Experimenting with a base for Miss Havisham

To begin working on a base that I could use for my Miss Havisham for my assessment we were shown how to create an aging technique. The specific way I was shown is a very theatrical way of creating an aging makeup look. One thing I love about this technique is that you can be as subtle or as over the top as you like.

Before beginning to apply any products to my models face I was told to think about the structure and shape of my models face. The main techniques for creating an aging makeup look like I have created here was to use shadows and highlights to try to create the effect of tired, older skin.

Supra colour is a grease based makeup product which is used a lot for theatrical makeup looks. Supra colour can also be used as lipsticks or eye liners. As I have used old age stipple makeup to create this makeup look, I had to test it on the back of my models wrist before I could apply it to her skin further. I had to do this for health and safety reasons as it contains latex in it.

If you decide to use a hair dryer to help dry the old age stipple makeup you should ensure that you keep checking the heat and asking your model that the temperate is okay.

Here is a list of products needed to create this makeup look:

• Foundation pallet
• Dermacolour concealer pallet
• Supra colour pallet – grease based colours in shades of brown and grey
• Ben Nye old age stipple
• Disposable mascara wand
• Sponges
• A selection of brushes

Below is a step by step of how I created this makeup look:

1. Apply a foundation base matching the models natural skin tone, conceal any areas such as spots or blemishes, you should also cover the lips.
2. Ask you model to screw up their nose or lift their brows, you can then apply some supra colour as a highlighter in the lines which are now on the face. You should use grey tones of the Supra colour pallet. Thin flat brushes are useful for applying grease based makeup products.
3. Blend the supra colour into the skin, be careful not to spread the product too far. You can then use a brown shade of supra colour to as the shading to add the depth to the wrinkles of the face.
4. You should also use brown on the cheeks and down the nose, like a contour of the face.
5. Using a sponge you can then apply some Ben Nye old age stipple makeup to the eye area and the mouth. Before applying this to the skin you should stretch the area of the skin. You should then apply the old age stipple in a dabbing motion, keep the area stretched for a few seconds. You may then use a hair dryer on a low heat to quicken the drying process.
6. The old age stipple will turn clear once is has completely dry, you should repeat this at least three times to create the right effect.
7. Once it is completely dry you can mould the old age stipple to create wrinkles to the skin.
8. Using a disposable mascara want you can brush some grey Supra colour through the brows, going against the grain to give the effect of grey hairs.
9. Apply translucent powder to the face.

Here are some images of my theatrical old age makeup.

Half and half of my theatrical aging makeup.

A close up if my one sided theatrical makeup

I feel as if my finished aging makeup look could have been more in depth. I'm not sure weather I would like to use this technique for my Miss Havisham for the assessment. I think if I was to re create a theatrical aging makeup look I would use more shadows within the design. 

I found using the old age stipple quite difficult. It was really hard to colour over it using the Supracolour. I would like to experiment with the old age stipple a bit more to master the technique.

After creating this makeup look I don't think that this is the kind of look that I want to create my Miss Havisham as I want my Miss Havisham to look more ghostly. I'm looking forward to experimenting and developing my own idea for Miss Havisham.