Cheer Competition Makeup Made Easy for Busy Moms

Danielle Deblasio
Sep 28
2 min read

As a cheer mom, competition weekends are some of the most exciting—and chaotic—times of the season. Between packing uniforms, organizing travel bags, making sure the hair is perfect, and keeping your athlete fueled, the last thing you need is makeup stress. Cheer makeup should enhance performance, last all day, and bring that extra sparkle without causing a meltdown at 6 a.m.

Here’s my go-to guide for creating a polished, competition-ready makeup look that’s quick, easy, and stress-free—plus some tried-and-true products that help us get it right every time.

1. Start with the Hair

Before diving into makeup, I always start with the hair. A hair wax stick is essential for smoothing flyaways and keeping buns and ponytails sleek all day. It’s quick, mess-free, and saves me from having to redo hair halfway through the competition.

2. Add the Sparkle

Let’s be real—cheerleading isn’t complete without a little glitter! There are a few different options depending on how much dazzle your team prefers:

Glitter spray or this alternative spray for an all-over shimmer that catches the lights beautifully.
Glitter face paint for those fun accents on cheeks and under the eyes.
For the bold (or unicorn-loving teams), Unicorn Snot body glitter is a favorite. It’s easy to apply and gives that wow-factor without falling off halfway through the day.

3. Eyes That Pop

When it comes to eye makeup, you want something that’s noticeable from the mat, but not so complicated that it eats up your morning. A smoky eye shadow palette is perfect because it has all the shades you need in one place. I usually stick to bold but blendable colors so they stand out under the competition lights.

4. Lips That Last

The last thing you want is your athlete’s lip color rubbing off after the first routine. That’s where stains come in:

Maybelline lip stain gives a pretty, long-lasting pop of color.
For a fun option, try a peel-off lip stain—it goes on bold and really stays put through long days.

5. Lock It All In

After all the effort, don’t forget the most important step: setting it! A few sprays of setting spray will keep everything in place—no smudges, no re-dos, just confident smiles and sparkling faces.

Final Thoughts

Cheer competitions are already busy enough, so the last thing moms need is makeup drama. With the right products, you can create a look that’s bold, fun, and stress-free. These picks have saved me more than once, and they’ll help your cheerleader shine without adding more to your already full plate.

Less stress for mom. More sparkle for the athlete. That’s a win-win!

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