It’s scary how easy it is to recreate the thoroughly creepy look of The Joker.
The Batman blockbuster “The Dark Knight” has been the most popular movie so far this year, so expect a lot of deranged clowns fashioned after Heath Ledger’s character roaming the streets on Halloween.
“This is a look for people who color outside the lines. The more messed up it is, the better,” said Cristina Bartolucci, co-founder and creative director of the cosmetics brand DuWop and a veteran of films including “Twelve Monkeys” and “Pulp Fiction.”
The face can be created without any professional special-effects tools, but you’ll get the most realistic look if you buy rigid collodian, an adhesive sold in costume shops.
Bartolucci explains how to get the look:
First, use the collodian to draw about a 2-inch line out from the corners of the mouth. Pinch the corners of the mouth and hold until the adhesive dries; they’ll look like gashes.
Using white grease paint, cover the entire face and use a heavy hand. One trick Bartolucci learned on the set of “Die Hard: With a Vengeance” is to scrunch your face as if you’re going to get hit when applying the all-over face makeup. When you relax, the lines will show up, adding to the drama.
The next step in the Joker look is the eyes: Take black mascara, cover the lashes, close the eyes and smudge the black all over the under-eye area. “It’s the exact opposite of what I’d say to do on a normal day,” Bartolucci said with a laugh.
Then use a fat, waterproof black liner all around the eye socket — even the inner rims. The waterproof part is important because it will leave more residue and look even more authentic as the day wears on.
For the lips, use a red lip gloss that smears well and isn’t too sticky. A tube gloss and a brush might be easier to work with than a wand. The color should be a deep red, like blood.
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