How to Do Makeup for Dance, Cheer, and Gymnastics

In the worlds of competitive dance, cheer, and gymnastics, every detail counts. That’s why competition makeup is so important. It’s not just about looking good; it can also help boost your confidence, express your personality, and help you stand out. Plus, if you play a team sport, coordinating your makeup can help foster team unity.

Whether your spectators are cheering fans or a panel of judges, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about how to apply makeup for competition days. Keep scrolling for an impactful routine that can withstand the rigor of physical activity—and may even land you a winning score.

What Is Competition Makeup?

Competition makeup refers to a dramatic makeup look worn for an athletic competition, especially dance, cheer, and gymnastics. Also known as stage makeup, it involves using heavier, darker colors to help make your facial features more visible to cameras, judges, and distant audience members.

Unlike everyday makeup, which is typically subdued and natural-looking, performance makeup is meant to be bold, vibrant, and, often, slightly garish. This is necessary because lighter makeup can be easily washed out by bright arena lighting and is harder to see from a distance. Going bolder helps make you stand out and also ensures your expressiveness doesn’t go unnoticed—that megawatt smile will be much easier to spot if your lips are coated in a bright color.

Pronounced contouring, a flawless complexion, and the use of saturated, highly pigmented colors are all ways makeup can be used to strategically define your features. Appearance aside, another key element of competition makeup is that it must be long-lasting and sweat-proof to withstand hours of intense exertion.

8-Step Competition Makeup Routine

Whether you’re wearing your makeup for a sports event or need cheer competition makeup inspo, follow these steps for a durable look that can last through any activity.

Step 1. Prep your skin

Skin prep is essential for stage makeup to prevent products from clinging to dry patches and flaking off. Before getting started, thoroughly cleanse your skin and apply a hydrating moisturizer so that your makeup formulas have a smooth, even base to adhere to.

Step 2. Smooth on a primer

With skin prep out of the way, you’ll want to apply a primer to give your makeup maximum longevity. Matte makeup is typically best for performing since a dewier finish can start to look sweaty or unpolished after hours of physical activity. Use a mattifying primer like L’Oréal Paris Prime Lab Up to 24H Pore Minimizer to help instantly reduce excess shine and visibly rebalance skin over time.

Step 3. Apply your foundation

Similar to a matte primer, a matte foundation can help keep unwanted shine at bay. We recommend reaching for the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation to lay your base. This lightweight yet creamy foundation boasts a demi-matte finish that lasts up to 24 hours. Plus, it works like a charm to help hide imperfections and give you a smooth, clear-looking complexion.

Full-coverage foundation is also suitable for competition makeup, helping create a flawless, uniform look. We’re partial to the transfer-resistant L’Oréal Paris Infallible 32 Hour Lightweight Fresh Wear Foundation. This long-wearing, sweat-resistant formula has a breathable texture that can last up to 32 hours—so you’re free to dance, compete, or perform with less risk of sweating your foundation off.

Step 4. Contour your features

If you ask us, contouring is where the magic really happens: These expertly placed shadows can help sculpt your features so that they’re more prominent from a distance (or under stark, unflattering lighting). We often turn to L’Oréal Paris True Match Radiant Serum Concealer for all of our contouring needs. The multi-purpose concealer moonlights as a contouring formula while hydrating your skin like a serum.

Select a hue from the range that’s at least two shades darker than your foundation. You can also go deeper if you’d like since stage makeup is all about creating super bold looks. Sweep the applicator brush over the areas in which you want more definition. Popular spots include the hollows of the cheeks, the sides of the nose, the top of the forehead, the jawline, and the temples. Then, blend out the harsh lines with a makeup sponge, but don’t overdo it. Your contour should look like shadows and not be totally diffused into your foundation.

