer - I hear the same complaint at every venue I travel to, "I want a lipstick that does not come off on our uniform."  This is a difficult problem to solve since lipsticks and lip glosses are typically manufactured with moisturizing ingredients and heavy creamy pigments.  These ingredients are oils and waxes which feel glossy on the lips. Avoid Lip Sticks and Lip Glosses as they do not adhere well to lips.  Lip Paints are manufactured with ingredients that dry the pigments onto the lips.  In both cases, there are heavy pigments in each product almost making it impossible to eliminate the transfer of pigment onto clothing or skin.  The secret to applying Lip Paints is to apply light even coats letting each coat completely dry between applications. Do not apply like a lip gloss, this will leave heavy pigment and excessive dryness on the lips.  After you reach the desired color, blot the lips with a tissue to remove excess pigment before applying a gloss.  For a true lip stain, you can purchase a water-based formula that adds a stain to the lips without heavy pigments or glosses.  The stain soaks into the lips and adds a hint of color.  The pigment is much lighter with a lip stain but there will be much less of a risk to transfer a lip stain once it absorbs completely into the lips.  You can layer the stain until you achieve the desired color, blot, and apply a gloss just like the lip paint.  For further protection, use a Pretty Girl Cosmetics Lip Seal.
4. The color does not match the uniform - There seems to be a quest to find the perfect matching color for the team uniform.  Sometimes, finding that perfect match seems impossible.  Going with a lighter or darker shade is perfectly acceptable and often is a great contrast to the team uniform.  Another solution is to choose a classic look like a smokey eye in neutral colors.
5. Everyone on the team looks different - The biggest complaint I have heard over the last few months is that the parents all apply the products differently and inconsistently.  The best way to avoid makeup mayhem is to do a trial run with the girls and team parents.  Find that team parent who can apply the makeup exactly the way you want to and have a tutorial at the gym before competition day.  Another option is to contact your makeup provider and have them do a video tutorial for you.