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Have you ever been impressed by the makeup in a movie?


Have you ever been impressed by the makeup in a movie? What movie?

I really liked the makeup in Alice in Wonderland (the version with Johnny Depp)!

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Jamie Lynn Avatar

Burlesque, Burlesque a million times.  I’m still dying to find a pinky highlight just like Christina has in that movie which doesn’t look like it sits on the surface but is actually emitting light FROM the skin itself.

xamyx Avatar

The top honor would have to go to Moulin Rouge, not only Nicole Kidman, but the ensemble characters, as well. Also, the movie Bent, in the Cabaret scenes (also an *amazing* film). Of course, I have to give a nod to David Bowie in Labyrinth.

BrunaValois Avatar

Christineeee! What about Marie Antoinette? Well obviously they’re very theatrical looks, but you can get some good ideias and tone them down for “normal” life lol… 

NicoleMarion Avatar

Not a movie, but I always love the makeup in Pretty Little Liars. There’s an array of styles, among a varied age range, which makes for great inspiration.But in terms of movies, I loved Audrey Hepburn’s makeup in How To Steal a Million. And in Adam West’s Batman, the makeup that Catwoman wore as Miss Kitka wore (especially her orange lips!) always stuck out to me.

meitai333777 Avatar

Definitely!  Fave makeup looks include —Mila Kunis in Friends with Benefits-The Fifth Element-Charlize Theron in Snow White & the Hunter and in Hancock-the Sirens in TRON -Natalie Portman in the strip club scenes in Closer

Dominique33 Avatar

Oh yes ! Catherine Deneuve in ” Le dernier métro ” is beautiful, classy makeup ! So is Emmanuelle Béart in ” l’Enfer ” or even ” les Egarés “. I love Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind, very pretty makeup or makeups in David Lynch’s movies. Tim Burton’s characters are typically bipolar ( like him ! ), curiously enough it’s not what I prefer in makeup. I love Marlene Dietrich or Hitchcock’s characters, as for men the Joker is impressive, Star Wars makeups too. Blade Runner is my favourite, beautifully melancolic makeups in this great movie. I also love romantic makeups, in Bright Star for example. It’s pure and beaitiful.

18thCenturyFox Avatar

We have very similar taste;) I think Béart in Manon was one of my first “wow” moments re: beauty, and clearly her makeup was minimal in that.

coldvault Avatar

All the time, particularly by FX makeup. It’s really easy to mess up that kind of stuff, so when it’s pulled off–WOW. I’m blown away by great prosthetics. Of course, “normal” makeup is often breathtaking as well and gives me inspiration for my own makeup!

Dea Avatar

Every time a human is turned into a vampire in the Vampire Diaries, the make up of the character changes and I like how they look darker, more mysterious and sexier afterwards. I mean, this does not really impress me, but I think it’s a good example of how a little make up can change the whole appearance of a person.

Pia Avatar

This question interests me because I am compelled to watch The Holiday, with Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslett, every time it’s on not only because I like the movie itself but also because I just love the makeup on these two women in it!  Nothing as obvious as the artistry in Alice in Wonderland but they just glowed.  I am not aware of makeup in any other movie otherwise unless it’s a significant part of it as in AiW.

SpiceDropBlog Avatar

Oh yes that actually one of the things I always check out in movies. The hunger games had great makeup, but my favorite screen makeup is for the Ten Commandments, its sooo bad.

Liz9969 Avatar

All the time.  I love vintage makeup and love to pay close attention to the makeup in old films.  I especially love looking at the makeup in Marilyn Monroe films.  That girl (and her MUA) knew how to highlight! 

Ani_BEE Avatar

A lot of work went into the make up for that movie. Mad Hatter suffering from mercury poisoning is what they did with him with the texture skin/colours and “paleness”. lolThe Red Queen Helena Bonham Carter is wearing a prosthetic forehead that covers her eye brow as well. I found this out when doing research for making the costume. Needless to say I stuck with the just the face paint for now and masking my eyebrows out. Sad costume. http://www.cosplay.com/costume/339288/

Ani_BEE Avatar

A
lot of work went into the make up for that movie. Mad Hatter suffering from
mercury poisoning is what they did with him with the texture skin/colours and
“paleness”. lol

The
Red Queen Helena Bonham Carter is wearing a prosthetic forehead that covers her
eye brow as well. I found this out when doing research for making the costume.
Needless to say I stuck with the just the face paint for now and masking my
eyebrows out.

