Makeup & Hygiene ProtocolEasyStagecraft Course · Tier 1B · Module 6 (Wardrobe & Makeup) · v1.0 · print and stick on the makeup-room wall

Why this is the rule that actually matters. Everything else in makeup is taste; hygiene is non-negotiable, because shared makeup spreads eye and skin infections through a cast in days. Conjunctivitis and cold sores travel on shared applicators. Print this, put it on the makeup-room wall, and brief it before show week — not during.

The four hygiene rules

Rule 1 · Never share eye or lip products Mascara, eyeliner, lip products are per-person, full stop. These carry the highest infection risk — conjunctivitis and cold sores travel on shared applicators. No exceptions, no "just this once."

Rule 2 · Individual kits or per-person allocation Each performer has their own eye and lip items. Shared base products (foundation, powder) are applied with disposable or sanitised applicators — never fingers-into-the-pot, never the same sponge across faces.

Rule 3 · Clean brushes Brushes are washed and sanitised between uses and between people. A brush kit and brush cleaner is a real budget line, not an optional extra. A dirty brush is a shared applicator with extra steps.

Rule 4 · Allergy checks before show week Ask the cast about sensitivities and latex allergies before show week, not during. Latex FX and some adhesives are common triggers. Record allergies on the cast sheet and flag them to the makeup crew.

The one-sentence version for the wall: Eye and lip products are personal. Base is shared only with a clean, disposable applicator. Brushes are washed between faces. Allergies are known before, not discovered during.

The three jobs makeup does (so you spec the right kit)

Job	What it's for	Cost shape
Base / corrective	Foundation and base so faces don't wash out under bright stage lighting. Stage lighting flattens and bleaches features; even a "no-makeup" look needs base to read from the house. This is the bulk of what a cast needs.	Highest volume — every cast member, every show
Character / aging	Shading, highlight, stipple and liner to age a teenager into a grandparent or sharpen a villain.	Skill-dependent but cheap in materials
Special FX	Bruises, blood, wounds, scars. A small kit of cream colours, fake blood and a bit of latex covers most school needs.	Show-specific — spec it to the script

Consumables run out — budget to replenish

Foundation, wipes, cotton buds, setting spray, fake blood, brush cleaner, disposable applicators — these are consumed, not kept. A kit specced "for the show" is gone by the second weekend. Budget makeup as base kit PLUS a replenishment line sized to the length of the run, and you won't be doing a chemist run on closing night.

Makeup-room setup checklist

This protocol printed and on the wall
Per-person eye/lip items labelled with each performer's name
Disposable applicators / fresh sponges stocked for shared base
Brush cleaner + a wash-and-dry spot for brushes between faces
Hand sanitiser at every station
Cast allergy list visible to the makeup crew
Sharps/bin and wipes for clean-down
Replenishment stock for the run (not just one show) — and a reorder route via the ESC Store
Good, even mirror lighting (so makeup is applied to read under stage light, not room light)

Before / between / after — the routine

Before each show: sanitise stations, lay out per-person kits, fresh applicators out, brushes confirmed clean.
Between performers: wash/sanitise any brush that touched a face; new disposable applicator for shared base.
After the run: bin disposables and anything eye/lip that's been opened; deep-clean and store reusable brushes; note what to reorder before next show.