LIPS

Lips have to be a “true red.” No trendy orangey reds, please. And the ladies all named MAC Red as their number one pick. The most important thing? It cannot budge, because, as one of them said, “We are basically smiling for 90 minutes straight.” (Not to mention the Santa beards they have to put on for a number.)

Moisture was also a big deal for them–none use the common makeup artist trick of powdering lips to keep the lipstick in place. Lip liner is a must, and they’ve also been trying out MAC’s Pro Longwear Lipcolour in Lasting Lust, a two-sided lip product that features a lipstick topped by a shiny gloss/sealer that makes the color stay put. Each Rockette goes through two full tubes of lipstick per season.

Rockette tip: Always put on your lipstick before your blush. It gives you a sense of how bright your face looks, so you don’t overdo it on blush. If you put blush first there’s a tendency to really slather it on because your face looks so colorless at that point.