I downloaded this in 2004. I have no idea who posted it originally, and I stake no claim to it in any way. I also have never tried the technique since I have light colored hair. If it helps one or more of you, that's my whole reason for posting it.

beard cover recipe

Here's the formula. You begin with Max Factor PanStik, Theatrical
Grade #11-N or #10-N. This is a lighter-than-greasepaint, grease-
based makeup. Comes in a handy stick applicator. Is available at
almost any Theatrical Supply House (See your Yellow Pages). No need
to have any qualms about buying it as John or Charlie, as the stuff
is very widely used by any and all amateur theater groups; models,
male or female… almost anyone who appears in a television commercial.
This stuff is very dark. A deep reddish tan color. And it stands to
reason that if you want to cover up something that's dark… you can
cover it with a far thinner layer of dark makeup than you could if
you use light shades. Besides, it won't be that color when we finish,
so don't worry.

Now, every makeup job, regardless of how simple or outlandish the
formula, seems to begin with an ultra-close shave. This one is no
exception. Shave with a razor. Not an electric mowing machine. I find
that Gillette Platinum Plus works best. Other kids I know prefer the
single-edged Schick razors. But shave at least twice. Once in the
direction you usually shave. The second time completely against the
way you usually shave. Apply shave lotion (bay rum doesn't conflict
with most women's perfumes, but if you really like the mixture of
Brut and Channel #5… be my guest). Let the alcohol dry. Now apply
streaks of PanStik 11-N (or 10) directly over the beard areas. Along
jaw lines. Under chin. On chin. On upper lip, etc. Next step requires
the skill. Blend the stuff into your pores AGAINST the beard grain
until your face is uniformly covered from sideburns to below your
dress neckline (don't do it with the dress on, for Pete's sake!). At
this point, your lower face should look a little like Tonto — heap
big Injun.

In fact, 11-N is often called Indian Makeup in the theater. There
shouldn't be too much of it in thickness. And one of the skills you
should develop as you use this technique over and over again, is to
see how little you can use to cover. But, most important, rub the
damned stuff against the grain of the beard. Below your sideburns,
for example, rub up toward the sideburns as most people normally
shave downward at that area and the hairs have been trained to grow
downward.

Now take a second color of Max Factor PanStik. This one should be
approximately olive color. You can ask for an Olive color at the same
Theatrical House where you bought the 11-N… or go to a Ladies
Cosmetic Department that handles PanStik (it's the same stuff but in
more limited colors and under fancy femme-names) and ask for Olive or
some form of it. This one is lighter than the 11-N. Streak it across
the forehead, eye areas, down sides of nose if you have a prominent
nose (me part Senaca Injun, anyhow, and seem to have the largest
schnozz since Durante) and across cheek bones. Again, blend carefully
to cover with the least possible grease and blend extra carefully at
the points where the light stuff and the dark 11-N overlap — and
overlap they should. Another little sidelight here.

A light color brings OUT a facial feature. A dark color tames it. If
you have a big nose… put 11-N down the bridge and the Olive on both
sides to make it look smaller. Male jawlines take a dark color almost
exclusively. And, since the males who seem to make up best as girls
are those of us who are a little (or more than a little) plump,
chances are you have a heavy chin anyhow so the dark 11-N belongs
there, too. As for other areas of the face… eye sockets, cheeks,
etc., you'll have to experiment a little. BUT much of the color
contrast between the two shades will now go by the board anyway.

The next step is the one that makes you look natural. Right at
present, a two tone Tonto is looking at you in the mirror. We're
going to turn that into a good looking, smooth skinned girl for about
45 cents, for a year's supply of magic. Next ingredients is simple,
Plain Red grease-based rouge. The key is grease-based. Available in
most Five-And-Dimes, or at the same theatrical makeup supply house.
It usually comes in a small plastic container the size of a half-
dollar. Very gingerly, pat your fingertips in the bloody stuff and
BLEND it into the facial makeup all over — not just on the cheeks —
all over. Your face will magically begin to lighten and take on the
rosy hue of natural flesh… destroying the made-up look.

