Cosplay guide: Halloween Visual Kei inspired make-up

Halloween Visual Kei inspired make-up

Yo guys, today I prepared something special - something I did not even know that I will make - something similar to a make-up tutorial!

Even when it's not a cosplay make-up, I thought that it might help you, since I noticed a big improvement in my make-up skill as a cosplayer after I started trying to imitate Japanese Visual Kei artist's make-up looks.

Visual Kei make-up is a little bit more complicated that everyday make-up, but not as much complicated as a cosplay make-up - you have a freedom to try whatever you want, you don't have to follow any template (aka character's look). There are so many styles of an eyeliner and a shading in the Visual Kei scene, that it's nearly impossible not to learn something from trying these looks.

If you have any spare time in your hands, you can also try it, and I will be very grateful for any feedback from you! Please don't forget to show me your work or tag me, I'll be looking forward to see what you accomplished!

Good luck!!!

1. First, I started drawing "guidelines" with a grey eyeliner. They don't have to be perfect or sharp, we're going to use them for applying an eyeshadow, and later for an easier liquid eyeliner application. I'm using very thin eyeliner brush for this step.

2. Let's start applying the eyeshadow - first I'm using a lighter one (blueish grey), a darker one will lay on it better, and you won't have much struggle with blending, since darker eyeshadows tends to blend harder and they can become patchy. I use to pack eyeshadows on with a flat eyeshadow brush, I can get more pigment this way. Please never forget to knock-off the spare pigment from the brush, you will get way less fallout using this trick!

3. Take your time blending, until the color looks gradient enough. Blend with a clean brush, if you want to pack more color, pack it with a flat brush and then blend again. I'm using a round blending brush.

4. Apply the darker eyeshadow, and pack it on a smaller area, so you can clearly see the edges of the grey eyeshadow.

5. Blend again both colors together with a flat blending brush, or a smaller round blending brush. If the color is more vibrant or if it's on a larger area than you want it to be, you can take a blending brush with a white/skin colored eyeshadow on, tap off the excess pigment and blend the edges.

6. Use white or skin colored pigmented eyeshadow to brighten the inner and an outer corner on the eye using a small precise pencil brush. I also used a pink eyeshadow, but this step is optional, and I do not recommend using colorful eyeshadows in the cosplay make-ups of characters who do not have any vibrant colors on their eyelids (or under them). I tend to use such a colors in a Visual Kei inspired looks to make them look more playful.

7. I'm applying the eyeliner after I finish working with the eyeshadows. I'm drawing it with really precise flat and round eyeliner brushes, not with an applicator which is inside. Longer handle on the brushes allows me more freedom and a stability, but if you prefer the eyeliner applicator, it's alright.

8. Fill the space between your lashes with the eyeliner (kajal, gel or liquid), and apply just one coat of mascara (or a clear gel, if you have naturally dark eyelashes). After these two steps I use to brush my eyelashes with a clear mascara brush to make them look more separated and straight, because it will be more difficult to apply false eyelashes on a curled natural lashes.

9. The last step is applying the false eyelashes. Top lashes are going right above the lashline, and the bottom ones are being cut first (one by one) and then applied on the bottom line which I drew with the liquid eyeliner. After the lash glue dries, cover it with the liquid eyeliner.

All done!

This is the finished look with my lenses on: