Late last year, Jin*behindinfinity, Kat~moonlightflight, El~rosiael and I were invited to speak about cosplay preparations during the BookFair and CosplayMania events. Having received positive reviews regarding the usefulness of our presentation, we’ve decided to upload portions of our talk here online to hopefully encourage cosplayers from all around to BE ALL THAT YOU CAN BE.

Be sure to check out the following as well:
Cosplay Poses and Etiquette found at Jin*behindinfinity's page.
Cosplay Make-Up Guide Part II following this journal entry.

The information we’ve gathered here are all based on experience and from basic make-up tips watching online videos; they are what generally worked based on personal review.

We're not about to go Nazi on everyone and claim everything here as absolutes so if there are methods that you find need improving, or if you feel more comfortable with your way, by all means go right ahead.

We would also very much appreciate it if you could share your tips here too.


The following listed below are the basic materials for typical character make-up that actually, are also used on a regular basis for non-cosplay related routine such as prepping the face, concealing blemishes, and such. You don't have to limit yourself to just these tools if you plan to achieve a certain special effect.

Remember, it all depends on your characer, but these will generally get you through a day at any event.

Foundation (liquid/cream)
> Over-all application to the face to even out the skin tone and hide a few blemishes.

Concealer
> Particularly used for hiding pimples, dark shadows under the eyes, and other skin imperfections.

Loose Powder
> For setting the make-up after applying foundation and concealer.
> Helps keep your face less shiny/oily
> Very useful for touch-ups in between photos.

Oil Film
> For getting rid of excess oil build-up on the face
> Also very useful for touch-ups in between photos.

Eyeliner (liquid/pencil)
> Used to accentuate the eyes.

Make-up Brushes/Sponges
> For make-up application.

Make-up Remover
> To properly remove make-up and dirt from your face after a long day of cosplaying.
Soap and water alone won't remove all that gunk off, so it's important you have something that does the job.

Eyebrow Pencil
> Also to accentuate the eyes for character expression
> Used to match your brows with hair/wig color

Lipstick/Lip Balm
> May be used according to your character.
> Keep your lips moisturized! Cracked, dry lips hurt and don’t look good on anyone.

How much will these cost me?

Make-up prices really depend on the quality and the brand you purchase.

While we don't want you to spend on insanely expensive products, we do advise you select a really good foundation and concealer that works for your skin type because these are essentially going to be applied directly on your face. If you apply something unsuitable for your skin, you might be wrestling with lousy application results, or worse, dealing with intense break-outs or allergic reactions that may leave long lasting to permanent damage on your skin.

With regards to other products that you don’t apply to your whole face like lipstick, eye and brow liners, you may opt for cheaper alternatives that suit you.

Make-up brushes and applicators aren’t that costly either but do take care to CLEAN them often and/or REPLACE them after a certain time because otherwise, bacteria then builds-up in them and may contribute to skin problems.

What brand is best to use?

Work out which one works for you. Like we mentioned above, it doesn’t necessarily have to be something incredulously expensive, but do make sure that it is both reliably long-lasting and SAFE for your skin.

Try to go for waterproof eyeliner or mascara if you're looking for any. You don't want your make-up melting off your face half-way through a con or photo shoot.

It would also be wise to go for dermatologically trusted brands, though don’t be afraid to ask around if you feel confused or iffy about a certain product.

Also, when having doubts, DON’T SUBMIT TO MERE SALES TALK. Consult your dermatologist or look for customer reviews regarding the said product.


Make-up products vary to address different skin needs. It is very important to keep in mind your skin type as opposed to what works for your friends or other people because obviously, what works for them might not work for you.

Do you have…

Normal Skin?
Oily Skin?
Dry Skin?
Combination Skin? This typically means you get oilier on the T-zone area (nose, mouth area, chin, and forehead)

Also, keep in mind your skin’s reactions to the weather, sun, and particular ingredients in products in case you are allergic to something.

Other things to watch out for when choosing make-up:

Do you break out easily? Or get a lot of blackheads/whiteheads?
What is your complexion? Dark, Medium, Fair?
Is the shade of your skin more on the brownish, pinkish, or yellowish side?

Apart from figuring out your personal skin type, you must also consider your character’s skin tone, so you may apply your make-up accordingly. This doesn't involve an exact science or anything, you just need to know what your character looks like.