how-to: day of the dead make-up

Our make-up artist, Stacey Tan gives us the step by step on how she created the haunting yet intriguing Day Of The Dead make-up. You can see the finished product in our lookbook.

1. Prep Skin (apply primer by MAC to entire face)

2. Apply Base (to create a skeletal white face, Stacey used 0+ liquid foundation by Face Atelier. Apply generously over the entire surface of the face, even over the eyes, making sure to blend evenly. Then set with translucent powder by MAC.

3. Map Out The Face (map out where you will place the detailing on the face by using a graphite pencil. This helps with symmetry and placement before you use a more permanent product on the face.)

• Draw circles around the eyes up to the top of the brows.
• Draw stitches over the lips and extend both corners towards the cheek bones.
• Draw a 'Spade" shape onto the nose.
• Draw any extra swirls and details where desired. (Stacey says, "Placing details can be the hardest part! Just be sure your swirls have an organic flow on the face.")

 4. Shade in Your Lines

• Shade in the eyes and nose by using a gel eye liner like Blacktrack by MAC with a flat brush with a rounded edge. Stacey says, "Gel liner is easy to work with and has a great finish that won't melt off."
• For more precise lines, Stacey uses a superslick liquid eyeliner like On the Hunt by MAC. Use this liner for the stitched mouth and swirl details.

5. Add Details To Eyes

• To add a flower detail Stacey used a lipshade called St. Germain by MAC. Using a pinky finger sized flat brush (it must have a rounded tip), apply round shape all around both eyes by pushing the flat side of your brush to the edges of the eye, making sure the strokes are right next to each other.
• To give your pink flower eyes a bit of dimension, use Wild Berry lipshade by Bobby Brown, and apply in the same way with the same brush except only add color to the outer tips of each petal and drag the brush toward the center to blend.

6. Add Detail To Forehead

• Add a gold cross in between the eyes by using The Gold Pan Stick by Make-Up Forever with a stiff brush.
• Draw gold lines from the cross outward towards the hairline.

7. Define The Cheekbones

• Apply a grey shadow to the hollows of the cheek bones with an angled blush brush. Stacey used Print by MAC.
• Add a harsh line to create sunken cheeks by using eyeliner like Engraved by MAC and blend it with a clean finger.

 8. You are ready!