How to Recreate the Joker's makeup from The Dark Knight movie

The Dark Knight (2008)

Make-up is a key element in the overall design of films or television productions, creating a look for the characters in relation to social class, and time periods, and any other elements required to create the desired illusion. Make-up is responsible for the overall design, application, continuity and care of make-up throughout the pre-production and production periods. 

Makeup plays a huge role in "The Dark Knight,” especially for the role of the Joker. The Dark Knight is a 2008 British–American superhero film directed, produced, and co-written by Christopher Nolan.



John Caglione gives instructions to the audience to apply their own Joker make-up:

      1.Apply the white face paint first. Dab the makeup sponge into the white cream, then apply generously to your face. Try blotting as you move around, so that it creates an uneven effect. Make sure to cover your entire face, including your eyelids and your forehead. You may have to get some in your hair to be able to reach your hairline. You don't want skin to show through.

     2.Take gray face paint and use your finger to dot it on your forehead and under your bottom lip and chin. Use just a few dabs--not too much! Then smudge it in with your fingers. This creates the messy shadows you see on the Joker: His face is not completely white. Alternatively, you can use a tiny makeup paintbrush, made for face paint, and draw squiggly lines across your forehead before smudging them in.

    3. Rub black face paint across your eyelids and under your eyes. Make it especially dark under your eyes. Then continue to rub above your eyes and into your eyebrows.

    4. Take the paintbrush and cover your lips with red face paint. Use your fingers to apply large lines of red from the corners of your mouth up toward your cheeks in a large grin. Then smear it around, especially on your lips downward under your chin.