Creating Emotions With Make Up

This week I was experimenting with make up trying to create different emotions. I had in mind Estella's character from the Charles Dickens' book 'Great Expectations' while creating this. I wanted to try to capture the two sides of her character in one look. I wanted to try to show her anger towards Miss Havisham, seen later in the book, for teaching her how to be spiteful and not how to love but also her sweeter softer side and her beauty, which features highly throughout the book.

When creating the harsher side of her character I wanted to create a strong and defined straight brow. I think this style instantly adds an element of anger to the face. I also wanted to make it a strong look to put across her strength of character throughout the book and the power that she holds over Pip. I also wanted to try to keep it slightly contemporary as it was just experimental. I wanted to try to create something that I could imagine being seen walking down the catwalk. I wanted to use the colour black as to me it instantly brings anger and dark thoughts to my mind. I created the strong contour below the cheek bone to show her harsher side. I decided to make it grey as I thought that, along with the black eyebrows and lips, it would be fussy. I wanted to create the black lips as I think that black lips can be very beautiful, even though I was trying to capture her harsher side, and throughout she is still beautiful. Overall I like how this experimentation turned out, however it was difficult to keep the brow neat once completed and it was easily smudged. If I was trying to create this look again I would may have to use a setting spray or sealing gel.

The Harsher Side

When creating the softer side of Estella I wanted to use lots of gold as these bring to mind warm feelings, as well as looking very beautiful. I kept the brows soft as I only wanted them to frame the face and not became a main feature, I believe if they become too dark they can take over a look and make it look too harsh. I kept the skin quite warm and gave it a healthy glow. The lips were kept pink as it is a recognised colour of femininity as well as looking pretty. I think this is a pretty look, but question how experimental it was, I feel that the make up is a look that has been repeated and carried out many times. I think if I was to do it again I would try to keep the softer side as contemporary as the harsher side. This could be done by trying to make it less about how pretty it looks on the face but more about the colours used and placement of the products.

The Softer Side

Both Sides Together