Said
costume. http://www.cosplay.com/costume/339288/The Hunger Games was another one. It was beaten up by fashion critics but the carnival chic feel the the Capital was spot one. Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) looks was so fun to break down the makeup for on my blog.

Ani_BEE Avatar

Christine-Temptalia I still have to modify it as the bodice doesn’t fit as snugly as I wanted but not bad for my first time having to draft one (as the pattern was no help with proportions). ^_^

xamyx Avatar

Everything is *beautiful*! I read your comment about not getting your brows perfectly flat (although I didn’t notice), but have you tried making eyebrow covers from liquid latex?

18thCenturyFox Avatar

Yes! All these years later and I still adore the MU in Blade Runner ( I almost typed Blazing Saddles lol) I think that despite the fact that the 80’s was not a very cosmetically pleasing decade (only my opinion) this was done so wonderfully. Shawn Young still takes my breath away when I see her in that film. I also have to add a Tim Burton film/s- ok Sleepy Hollow and Dark Shadows.Wait! Audrey Hepburn in Charade, Kim Novak in Vertigo, Tippi Hedren in Marnie.. That’s it for now.

SarahAsher Avatar

I was impressed by Anne Hathaway’s red lips as Catwoman! I know the tricks to make lipstick pretty resilient, but ain’t got NOTHIN’ on her!

ccdouglass Avatar

When the movie “Ghost World” came out, I was in love with all of the unique colors of lipstick that Thora Birch wore throughout the film.  I even tried to find out what brands/shades they were, but with no luck.  I would still love to know, if anyone happens to have that info! 

lilly04 Avatar

The first movie make up which impressed me so much was Mab (Miranda Richardson) in the Movie Merlin. I love the glow on her skin, the eyes, perfektly for halloween. 🙂 I never found out how i can make such a glow. The next was Christina Aguilera in burlesque. How easy she draw this gorgeus fat eyeliner line. I want to do it on the same way, still trying, till today. 🙂 I really love her make up in this movie and her shoes. The next Angelina Jolie in the Tourist, awesome. But she ist always awesome.

Kristabelle Avatar

Oh, i annoy the crap out of my friends and family because I am always blabbering on about the makeup in movies and on tv. I loved the minimal ‘natural’ makeup on Christina Aguilera in Burlesque…not that I don’t love her usual bolder look, but I never realized just how pretty she is until that movie. It was the perfect ‘no makeup’ look. I also really liked Mila Kunis’ look in Friends With Benefits, all the makeup in Black Swan…oh, I could go on forever.The last I remember being impressed with was on the tv show Once Upon  A Time…towards the beginning, when Red was still wearing skimpy clothes, she had a really gorgeous makeup look…a pinky pinup eye with super sharp angled liner and bright red lips. It was perfectly done and looked soo good on her. I tried to do my own version but I suck at doing that sharp pointed liner shape in the inner tear duct.

TrippyPixie93 Avatar

The first time I really noticed makeup in a movie was in 2005’s “Pride and Prejudice” (the one with Keira Knightley). There’s a scene towards the end of the movie where the main character Elizabeth is walking outside at dawn, and she has a slightly smokey eye that I love. Also, another time I began to notice makeup was in “Sweeney Todd”. I really liked Johnny Depp’s makeup there.

Patricia Johnson Avatar

When I was a teen I loved anything with heavy black eyes… The Crow… Legend (Mia Sara when she is enchanted) and Queen Mab in Merlin. At the time I didn’t understand the layering involved, but I got really good with black liquid liner. Once in a while I still rock those looks… and scare the crap out of my 7 year old. Great topic

Chrissie Moreira Avatar

The makeup from the movie Burlesque ….so rare to find good makeup tutorials for that..the makeup they wore is just awesomeness

Morgan P Avatar

Too many to count… Well, not that it’s a movie, but I grew up with that first wave of MTV and still think that Robert Palmer girls are incredibly chic. :DThe makeup in Alice in Wonderland, Black Swan, and Blade Runner were all AMAZING, agree! I’d add:1. Patricia Velasquez in the Mummy – ZOMG2. The elves (Liv Tyler and Cate Blanchett) in the Lord of the Rings movies. They looked completely ethereal.3. All of the makeup in the Cell. I’m not a huge Jennifer Lopez fan but daaaaaaaamn. And the scary stuff they did to Vincent D’Onofrio.

