Break out of that Halloween beauty rut and go for a bold new look this fright night. Pop Art is already a craze in the makeup world – with a few clever tricks this look sees faces morphed into mind boggling 3D cartoon characters, complete with their characteristic dotted skin, exaggerated features and shocked expressions. Once you’ve purchased the right products (a colourful face paint palette is pretty much all you need) it’s easy to pull off. We sat down with professional makeup artist Alice Howlett to talk us through how to do a pro looking DIY job at home…
By Rebecca Hoffnung
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1 Stage 1: pop art up your everyday 'face'
Start by applying your foundation as usual, then with a fine brush, use your black face paint to draw in your eyebrows, making sure you go just outside of your natural shape. ‘Add two curved points to the top inside corner of each brow,’ explains Alice, ‘and a small accent just outside of each one – this will give the effect of the classic Liechtenstein worried expression.’ Next, style your hair into a neat side parting, and draw a black line around your hairline finishing at your ear. ‘This will add a cartoonish definition to your face, and help make your features pop’ explains Alice.
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2 Stage 2: exaggerate your eyes
The next stage in your routine is to brush a layer of light blue paint across your eyelids. Gently blend it in and let it dry, and then start drawing on exaggerated eyeliner and lower lashes. ‘The beauty of this technique is not to worry about being too precise’ explains Alice; ‘go with the flow and know that it’s supposed to look overdone.’ Next, apply false lashes to emphasise the Pop Art effect. Once complete, apply a lipstick of your choice of either bright red or bubblegum pink.
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3 Stage 3: contour with black
Step 3 is when your look will really start to come alive. Using your fine brush and black paint, draw thin lines under your cheekbones, across the tip of your nose, the crease of your chin, eyelids, the hollows of your neck and collarbone and the outline of your lips. ‘Again, don't worry about being too precise, the style of the look is freehand so it doesn't have to look too exact,’ explains Alice.
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4 Stage 4: highlight with white
The next stage is to add a few dabs of highlight to your face, to really help enhance the features of the look. To do this, simply use white paint and another thin brush to create a highlight effect – two dabs on your lower lip, the outer brow bone and the inside corners of your eyes should be enough. You can also repeat the curved line of your cheekbone.
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5 Stage 5: add dots and a soft wave to finish
To finish off this striking look, add some red dots to one cheek to give the Pop Art blush effect and add 3 small black lines to your forehead and beneath your eye to enhance the cartoon look of the makeup. ‘Remember, the style is totally open to interpretation so don’t be afraid to get creative with it,’ explains Alice; ‘I found looking through Roy Lichtenstein’s art for inspiration was a great place to start.’ And don’t be intimidated by how complicated it looks – it’s not too hard if you follow these steps and take your time. Once complete, a soft wave in your hair is the best style for this look, and once you’ve drawn in the black outline of your hairline it will really start to pop, no matter what your hair colour or length!
If you want the look but can’t be bothered with the DIY, why not put yourself in the hands of the experts?
FAQs
How do you create a Pop Art makeup look at home?
Start by applying your usual foundation, then use a fine brush with black face paint to outline eyebrows, add a cartoonish hairline, and draw accent lines. Continue with blue eye paint, exaggerated eyeliner, false lashes, bright lipstick, black contouring lines, white highlights, and finish with red dots and a soft wave in your hair. The effect mimics 3D cartoon characters and is easily achieved with a colourful face paint palette.
What products do you need for Pop Art face makeup?
You’ll mainly need a colourful face paint palette, which covers most of the look. For the best results, use brushes suitable for precise line work, and have black, white, blue, and red face paints plus false eyelashes. Bright red or bubblegum pink lipstick is also recommended for the lips.
How do you add cartoon features to your eyebrows and face?
To get the classic Pop Art brow, draw slightly outside of your natural eyebrow. Add two curved points at the top inside corner of each brow, a small accent on the outside of each brow, and a black line around your hairline to your ear. This technique creates a worried cartoon expression and defines your features.
Which steps help exaggerate your eyes for a Pop Art effect?
Apply a layer of light blue face paint across your eyelids, blend gently, and let it dry. Draw bold eyeliner and lower lashes, add false eyelashes for emphasis, and finish with a bright lipstick. The look is meant to be overdone for a dramatic, expressive result.
What final touches complete the Pop Art makeup look?
Add several red dots on one cheek for a blush effect and draw three small black lines on your forehead and under your eye. A soft wave hairstyle complements the makeup, while the drawn black hairline outline makes the overall effect stand out regardless of hair colour or length.