Thursday, January 21, 2010

Makeup in the dressage ring: Part 1

Years ago, at an ESCDTA horse show, I watched a woman perform an upper level test in what could have passed for stage or theater makeup -- my mom's comment would have been "It looks like she applied it with a spatula."

It's a subjective sport
Dressage, like figure skating, falls somewhere in between the camps of sport and performance. I can see some makeup, and I personally am a fan of show ring bling. Perhaps what is needed is a What Not to Wear for dressage. There actually ARE dressage cosmetic companies, one called Piaffe (see right), and one called Dermspa. It's expensive but I applaud their tasteful colors and their promotion of a natural look. If you don't want to spend that much, I've heard one dressage rider recommend Revlon Colorstay Light, a sweat-proof light foundation with sunscreen.


My opinion, if anyone cares

My What Not to Wear list for dressage ring makeup is generally to look natural, which means...

  • No dark lipstick.
  • No bright colors.
  • No heavy eye-liner.
  • No pancakey, heavy foundation.
  • No fake eyelashes.
There is a dressage makeup, Part II. Hold on to your hats...


21 comments:

  1. Now who would know that there is an actual way to put make-up on for dressage??? Not me, but I am not a horsewoman or anything like that. Very interesting to learn that today.

    On another note--I hate the Olympic coverage and how they always choose to ignore events like dressage. I thoroughly enjoyed watching and learning about it when they yanked it for something else. UGH!

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  2. Sunscreen is essential. Otherwise? Sometimes I wore a little makeup and other times, not.

    I'm not showing much now, so I hadn't thought about it. I always thought neat tidy and as polished as possible for horse and rider was all I really needed.

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  3. Yes the old lady Dressage Queens with shocking fuschia lipstick has GOT TO GO!

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  4. I had no idea. I never wear makeup. I've always been indifferent to it, so maybe I don't get it, but why bother in the show ring? Is anyone looking that much at your face?

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  5. I've spectated at all-Arabian shows where they get to play with color (western pleasure, saddle seat) and costume ("native" ala Hollywood). Most of the women I observed wore "stage makeup." That is...makeup that does not appear overdone from the typical distances within a large arena.

    Then one day at a hunter/jumper show I overheard a group of teenage girls making fun of the makeup worn by participants in western pleasure competitions. And it struck me that, at least the western riders didn't look pale and pasty when riding in the arena.

    Given the the spit and polish turnout required at the top levels of showing horses, it doesn't seem unreasonable to include a little makeup for the rider. Especially after lavishing show sheen, hoof polish, baby oil, and talcum powder on the horse!

    Operatic makeup? No. Melting makeup? Eeeuw. Just enough makeup to cover our fearful white faces as we enter the dressage arena and realize we've completely forgotten the test!

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  6. I can relate to the fearful white face Oregon! I think understated makeup, and stud earrings can enhance a performance -- for spectators, mostly. Me personally, I can't imagine having to think about "one more thing" to get me show ready. I'm lucky to arrive in the warmup ring reasonably clean and tidy.

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  7. Tasteful, quiet lipstick just helps to keep my lips from sealing shut I'm scared so spitless in the arena. Mascara merely ends up all over my cheekbones and foundation would drip off my nose. Yuk and double yuk. But I admire a gal who can wear it all with finesse and beauty!

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  8. Tasteful, quiet lipstick simply help keep my lips from sealing shut as I have been scared spitless as I enter the arena. Mascara invariably ends up smeared below my eyes. Foundation? That would drip off my nose with all the sweat. Yuk and double yuk! However, I greatly admire a gal who can wear it all with finesse and calm.

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  9. I've seen saddle seat, arabian and paso fino shows where people were dressed very theatrically with matching makeup. It's like ballroom dancing with horses. As for the teenage girls making fun, that's a major portion of a teenager's life. If it's not makeup it's something else.

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  10. a little touch of concealer, powder preferably with titanium dioxide - natural sunscreen, blush & waterproof mascara go a long way & keep it fresh

    I love face toner spritz on a busy day...you spray it on your face couple of times a day to refresh & moisturize your skin and prevent makeup from creasing...

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  11. I'm guessing Katie Price will make an appearance in part 2?

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  12. Oh how I agree. Loads of it looks really really bad. However, I do think that for some people it helps in the confidence department. If you look good you feel good and your confidence is improved - it all passes on to the horse. I reckon you can get away with just little toner/foundation and touch of eye shadow in earthy or muted colours - along with very definitely waterproof mascara.

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  13. Oh how I agree. Loads of it looks really really bad. However, I do think that for some people it helps in the confidence department. If you look good you feel good and your confidence is improved - it all passes on to the horse. I reckon you can get away with just little toner/foundation and touch of eye shadow in earthy or muted colours - along with very definitely waterproof mascara. Lost network mid comment - trust this isn't duplicated.

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  14. hahaha...I cannot wait to read the 2nd in this series. I am totally guilty of being a wearer of "dressage make-up"! I think you might have to wrestle the eye liner out of my hands to get me to not put it on before I enter at A!

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  15. I had no idea you could actually buy makeup marketed for horse people! Oh my gosh, what next? I can't wait to see what comes in Part 2!

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  16. Foundation and blush are optional, but I would not dream of leaving my home without eyeliner, mascara and lipstick on!! Believe me, I am doing everyone a favour! ;-)

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  17. Further proof that women spent the most money in the horse world.

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  18. Revon Colorstay foundation kicks butt for showing and horse events. So does their colorstay eyeliner! Foundation, eyeliner and mascara are a must for me so anything that is sweat and slobber proof has my vote. lol

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  19. The rule of thumb for me is... If you wear make up every day for work or whatever..then yes wear it to the show.I have a signature lipstick that I ALWAYS wear when showing. Its the old looking good and feeling confident adage for me

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  20. Has anyone seen the cover of the new SmartPak Smart Supplements catalog? The show jumper on the cover. . . well. . . she's a "Mimi."

    I am not at all girly and one of the things that attracted me to English riding as a little girl was the deep tradition. Navy coat, tan breeches, black coat. No makeup and maybe little gold earrings for jewelry. Guess what. That's still how I dress when I show.

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  21. I ditto what Wolfie wrote. I don't think I resemble a Mimi, but I do wear quite a bit of eye makeup. This isn't just for showing, but everywhere I go. There are still some women that want to look glamorous and feminine.

    Natural beauty is a blessing, but there is nothing beautiful about being a plain jane. Not imo.

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