Makeup Lowdown: "The Black Swan"

When it comes to Halloween, I don't mess around. Why do I get so excited for this ghoulish holiday even though I cannot sit through five minutes of a horror flick? For one, it allows you to be somebody else for one night (or in my case, three nights in a row this year) and it makes striking up a conversation at a party a bit easier. I normally do not opt for makeup-inspired costume ideas but after being introduced to the yet-to-be-released film by a client, "The Black Swan" character seemed like the perfect choice. (Especially after the idea of making a giant sock monkey costume wasn't appealing anymore!) The movie stars the gorgeous and talented Natalie Portman and is directed by Darren Aronofsk and should be coming to a theater near you this December. Here is how I achieved the look:

 

The Makeup:

1. Prep the skin with proper moisturizers and primers.
2. Using Bobbi Brown's waterproof gel liner in Black Ink (my favorite liners), follow the eye outline shape as seen in the above face charts with a fine liner brush. Create thin "wave" shapes inside the basic outline.
3. Fill in the empty waves with a bright silver shadow- I used Yaby pearl paint shadow in Platinum with a fine tipped wet brush.  If you want a more intense look- I would suggest filling it in with Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner in Glam Rock from Urban Decay.
4. Repeat the black gel liner over the "wave" lines if necessary. Clean up any errors with a cotton swab dipped in eye makeup remover (I love Victoria's Secret Oil Makeup Remover). Set the entire eye makeup with a translucent loose powder so it does not smudge.
5. Line the inner rim of your eye with a white eye pencil, try Stila's Kajal Eye Liner in Pearl.
6. Add some drama by applying thick false lashes to your lashline using a waterproof black adhesive glue from Duo.
7. Use concealer on any blemishes and visible under eye circles.  I opted not to do the pale "swan" skin but if you do, I suggest sponge application of the white cream foundation from Ben Nye and remember to take it down to any visible skin.
8. Contour your cheekbones with an even mix of brown and black eyeshadows applied with a blush brush.
9. Fill the entire lips with a dark burgundy lip pencil (Stila's Countour #23), then a similar shade lipstick on top.  Finally, dab a black gel cream (Sephora Collection) to deepen the look as far as you want to go. 
10. Take a brush and add vertical stripes of the black waterproof gel liner and white eye liner to your wrists/hands.

The Outfit:

• Black tutu and pale pink tights, The Leotard store.
• Crown and ring from the toy section, spray painted gunmetal.
• Black lace tube top, Express.
• Shoes, DKNYC "Teela" (not shown)
• Fur shawl from BCBG (not shown)

 Hope you enjoyed "The Black Swan" Makeup Tutorial; feel free to let me know what you would like to see on my blog and I will try to make it happen. Special thanks to all who took the time to contribute to this post!

PHOTOGRAPHY: Ethan Huynh
PHOTO EDITING: Dior Baumjohann

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