Step 5. Swipe on blush

A liquid blush, like the L’Oréal Paris Lumi Le Liquid Blush, is your best bet at keeping your complexion from looking washed out. The weightless formula offers a radiant pop of color and contains buildable pigments so that you can customize the brightness of your flush (making it great for both competition makeup and everyday looks). The range includes three dewy finishes and three glowy finishes. We advise opting for the latter so that your skin appears flushed but not sweaty.

Simply dot color on your cheeks using the doe foot applicator, then gently blend with your fingertips. Don’t be afraid to add more as needed—the lightweight formula is meant to be layered and blended. And really, on a competition day, you can’t have too much blush.

Step 6. Define your eyes

Choose highly pigmented eyeshadows in bold colors that complement your overall look and costume or uniform. Consider using a combination of shades to create depth and dimension so that your eyes are clearly visible to your audience. Saturated, glittery shadows are ideal for adding some glam to cheer, gymnastics, or dance competition makeup looks. The L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Monos Eyeshadow in Grand Bleu, Teal Couture, and Violet Beaute are just a few of our dark, shimmery go-tos. Sweep them all over your lids, or use one to create a cut crease.

Matte shadows, on the other hand, are suitable for creating a dramatic yet natural makeup look for sports. Pick up the L’Oréal Paris Paradise Le Shadow Stick Eyeshadow in Brown Abyss or Brown Bliss and use it to line your upper and lower eyelids. Go over each area a few times until you’ve reached your desired level of richness.

Of course, you’ll need a good waterproof mascara to top off your eye look and ward off the dreaded panda eye look. Among our favorite smudge-proof formulas is the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise™ Waterproof Mascara, which helps add breathtaking volume and length to your lashes in just a few swipes.

Step 7. Play up your lips

One of the golden rules in makeup is to play up one feature at a time—namely, your lips or your eyes. However, all rules go out the window for stage makeup. In this instance, you want all of your features to be front and center. Pair bold eyes with a red lip to draw attention to your face in the very best way.

Emphasize your pout with the help of the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Matte Resistance Liquid Lipstick in Le Rouge Paris or French Kiss. These powdery matte lipsticks provide vivid color in a single swipe and last for up to 16 hours without transferring or smudging. Plus, they feel hydrating on the lips for all-day comfort while competing.

Step 8. Set your look

Neglecting to set your look is a surefire way to knock a few points off your competition makeup’s score. Setting spray and setting powder are both great options for ensuring the longevity of your look, but we especially love a spray since it’s often easier to pack and reapply. Our L’Oréal Paris Infallible 3-Second Setting Mist With Microfine, up to 36H wear helps extend makeup wear for up to 36 hours and is sweat and smudge-resistant. Spray it in an “X” and “T” motion as the last step in your performance makeup routine so that your look lasts all day.

Makeup for Competition: Tips for Creating a Long-Lasting Look

Now that you know how to make a statement with your competition makeup, here are a few more application tips to keep in mind before going for the gold:

Use waterproof and sweat-proof products

Opt for waterproof and sweat-proof formulas, especially mascara and foundation, to help prevent your makeup from melting, smudging, or flaking off. Check out our guide, How To Remove Waterproof Mascara and Other Waterproof Makeup, to learn how to gently remove your waterproof formulas at the end of the day.

Don’t be afraid to use a heavier hand than normal

Stage lights, cameras, and being watched from a distance can wash out your features and make you appear disengaged from your audience. Applying more makeup than you usually would helps ensure your features are defined and visible to your audience, which is key for fostering a sense of connection.

Priming and setting are essential

Competitions often involve spending hours under hot stage lights or outside in the heat and sun. Priming your face helps create a long-lasting base for your makeup to adhere to, and setting it with a spray or powder helps lock everything in place. These steps are vital for keeping your stage makeup intact throughout your competition and reducing the need for touch-ups. Not to mention, they’re your best defense for controlling grease, sweat, and oil, so the only thing that shines on stage is you.

Next Up: Our 9 Best Waterproof Mascaras That Don’t Smudge or Budge