He’s dark, he’s sinister and he’s the epitome of Halloween cool. We predict many girls will be ditching the cutsie costume ideas altogether for something a little more old school. And yes, we’re talking about the king of darkness himself Mr Marilyn Manson. With so many different looks to choose from, his iconic gothic style can be totally open to interpretation, and luckily for us can be pulled off pretty easily. We sat down with professional makeup artist Alice Howlett, who taught us all the best tips and tricks you need to achieve this unique look. Coloured contacts at the ready..!
By Rebecca Hoffnung
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1 Stage 1: pack on the white face paint
The first step is to cover your whole face and neck in a light coat of white face paint to give you that classic ghostly Marilyn complexion. Don’t forget to also white out your eyebrows as much as possible – that or shave them off completely in true Marilyn style…(we kid – do not do this!)
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2 Stage 2: amp up the look with one coloured contact
Wearing a white or light blue coloured contact in one of your eyes is key for this look. It’s a trademark for Marilyn Manson so if you don’t think you can handle wearing one all night, this costume might be tricky to pull off. Other than the white face paint base, it’s important to apply it before you start with the rest of the makeup, as your eye might naturally water slightly upon application, and you don’t want to smudge all of your hard work!
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3 Stage 3: freehand those veins
Once the white paint has been evenly applied, it’s time to start on the red ‘veiny’ effect that makes this look so creepy. Starting at your eyes, apply red face paint around the lids before drawing in thin twisted veins that creep up different parts of your face. Freehanding this is fine and it doesn’t have to look the same on either side. Use a thin brush for this to keep it looking realistic.
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4 Stage 4: add intensity with dark liner
Using a black liquid liner or black face paint, line in your eyes and carry some of the black paint down each vein to darken them and add intensity. At this point, try soaking your brush in water to help the paint slightly run your face – it’ll give you that darker, gritty look that goes hand in hand with Marilyn’s style.
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5 Stage 5: darken your lips and slick back your hair
The final step in your MM makeover is to apply a dark red or purple lipstick – try blotting it out in the middle slightly to give it a cracked, ombre effect. And when it comes to hair, keep things simple. With a wide toothed comb just slick it back with plenty of gel and either put it in a pony or let it hang loose. If you have much lighter hair, purchase some black wash out hairspray – his dark hair is a recognised trait so try and keep yours as gothic as possible. Top tip? ‘Your face paints should dry relatively quickly,’ explains Alice, ‘but to keep yours in place and looking fresh for the whole night try using a fixing spray like Mac Prep & Prime Fix + spray on your way out!’
If you want the look but can’t be bothered with the DIY, why not put yourself in the hands of the experts?
FAQs
How do you create a classic Marilyn Manson white base?
Start by covering your entire face and neck with white face paint for a ghostly effect. Don’t forget to lighten your eyebrows as much as possible for a true Marilyn look. Avoid shaving them; using face paint works best.
What type of coloured contact should you use for this look?
Wear a white or light blue coloured contact in one eye to mimic Marilyn Manson’s signature style. Put in the contact before applying other makeup, as your eyes may water and you want to avoid smudging your base.
How can you add realistic veins to your Marilyn Manson costume?
Use red face paint around your eyelids and draw thin, twisted lines for a veiny effect. Freehand the veins using a thin brush—there’s no need for perfect symmetry, as a natural look adds to the creepiness.
What is the best way to intensify the veins and eyes?
Trace your eyes and the red veins with black liquid liner or black face paint for greater intensity. Wetting your brush can help the paint softly run, achieving the dark and gritty vibe typical of Marilyn’s style.
How do you finish your Marilyn Manson inspired hair and lips?
Apply a dark red or purple lipstick, blotting the centre for a cracked, ombre effect. Slick your hair back with plenty of gel using a wide-toothed comb, and use black wash-out hairspray for light hair to get a gothic finish.