What should I get? What shouldn't I get?

1. In terms of Make-Up:
Get the good stuff. Urban decay, physicians formula, Kryolan, Stargazer...professional makeup! Don'trely on the stuff you get in your nearby Party City. They're meant fora one-time costume party or a talent show - not 10 hours of sweating,walking, talking, posing, flashes, hugs, kisses, tears, food...thesimple fact is that party store makeup doesn't cut it. Spend thoseextra bucks on loose powder (to reduce shine), waterproof eyeliner,professional, high-pigmented eyeshadow, foundation, fixer spray to keepit all on, etc, and practice well before hand to make sure you know/how/ to put it on. Get tips from the internet, a friend, your mother,etc.


2. A wig.
Unless you're being Duo Maxwell and you have long, brown hair, it's not necessary. But if you're planning to go as Axel, Yugi, Chii, etc, get a wig. Hairgel, hairspray, and dye can only do so much, and it takes hours of planning, practice, and executing. Get a wig either pre-styledor do it yourself,and put it on in the morning. If you have a hotel full of 10 eager cosplayers, you can't stay in the bathroom trying to get your gel to work while Mr. Vash wants to take a shower before throwing his coat on.It's more expensive sometimes, but it's worth it.


3. A wig CAP.
Okay, so you've slaved away and spent a ton of money on that awesomeSakura costume you've dreamed of having, and you finally got it, and you put it all together. You stick the pink wig on and you realize,damn! you can still see my black hair through the pink! This is a huge mistake that many cosplayers make. They stick their headful of hair under a wig, and after 20 minutes we start seeing the darker strands.By two hours, nearly all your hair has come out. Get a wig cap. They're cheap, effective, comfortable, and a life saver. They make your pink hair actually look like your real hair.


4. Don't get a satin costume.
They wrinkle, they pucker, they shine against a flash. Satin accents are all right, such as trim, ruffle, or a bow, but avoid a completely satin outfit. You may think you look fabulous as a satin-clad Sailor Moon, but once you see your picture on the internet in a sunny room with a flash, you'll see all the wrinkles or puckers (if you aren't blinded from the brightness firsthand) that weren't obvious in your hotel mirror. And trust me, after many hours, it will wrinkle.



5. Get shoes with some sort of platform.
Even if it's not apart of your character's costume, try to find a shoe with some sort of platform! Even one inch will help. Why? Because if you're walking with heels, you're going to walk with more force than you do while walking on flats. This force will go straight from the floor to the balls of your feet, and over time your feet will HURT! If you get a platform, one that's not too heavy and not too bulky, then the platform will actually absorb a lot of the shock and force that's sent to your feet at each step. It will keep your feet from hurting longer!


6. Get Dr. Scholl's!
If you're going to a convention all day, especially if you're going tobe in shoes you're not quite comfortable with, get some sort of insert!I like the massaging gels, and I notice a big difference when I'm going a day without one! They slip right into your foot, hardly take up any space, and help A LOT!