I like to wear makeup sometimes and when I play my flute, the area under my lip turns greyish or black. I've seen this happen to other girls who wear makeup too.... For me it seems to happen even more often if I wear mineral makeup. What causes this? Do you think it would happen if I were playing on a gold headjoint instead?

When this happens I am always playing on a solid silver headjoint.

that's why I don't wear makeup

Oh sure you don't! Hey, I want my lip gloss back that you borrowed from me!

Try not wearing makeup. It usually works.

flutistgurl26,

I believe your Mineral make up is acting as a polish and your skin as a polishing cloth. The make up is a fine powder and you are pushing, or brushing, or moving just slightly enough to be polishing your flute's lip plate. Switching to gold will not make much if any difference.

I might suggest you wipe your lip area clean before you play and then re-apply your make up to that spot after playing. The Mineral cases are pretty small so you can carry them with you. Put it in a zip lock bag in case it pops open.

It's a reaction from your makeup and the silver in your flute (or gold...). Kind of like if you place silver in the air for a while, it'll tarnish? Your chin is "tarnishing"

I just dont put makeup on my chin if I know I'm going to play. Sometimes if it's inevitable, I keep alcohol swabs with me and rub it on my chin before I play.

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It happens not only with mineral makeup, but with liquid foundation (or at least it does for me).

And it also happens after I clean my lip plate.

i don't find that if i wear make up, try either wiping it off or using a tinted moistureiser on your chin

its kinda normal to me it happens all the time!!

ive had that problem A LOT!!!!! and yes, when i dont wear makeup it doesnt happen. but its only if i dont wear like base and such. i can still wear eye makeup, no problem.

does that count if I wear a toupee?