When Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ video was released in 1983, it not only set the standard for future music videos, but also introduced to the world one of several iconic styles that would forever be associated with Michael Jackson the Performer.
The video opens with Michael portraying a young, high school teen-ager out on a date with his girlfriend played by Ola Ray.
Have you ever wanted to dress like Michael Jackson for Halloween or a fancy dress party but decided against it because you worried someone might ask you to do a song and a dance like the King of Pop? That is understandable; he was one of a kind. But there is a way around this dilemma: give the red leather jacket and jeans Michael wore during the zombie dance sequence a miss and opt instead for the high-school boy outfit. It is a simple, straightforward look that can be recreated without too much trouble. And, if you play this character really well, no one will expect you to entertain them; you’re just a high-school kid out on a date, after all.
The following are some guidelines to help you with the make-up.
Please be sure to read through these instructions first, before you begin. If you’ve never worn make-up before, it is advisable to do a spot test first to check for allergic reactions.
You’ll Need:
Makeup Sponges
Make-Up Brushes
Cream, Liquid or Pancake Foundation
Medium or Dark Brown Eye Shadow
Charcoal Eye Shadow
Black Kohl Eye Pencil
Black Mascara
Powder or Cream Blusher
Loose or Compact Face Powder
Lip Gloss
Michael Jackson Wig
Might Want to Have Handy:
Make-Up Mirror
Cotton Swabs
Make-Up Remover
Concealer
Before Applying Your Make-Up…
At the start of the video, Michael Jackson portrays a young, high school teen-ager. Therefore it’s important to shave your face
as closely as possible so your skin is silky and irresistibly smooth.
It’s also a good idea to cleanse, exfoliate and moisturise your skin before you begin applying your makeup. Think of the finished result as a work of art; you should always start with a fresh, clean canvas.
Concealer
If you have any minor blemishes on your face or dark circles under your eyes, you can use a light-reflecting concealer to minimise their appearance. Pick a shade that is as close to your own skin colour as possible. If you choose a shade that is too light or too dark, it will only call attention to the problem area.
Simply dot the concealer on the area you wish to correct and blend it in by gently patting with your finger. Be particularly careful with the skin around the eye area as the skin there is more delicate than the rest of your face. Do not pull or rub the skin here.
While you can use your finger to apply the concealer, I find a concealer brush
very useful for getting in tight areas like the corner of the eyes and right up under the lower lashes. Once you’ve got the concealer neatly blended in, you can begin applying the foundation.
Foundation
The primary purpose of foundation is to even out your skin tone not to alter or change your natural colour completely. You should select a shade that is close to your natural complexion.
Like concealers, foundation can be applied and blended with your fingers. I’m not a big fan of this method because the final result can look thick and uneven. I prefer using a moist, not dripping wet, triangle make-up sponge;the foundation is easier to apply, easier to blend and provides a more even coverage.
Dot the foundation on your cheeks, chin, nose and forehead and then smooth it evenly over your face including the eyelids. Lightly blending foundation on your eyelids will provide an even base for the eye shadow. Always, always remember to blend the foundation at the jaw line. If you don’t, you will look ridiculous and people will mock you.
Eye Shadow
To do Michael Jackson’s eye make-up, you’ll need to use two complimentary colours of eye shadow.
Using an eye shadow brush,apply an even layer of a medium to dark brown eye shadow over the entire upper eyelid.
Begin applying the charcoal eye shadow at the inner corner of the eye and brush towards the outer corner stopping at the midway point. The colour should lighten as you come towards the middle and blend into the brown eye shadow.
Eye Pencil
When you’re satisfied with your eye shadow, use a black kohl eye pencil to outline your eyes.
With small, gentle strokes, ‘draw’ a thin line on the top and bottom eyelids at the base of the lashes. Then using a cotton swabor a smudger, smudge the kohl pencil line to create a ‘smoky’ effect.
Blusher
Blusher is available in powder
and creamformulations. I find powder blushers are easier to apply as you can gradually increase the intensity of colour. Cream blushers take a bit of practice to get the colour just right, but it has more staying power. It’s your choice.
Apply blusher to the ‘apples’ of your cheeks taking the colour upwards just past the outer corner of your eyes. Blusher should look natural; like the colour your cheeks would be if you had just come in out of the cold.
To Finish Off…
Apply loose or compact face powder using a face powder brush
to take away any shine, dab on some lip gloss, put on your Michael Jackson Wig and you’re done.
Keep in mind the above are guidelines, not hard, fast rules. Some people, for example, prefer to use concealer after applying the foundation; the end result is still the same. Practice a bit before the night to find a method that works for you.
If you still feel a bit unsure about applying make-up, there’s a nice little web site you can go to get loads more advice and tips. There’s even an e-book available for download that shows you how to apply make-up like a professional.
Next time, we’ll talk about the costume.
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are excellent for adding that otherworldly dimension to your face. Yellow cat’s eyes are the obvious choice.
on it. Dip your 
or oil
similar to the one below will make the job so much easier:
or oil in another well of the palette and dip the clean side of the non-latex make-up sponge into it. Lightly dab the castor onto the liquid latex. Then take a cotton ball and pat gently at the castor to absorb any excess.
