It can be tough to look like an anime or video game character. But looking like one that’s not the same gender poses some extra challenges.
Video tutorial here.
The first time I ever fooled someone into thinking I was male while cosplaying a male was also the first time I wore makeup while cosplaying.
One of the easiest, but most often overlooked, ways to make yourself look more like that character you’re emulating is makeup. This applies even if you’re not crossplaying, but especially if you are. There are some important and obvious differences between male and female faces:
- males tend to have squarer jaw lines and females rounder ones
- males usually have thinner cheeks and lips, where females have defined, plump lips and round cheeks
- males tend to have thicker eyebrows than females
Makeup can help hide all of the above. Check out my youtube video tutorial for a quick run down of how I do my makeup so I can do from this:
to this:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrNvNogEBl4
Below, you’ll find the written instructions for what I did in the video.
To start:
You shouldn’t have any wigs or accessories on (even though I do in the video). Usually, I put on the cosplay first, then a wig cap, then do makeup. This is so that makeup doesn’t get on the costume while I’m pulling it on over my head. At the same time, the wig cap keeps hair totally off my face. The wig goes last because it will cover up some of your face.
Materials:
- liquid concealer that is the same shade as your natural skin
- powder concealer the same shade as your skin
- powder concealer that is darker than your skin
- lip concealer
- eyebrow pencil
- eyeliner
**NOTE: The steps can be done is slightly different order. This is just how I did it.
Lady looks like a dude?
Step 1: Liquid Concealer
You want to take this and put a little all over your face. You don’t have to rub it in well or worry about covering every little bump. It’s just a base.
Step 2: Skin-toned powder
Take the skin-toned powder and put it on over the liquid. You’re doing it this way because that base coat of liquid concealer will now stick to the powder. The makeup will last longer if you do liquid then powder.
The powder should be used to even out your skin and make it smooth. This is especially important for males transitioning to female characters. Females tend to have smoother, more even skin. So you want to get a good, even coating.
Step 3: Eyes
Both guys and girls in anime and video games have huge, well-defined eyes. Get a liquid eyeliner and just trace the outline of your eyes. I usually start at the corner farthest from my nose and only trace about half of my eye. Then I use my finger and smug the rest. How much or how little you use is up to you and the character you’re cosplaying. This should bring out your eyes and make them seem larger.
Step 4: Eyebrows
Girls: You need to make your eyebrows much thicker to look male. It’ll look funny to you, but trust me, it makes a difference. Trace your natural eyebrow, then add a little color under it. Don’t overdo it. Try to keep it natural looking. You can smudge it a little with your finger when done.
Guys: Thin out those eyebrows. It probably isn’t necessary to pluck. You can use liquid followed by powder concealer to make your eyebrows seem thinner than they actually are.
Step 5: Lips
Ladies, now we get to use my favorite makeup tool ever. They sell it everywhere, though you may have to search for it. It looks like lipstick, but it comes in skin-colored shades. Use it just like lipstick or chapstick to conceal the pigment of your lips. Guys have paler lips, and thinner ones. I usually use a little on my lips, blended in. Then I add some along the very bottom and very top that isn’t blended as well. This makes my lips look thinner.
Guys, break out the lipstick or chapstick. Be mindful of the shape of your lips. If you have thin lips, draw with the lipstick in such a way as to make them look fuller and thicker. But don’t overdo it. That will give you
Girly anime/video game men can make even feminine cosplayers seem manly
away as quickly as your natural lips.
Step 6: Dark-colored concealer
Lastly, add some fake shadows. Guys, you’ll want to go easy on this. It might be better for you to just leave that smooth foundation you first put on.
But girls will need to add some false shadows. Suck in your cheeks and fill them in with darker powder to create a shadow there. Add some along the sides of your nose to make it thinner. You should also do the tops of your eyelids up to your eyebrows and connect that with the shading done on your cheeks. It is also helpful to do the far sides of your forehead.
Note: You’ll probably want to re-apply the skin-colored powder after this to re-highlight certain areas like the top of your nose and your cheekbones.
Finally
Don’t be intimidated whether you’re a guy or a girl! I never wear makeup in daily life, but I can still manage to do it for cosplay. I’m definitely not normally a makeup person and only learned how to do it for the sake of cosplaying. But it makes SUCH a difference and is a lot easier than you might think!
April 25th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Great tips =D
And, to any cosplayers out there who attend cons, even if you don’t normally wear makeup, a little foundation and concealer can make your natural skin appear less shiny and glossy when you’re picture is taken. It seems a small step, but it will save you in the end- you want your pictures and poses to be spot-on, and having skin that doesn’t photograph well is more common than you might think. It’s not a bad thing, but there are people out there who might notice it!
April 26th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
I know a lot of drag queens and the magic of the makeup is a huuuge aspect of fooling the eye, so of course it works the other way around!
April 27th, 2009 at 5:45 am
this was great advice
Its the Cosplayers who make all the conventions special for me
I always want to remember to thank them for all their hard work in bringing our favorite characters to life
April 28th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Great tutorial.
Also consider upgrading to professional theatre-grade make-up, especially if you cosplay often. It makes all the difference for photos and lasts all day, generally without touch-ups. I use Ben-Nye and Kryolan brands. You’ll also get more even results using something like a sponge wedge to apply foundation and large brushes. I use one of those mosaic powder concealers to seal the liquid-based pallets, but Ben Nye sells a powder sealer that makes all the difference which I plan to acquire for this cosplay season.
April 28th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Great help for all the Cosplayers; kudos! One easy tactic is to just go straight anime for your cosplay: most of the characters already look androgenous so it makes for a lot less work - hee hee!
June 16th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
hmm, i dont know
i guess im afraid of 2 mayor things
-making my eye brows thicker
-powder
does this work for “colored” girls like me?
i mean its just that, my face isnt as girly
and i think i feel extra funny with my brows thicker
and the darker color… do i hacve to use it even if my tone isnt as
white?