The Joker Heath Ledger Style Halloween Makeup

Applying makeup for the Joker character portrayed by Heath Ledger in the "Dark Night" Batman movie is relatively easy if you have the basic materials and follow this series of steps. Refer to the accompanying illustrations for the placement and shaping of the areas of makeup. The best choice for full-face makeup is standard theatrical face paint which applies smoothly and evenly. You will need four colors: white, black, red and yellow-brown or sienna. Many costume stores and Halloween specialty shops also stock face makeup in these basic colors. Purchase non-toxic makeup supplies from a reliable source. An optional choice for applying color to accent the wrinkles in the face are eyebrow pencils in black and in sienna, which is a yellow-brown pigment. Common rubbing alcohol can be used to thin the makeup.

Start by applying a white base over the entire face except for the eye-sockets and eyebrows. Also apply white over the ears. Spread as smoothly and evenly as possible. Cotton balls or fabric pads can be used to apply the base makeup. (Refer to picture #2)

Next, apply the black makeup over the eyesockets. The black patches should extend up and over the eyebrows. The area covered in black follows the edge of the bones forming the skull's eye socket. Use a paintbrush dipped in the makeup to trace the "crows foot" wrinkles at the outside corners of the eyes. Dipping the brush in alcohol first will usually help thin the makeup a little. Alternatively, an eyebrow-pencil in black can be used to trace the crowsfeet. Dip the tip of the pencil in alcohol to soften the pigment, which helps in drawing smoothly flowing lines. (Refer to picture #3)

Apply the red makeup for the Joker's exaggerated smile. Refer to the illustration for the shape of the crooked and irregular smile. In the movie, the Joker has rough scar tissue that he is covering up. An optional way to re-create the lumpy texture of the scars is to apply a mixture of spirit gum (a non-toxic adhesive) and oatmeal grains that have been softened by soaking in room-temperature water for 5 to 10 minutes. (See link in resources below for an on-line spirit-gum supplier). Costume shops also often have spirit gum in stock. (Refer to picture #4)

For the final touches of the makeup, the main wrinkles of the face are traced with the yellow-brown sienna color. This technique adds a more craggy appearance to the features and breaks up the monotony of the white face paint. Using a paintbrush dipped in the makeup will enable you to paint thin, tapering lines. Alcohol can be used to thin the makeup a little. Alternatively, an eyebrow pencil of the sienna shade, dipped in alcohol, can be used to trace the wrinkles. In order to see the pattern of wrinkles on the face clearly, make expressions such as furrowing the brows, frowning and grimacing. (Refer to picture #5)

Resources

For tips on assembling a complete "Dark Knight" Joker or Batman Costume, Click Here

Link to on-line spirit gum Supplier