Aelita Avatar

Morgan P  agree! esp. Bladerunner-looove the raccoon make-up  of Daryl Hannah and Sean youngthe elves-here +1 too:) and I like the makeup in the 5th Element, Milla Jovovich-love her in this movie, hair and makeup are just so much fun

wwendalynne Avatar

So many times I am itching to know the products used in movies, but the last one that really drove me nuts for wanting was Angelina Jolie’s whole look in the movie Changeling.  I didn’t particularly care for her performance in the movie which seemed to be a series of lines delivered in a screeching voice.  I had to turn the sound down on the movie because her voice was grating on me..seriously!  But her makeup sure rocked my world.

xamyx Avatar

I bought that DVD awhile ago, but I haven’t watched it yet, but from what I’ve seen in promos & trailers, I love the whole look. Now I’m apprehensive about watching it, LOL. It’s actually a very interesting story, so I’ll take my chances, at least I’ve been warned!

wwendalynne Avatar

xamyx The fashions and the makeup make it a worthwhile journey 🙂   We used to go to Blockbuster (now out of business) and scoop up their previously viewed DVD’s for a fraction of the price, so I at least didn’t feel ripped off  LoL

GlowMyWay Avatar

Yes, but what really fascinates me is good “injury” makeup. LOL, maybe there’s something wrong with me, but it started because I watch a lot of British TV and a few years ago I started noticing they are generally much better than Hollywood at making realistic injuries – bruises, scrapes, swellings, they all look as weird and gory as they look in real life. Combined with an actor who acts like they’ve got stiff and tender spots, it just blows my mind how real it seems.I do enjoy makeup like in sci-fi and fantasy movies, too. I also like makeup that actually looks like the character put it on herself. It bugs me when every female character in a show/movie has professional looking makeup, and these are supposed to be average people.

doroffee Avatar

Almost all Tim Burton movies that I’ve seen. Sweeney Todd (oh.my,god.), Edward Scissorhands and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for example… oh, and Sleepy Hollow, too!

arachnophobia Avatar

I don’t really pay much attention to makeup in movies/television unless it’s particularly bad xD Meaning, so bad that even <i>I</i> notice it.However, I just watched Captain America for the first time a couple days ago, and I will not rest until I know what lipstick Peggy Carter was rocking in it. Not even joking. >.>

L281173 Avatar

Yes.  I was impressed by Aaliyah makeup look in the film “Romeo must Die”.  I loved of the the actresses makeup such as Whitney Houston’s, Angela Bassett, and Lela Rochon in “Waiting to Exhale”.  I loved the makeup job of Beyonce in ‘Cadillac Records’.

ms Avatar

whenever i see some1 wearing a fab red lipstick, i wanna find out what it is.  like some1 mentioned anne hathaway’s red lipstick in tdkr.  any recommendations Christine?

Joni Avatar

Super super old, but the last movie I saw that impressed me makeup-wise was The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.  It’s from 1920 so obviously you can’t see everything so well, but the way it’s used looks so cool and really adds to the film.  And the film adds to the makeup.

Echo Avatar

The Hunger Games. It wasn’t a perfect movie and I preferred the book, but the makeup for the citizens of the Capitol was fantastic. Effie’s looks were absolutely brilliant.Snow White and the Huntsman. A few people said the evil queen, and I agree, but I also loved Snow White’s makeup. I’m guessing they used a red lip stain to give Kristen Stewart that cherry-colored, just-bitten look, but whatever she wore, I want it. She looked so fresh-faced and pretty.Also agree with the new Alice in Wonderland movie. All the makeup is impressive, but I was really struck by the White Queen/Anne Hathaway’s look. That icy, pale Gothic look with the bold brows and lips…beautiful.

Amy Avatar

Totally agree with you! I would also throw in Black Swan, Marie Antoinette, and Dark Shadows! I’m also excited to see the makeup in the new Great Gatsby movie!

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