You see, all makeups made for females tend to look mask-like and pale
on a man… even if he has selected the right one for his skin
color, .. which, unless your name Chief Flying Cloud, you did not
anyway. Applied properly, you'll look like a very smooth-faced,
slightly high bloodpressured female with an oily complexion at this
point.

Last step is to get rid of the greasy look (and some of the red-faced
look.) That requires plenty of facepowder. Slap it on heavily with a
powderpuff. The best color, I've discovered is Rachel… also a common
enough color name. You can buy almost any brand, the cheaper, the
better. After you look like an accident in a flour factory, stroke
the excess off with the puff until you have a light matte finish and
streaks… no leftover light spots, and no heavy layer. That should
last you for the whole evening. If repairs are necessary, carry a
pressed powder compact of about Rachel shade in your handbag and
apply sparingly in the nearest Ladies Room, sparingly… or by the end
of the night you'll look like a poor plaster job on a ghetto wall.
Now, on to other things. First off, if you use artificial eyelashes,
apply BEFORE you begin this whole procedure and allow to dry.
Stick 'em on after shaving and go do your nails or something.

But, with this facial base, you can now apply mascara, eye liner, eye
shadow and brow color. Plus lipstick… and if you feel you must, a bit
of powdered blusher over the cheek bones.

A few hints here. Pastel colors look better on "us girls" as well as
being more in style. Throw away the bright red lipstick, also the
almost-white or beige colors. Unless, of course, you really want to
be approached at every bar you enter by a dirty old man. And, even if
you do you can get more, if you look virginal. (Also more $$$).
Enlarge your eyes with soft blue or brown eyeshadow. Somehow, the
powdered varieties seem to look better than liquids or grease based
ones. And, do not use eyeliner until you've done everything else to
your eyes that you're going to… it's the finishing touch. I find the
Maybelline cake (that you wet) to be the most controllable, and the
liquids in little bottles to be useful only for used-car touchup or
writing nasty graffiti on john walls.

There's one danger in all this. If you have the usual coarse-pored
male face, this preparation will cover it far more evenly than liquid
makeups like CoverGirl which tends to fill in the pores and rub off
the highs between — creating a cement-wall look. If you have a very
heavy pore structure,… almost an acne-scarred facial skin, it may not
work too well. I don't and haven't tried it on someone who does. It
may be even better… or terrible.

And one warning… it does tend to rub off on dress collars (also on
shirt collars if you have a boyfriend…) so be prepared for one
wearing out of a high collared white blouse… maybe two out of a
pastel dress… but a simple dry-cleaning takes care of all.

How do you get out of what I got you into? Simple. Buy the biggest,
cheapest jar of cold cream you can get. The more you can buy for your
money, the better it will work. Grab a big gob and smear all over
your face. Literally wash your face in the goo until you're covered
with tan grease. Wipe off with a ton of paper towels. Take a smaller
gob and repeat the treatment. Then wash well with soap and water
(mainly to remove the perfumed odor and keep your secret from your
wife). If there's no secret to be kept, allow the residue to remain
as it's quite good for your skin anyhow.

Good luck. And let me know how it works. I believe that the same
combination of dark and light can be used for those with far lighter
beards than mine (I'm the Original Great American Wooly-Bear)… using
much lighter tones of PanStik than 11-N… but for difficult-to-cover
beards, it's a good way to go.

FROM CATHY: For myself, I use Cover Girl Soft Honey (TM) 755 for a base foundation, with Cover Girl Transluscent Honey (TM) 720 for a powder. They are both available at any drugstore for around 7-8 bucks each. I have a very light beard, but I DO shave VERY closely in both directions before applying any of my makeup, an I also use a clarifying liquid after washing and before shaving. Trust me...you DONT want to try the clarifying stuff AFTER shaving unless you are fond of pain.

Anyway, I hope this helps some of you who are blessed/cursed with a heavy dark beard.

Hugs and love,
Cathy