Faceups Second Time Attempting Faceups

I have a hard time, uploading pictures onto the site, but one thing that I find kind of helps is using a needed eraser to clean up lines, and smudges before I seal. I also like using brushes to shade.

 

In my experience, one of the most important parts from the aesthetic aspect is to always start with light colors first (pencil eyeliner and details with light colors before painting with black or brown, shadow eyebrows before painting individual dark hairs, start with super pale pinks for blush etc.) It’s easier to fix mistakes or change lines with lighter colors than it is with dark colors. It also helps if you want a more delicate face-up as opposed to a harsher stylized one because if you start small and build up you can control the final result better. Second is to spray with MSC after finishing each stage, like after finishing blush but before starting the eyes. This helps to avoiding smudging your work, just make sure to wait at least ten minutes before working again to let the spray set.

 

Don’t be afraid to seal semi-frequently! I leave my final thin details like eyebrows and lashes to the second-to-last layer since I redo them like 8 times before I’m satisfied. I find a VERY thin brush and watercolor pencils are my favorite way to get hair details- I dab off excess pigment and then do individual strokes with a quick motion, and I’ve found it looks a lot more realistic than drawing hairs with the pencils. I use a damp tissue to wipe off the brows before I try again.
I do about 2 layers of skin detailing before I start sketching out/shading areas for eyebrows, makeup, etc. Blushing, subtle contour, and flecking/skin details goes a long way when it comes to realism.

 

I am not a professional faceup artist, but a few tips that I do:

-Figure out about where the brow bone would be. (Some sculpts make this much more obvious than others.) One of the biggest mistakes I see on newbie faceups is the eyebrows being much too high. Use pastel to get a rough shape for your eyebrows, then use a kneaded eraser or art eraser to shape them. When you think they're about right, flip the head upside down or hold it up to a mirror to see if they're even.

-Do your layers lightly. You can always add more color, but once it's sealed, you'll have to wipe the entire faceup to remove too much color.

-I use Golden High Flow acrylics for linework. It's already thin enough to use (about the consistency of ink) so fine lines are much easier without having to use anything to thin your paint. I use Princeton Mini Handle Liner 20/0 brushes.

-I gloss or semigloss lips and eyeliner. I add a little pearl powder for a shimmery look sometimes. This makes a huge difference on my faceups as to whether it looks finished or not.

-Sealant works best if it's not cold. I use ZM Finishing powder or Mr Super Clear. I keep my house cool, so to be sure the sealant works best, I'll sometimes put it in my pocket for a few minutes until it doesn't feel cold to the touch. (DO NOT warm the can over direct heat like a microwave or stove!!) Always spray outside, and wear a respiratory mask. (more info on proper masks HERE)

And here's a comparison between my first ever faceup and one I did this week! (Angel of Dream Chen v1 and Iplehouse Lahela)