06 January,2011 03:25 PM IST | | Agencies
Love the elaborate makeup in the newly-released film Black Swan? The film's makeup artists Judy Chin and Margie Durand share their secrets on how to achieve the dramatic dark eye makeup, porcelain skin, and blood-red lips seen on actress Natalie Portman in her role as an obsessive ballerina on the quest for perfection in the film.
Transform yourself into a "Black Swan": "The look is intense, alluring, and sexy with a bit of danger mixed in," Chin told beauty blog BellaSugar. To emulate Portman's look, Chin says to apply a pale ivory foundation followed by a white cream highlighter on your forehead and cheekbones.
For the eyes, use MAC's Chromaline in Black Black ($17) to outline the eyes, then apply a silver shade from the brand's Pigment ($20) line combined with Mixing Medium and over the eyes in feather-like strokes. For an added dose of drama, the eyes were lined (just on the bottom) with MAC's Chromaline in Red ($17).
To get Portman's femme fatale lips, use the brand's Vino lip pencil ($13) as a base, followed by its Dubonnet lipstick ($16).
Keep your makeup intact: Since ballerinas sweat profusely when performing, Chin and Durand said there were a lot of touch-ups required throughout the filming. "Most people are a bit intimidated by pancake makeup and they dismiss it as 'old fashioned,' but it can be really beautiful if done properly," said Chin.
The artist used a spray sealant on top of the makeup to set it, along with products touting long-wear formulas like MAC's Paint Pots ($17), Powerpoint Eye Pencils ($15), and Pigments ($20).
Translating the look for everyday wear: To tone down the look, Durand recommends going for a 1920s vamp look. "Create the smoky Black Swan eye with a slender, silver line-over the eyelid, too-that follows the wing shape we created for Portman. Rim the waterline with black liner and top it off with full feathery false lashes. Apply a very matte foundation with contoured cheekbones and a hint of shimmery blush on apples of the cheeks. Lips can be matte or glossy in dark eggplant, wine, or even black," she told style and beauty blog Refinery29.
