I’ll be honest, when I watch a film, one of the first things I notice is the characters’ makeup. Though it may not mean very much to some, if you’re into makeup artistry as much as am then I’m pretty sure you probably do the same.
We can instantly pick up a little extra information about characters before they even speak just by the makeup they’re wearing because, like clothing, makeup is a form of self-expression. We’ve picked our top 3 wearable movie makeup looks from classic/popular films for you to try out this autumn.
Uma Thurman as Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction (1994)
Let’s start with one of the best loved beauty looks in film history, Mia Wallace’s makeup in Pulp Fiction. The look is very casual-chic paired with her cropped black trousers, loose-fit white shirt, and gold Chanel loafers. It’s laid back without being lazy, classic while still being experimental, and bored but never boring. To this day, her style is trendy af. I must admit, after watching Pulp Fiction I made burgundy my go-to nail colour because Mia famously wears Chanel ‘Rouge Noir’ on her nails, an intense oxblood colour.
To create this makeup look, apply a shade of eyeshadow that closely matches your skin tone all over the lid, then apply an eyeshadow that’s a couple of shades darker to the crease and blend really well to get that heavy-lidded look. Next, smudge a black pencil eyeliner across the lash line and wing it slightly to create a subtle kitten flick.
Mia’s lip colour is a deep red with hints of browny orange in it which is really in right now. We would recommend using a brown/nude lip liner followed by Mac’s Matte Lipstick in ‘Chilli’ or Nyx’s Lip Lingerie in ‘Exotic’
Michelle Pfeiffer as Elvira Hancock in Scarface (1983)
This next look is my personal favourite; Elvira Hancock’s ‘don’t get high on your own supply’ makeup in Scarface is just mesmerising, I mean, just look at that contour. To me, Elvira is the queen of contour (and satin dresses)- Kim Kardashian got nothing on her. The smouldering dark brown and gold winged eyeshadow, perfectly sculpted cheekbones, and deep rose lipstick is hella glam. The whole look is classy, stylish, and shows that you’re not shy when it comes to turning up with your face beat.
To create the look, use eyeshadows like ‘Buck’ (light brown), and ‘Half-Baked’ (light shimmery gold) from the Urban Decay Naked Palette, and ‘Whisky’ (rich deep brown) from the Naked Smoky Palette to get a soft smoky winged eyeshadow with a lit inner corner highlight.
Use a contour stick like the Maybelline Master Contour V Stick for a precise sculpting of the cheekbones and your makeup will be a work of art just like Elvira’s. For the perfect Elvira pout, use a deep nude rose colour like Charlotte Tilbury’s K.I.S.S.I.N.G. Lipstick in ‘Stoned Rose’ or, if you’re not keen on forking out £24 for a lipstick, then ‘1995’ by Gerard Cosmetics is a good dupe.
Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939)
For our final favourite movie makeup look we’re taking you back quite a few decades – they don’t call it timeless beauty for nothing! Scarlett O’Hara’s makeup in Gone with the Wind is actually very simple and great for an everyday look, but worn with a slayer outfit it’s sophisticated and beautifully high fashion.
The eyes are very natural and fluttery but the real drama begins on the cheeks as her cheekbones are actually sculpted with a blusher: a look that keeps appearing on the runway time and time again. Everything is tied together with a spicy coral colour on the lips which looks very autumnal with a burgundy outfit.
To achieve this look, start on the brows because Vivien Leigh’s brows were on fleek and she did the ‘one eyebrow raise’ like no other. For the eyes, simply smudge a black eyeliner along the lash line and apply a pair of eyelashes like the Demi Wispies by Ardell. Next use a blush that compliments your skin tone and apply it on the cheekbones rather than the apples of your cheeks so that they look sculpted. Finish off with a coral lipstick like Maybelline’s Colour Sensational lipsticks in ‘Electric Orange’ or ‘Craving Coral’.
Edited by Tia Ralhan
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