How can you try doing makeup on your silicone doll yourself?
Thanks to Mishka1965 for sharing the process of applying makeup to their silicone doll head. What tools do you need for this process? How do you fix the eyelashes? Should you apply foundation and blush to the doll? How do you apply lip gloss and eyeshadow? If you want to add some freckles and imperfections to the doll’s face, how would you go about it?
Check out this blog post about doing doll makeup:
https://www.coeros.com/silicone-sex-doll-head-make-up-tutorial/OverviewIn this tutorial, I will demonstrate the tools and methods required to redo a doll head. The original head is called Yukiko, from JSDolls, and is matched to the 148B body, and a few photos of the before and after transformation are provided as reference.
About the Cosmetics Kit:
The required cosmetics can be found online, and a sample kit (Image Left), has the assorted brushes, tools and make-up powders and more that will get you started. No tools need to be high-end, but simply need to do the job well. This kit is from Temu.
Required: Tools, materials and cosmetics
For this procedure, you will need the following:
Crazy-Glue (CA Gel) – Liquid Make-Up Remover Wax-Paper/Baking Sheets – Q-tips
Cotton Wool – Assorted Brushes – Blush and Foundation – MultiColor Cosmetic Powders
Eyelashes – Eyelash Applicator – Lip Gloss. – Baby Powder – Permatex Silicone Glue (part#81730)
Yukiko, Before and AfterSTEP1 – CleaningThe first part before any make-up is added, you will need to clean the doll head. I suggest using a soft liquid make-up remover. I use either Ponds or A tube of liquid acne-cream. I like it because it’s a viscous liquid, and can be applied with a cotton wool swap or paint brush. In either case, remove any make-up gently. If your doll has painted eyebrows, then do not apply the remover there or the eyebrows will be ruined. Removing lipstick can be difficult if it’s made with silicone mixed with pigment, but in this case, gently clean any old make-up residue. Clean with a dry paper towel, and use some Baby Powder to reduce shine and stickiness.
STEP2 – Repair of EyelashesIn my case, the old eyelashes were coming out and I decided to remove them all by pulling the remaining ones out. I did leave the lower lashes in however. Next, I used a small piece of baking wax-paper and I tucked it under each eyelid so the CA glue will not stick to it and damage the eyeballs. The next step is to apply a small amount to CA Gel glue to the upper eyelids and then wait a minute for it to start getting tacky. I then would take the eyelash, and set it in place with a bit of pressure so that one end gets set, then proceed to glue the remaining eyelash end.
In this picture, I use a small plastic tool that I had lying around and I found it useful for applying the lashes. It takes a bit of practice, but this is definitely a medium difficulty step, but is very rewarding when it looks great. This is one of my favorite steps in a custom head, and the end result photos tell the story. Once the lashes are set, remove the wax paper gently.
STEP3 – Applying Foundation and BlushThe third step requires applying base foundation powder using a foundation brush. You should have got one in the kit. Apply an earth toned color to her entire face and forehead. Do not add too much darker color over a light skinned doll head, and it can look too tan, and artificial. Next, add some rose-pink colored blush using a blush brush. Apply this to the cheeks, and a little to the eyes and nose tips. Do not over do this step, as it can be easily overdone. Layer it in several applicator steps.
STEP4 – Lip Color and Lip GlossThis is a fun step and one I think makes the largest visual impact. To paint on lip color is pretty straightforward, and you need a small brush that paints on small layers at a time. Avoid applying too much at once, as you need to layer it on. Also, if the powder does not adhere well, you need to clean the lips and remove any oil residue – Acetone works well here. Once you get an even coat of powder, then you need to apply lipgloss. I usually apply a thin layer of lip-gloss and it typically lasts around 1 day before evaporating. Keep in mind that this application of powder on the lips is temporary and is easily removed. The reason I do not use real lipstick is because it has never stuck onto silicone in my experience, and even when you manage to put a layer on, it streaks and wipes off easily, and the lip color will be ruined.
STEP5 – Eyeliner, and EyeshadowAnother important step is to choose a correct complimentary color for your eyeshadow. I use the attached color wheel to select my colors. If for example your lip color is red, then the complimentary color is around green, and possibly yellow and blue. However, this is up to you as I’ve seen close colors used many times – for example adjacent complimentary colors – such as red lips and orange and yellow eyeshadow. I’ll leave that decision up to you. It also is important to note what clothing colors will be used.
What I typically use is a flat bladed small detail brush to paint and layer on cosmetic powder, I would add a solid color like orange, then highlight with a lighter color in sections. Always paint vertically and never across for best results.
The application of glitter based cosmetics is up to you, but I definitely add a little clear based gloss with glitter and it can make a dramatic difference.
STEP6 – Low EyeLinerAt this point your doll should be looking really good, and what’s missing – is the black lower eyeliner. I use a dark powder painted with a hard edged brush. You need very little to make that dark eye look, and you can get the nice cat-eye wing look by just use the brush to the sides of the face. The amount of black is very subjective, and like painting, you need to go slow. The reason I don’t use mascara is because once you make a mistake, it’s very smudgy and oily, and will wreck your doll’s face in a heartbeat. It also stays on for ages, and if you brush some clothing over the eye, your clothing is probably ruined. This is the reason I use cosmetic powder for most of my work – it goes on easy, and is simple to clean off. If you get too much color, simply dab a small paintbrush in make-up cleaner (like Ponds), and paint off the excess.
STEP7 – Freckles and Skin ImperfectionsI like adding more realism to my faces to make them super nice in photos. What I use to paint on freckles depends on how much freckle effect I am looking for – But generally, you will need a brown-red color palette. I use a very small and fine paintbrush to dab on color, and then erase or blend it in using a larger brush. Once you have the right amount of freckles you can proceed to the next step.
STEP8 – SealerMy last step involves using a translucent powder that is applied to the face directly like baby powder, and this helps make the face-up a bit more permanent. It also creates a silky effect, as there’s a little bit of ground up mica in the material. Simply apply with a medium ~1cm wide brush.
This is a photo taken after the doll’s makeup was completed.
About the AuthorI am a photographer with a deep-rooted passion for capturing dolls since 2014. Initially drawn to TPE dolls, I later switched my focus to posing them for photos, using a Nikon D300 before upgrading to a Sony a7RIV. Over the past decade, I have had the privilege of photographing dolls for various companies and watched the industry evolve with better improvements each year. I saw this as an opportunity to invest in more lifelike dolls, appreciating their improved detail and realism. For the last five years I have been traveling extensively across the US, in my camper van loaded with dolls which I photographed at various roadside locations. Currently, I have about a dozen dolls posed around my house and often host larger doll meets, fostering friendships within this unique hobby. My experiences traveling and photographing these dolls have led to unique connections with others who share the similar interests, forming a tight-knit community in this niche hobby.
