Announcements

Thank you to everyone who participated in QC’s Halloween Makeup Contest: Trick category. Below is Michele’s critique of the five finalists. Click here to view Nathan’s critique of the Treat category finalists.

Here’s what Michele was looking for:

Effort: There will be points awarded to each entry based on the use of makeup skills and techniques. You will gain extra points if you use additional items such as hair, costumes, and/or props to make a complete horror makeup look.

Skill/Technique: Points will be awarded to each entry based on the application of the makeup itself.  The details in the makeup look are very important to the look you create! Some examples include:

• If prosthetics are used, are there any edges showing or is the prosthetic glued to the skin completely?
• If there is blood used, does it flow in a natural way from the wound/wounds?

Photo Quality: Points will be awarded in this category based on whether the photo could be used in a portfolio or magazine ad. If the photo is clear, well lit, with an appropriate background for the photo, higher points will be awarded. Blurry, badly lit photos with busy backgrounds will receive lower points.

Fun/Originality: This is the category where you get points awarded for using your imagination! Horror makeup can be anything and everything! Use your imagination to create a new take on a classic or something completely out-of-this-world scary. The more creative the entry is, the more points the artist will be awarded. Originality is key! Please note that copying someone else work will cause the entry to be disqualified.

Story: This category allows for the backstory of the entry. Points will be given based on explaining what the person or creature is, and not how you applied the makeup. Have fun with this category! It is your chance to tell the world about YOUR creation!

Finalists & Scoring

Comments

This was excellent makeup, Liam! Very deserving of the semi-finals. Your application was extremely well executed and you had a good story to go with your creation. I would have liked to see a little more with the photo as far as the background. Being that this was a medical experiment gone wrong, a height chart in the background, or having the photo taken while the victim was still strapped in the chair would have been a great addition. The story mentions torture as well, so evidence of torture would have been great to see. The originality of the makeup was as intriguing as it was scary. Excellent job!!!

Score

• Effort: 4/5
• Skill/Technique: 4/5
• Photo Quality: 4/5
• Fun/Originality: 5/5
• Story: 5/5
• Total Score: 22

Comments

I must start by saying that when I first viewed this photo Nicole, I thought it was a prosthetic! Upon reviewing your video, I was astounded that you did this with wax. You have my utmost respect for your incredible creation! The application and coloring of this makeup were very well executed and you had the best back story to go with your makeup, period. The photo was well done, although a bit more of a background setting would have added to the total look. I would also have loved to see a new take on a Zombie as they have become a standard in Pop Culture over the last decade. Overall, you should be beyond proud of your makeup! You are a truly talented makeup artist and it was a pleasure to see your work in this contest!

Comments

This was a fantastic makeup application, Jessica!  I was very impressed with not only your application but the coloring as well.  The addition of contacts added to the overall look as well.  The photo was crisp but a more intriguing background would have added to your overall look.  The lack of a story hurt you in points, and although you created fabulous makeup, I would have liked to see a new take on Zombies instead of the more established look of The Walking Dead Zombies.  This was a great makeup application and definitely earned its place in the semi-finals! Awesome job!!!

Comments

Fantastic makeup Romane! Your application and coloring are both phenomenal and something you should be very proud of.  Even though the background is solid black; the composition lends itself to the makeup creating a final look that could be out of a sci-fi magazine or as a character-still from a new movie or TV show.  The addition of the horns was great and a perfect addition to your total look. This unique makeup is a wonderful addition to the semi-finals. Very impressive all around Romane!

Comments

What an incredible entry Cassie! Your creation has just blown me away! Your application was well executed and it was beyond evident that you considered every aspect of this creation. Your story was unique in design and the incredible effort you put into the fantastic setting was above and beyond. Your photos looked as if they could be screengrabs from a horror movie. You also considered the whole body as a canvas which was evident with the body makeup and details like nails and hair.

You did an incredible job with every category Cassie and that is why you are the winner of the Trick Contest! This was a job well done in every aspect. Congratulations Cassie!!!

Looking to enroll in some of QC’s courses? Learn more about each course here!

Thank you to everyone who participated in QC’s Halloween Makeup Contest: Treat category. Below is Nathan’s critique of the five finalists. Click here to view Michele’s critique on the Trick category finalists.

Here’s what Nathan was looking for:

Effort:Higher points will be awarded to those who combine diverse skills with incredible imagination to create a detailed and captivating fantasy look. Makeup technique is fundamental, but the more visually stunning the final image is— through the tasteful use of hair, costume styling, props, and accessories — the more points will be awarded.

Skill/Technique: Students who demonstrate the use of polished makeup skills, detailed application, symmetry (when it is supposed to be symmetrical), and diverse use of techniques, will be awarded higher points. There are no rules in fantasy, so don’t be afraid to change, refine, and create new techniques.

Photo Quality: A good quality image is essential. The photograph should be clean, crisp, and appropriately lit. Higher points will be awarded to images that look like they could be in a glamour magazine or media feed. Points will be deducted for images that are blurry, messy, or have cluttered or thoughtless backgrounds (e.g. messy bedrooms, bathrooms, etc.). This doesn’t mean that you need an expensive setup, it just means you need to clean the oils off your camera lens or to borrow a better phone or camera. Incredibly gentle retouching is acceptable, although your makeup should be doing the perfecting on its own. Blurred skin, visible or over-retouching, and filters will result in a loss of points or disqualification.

Fun/Originality: Create a makeup look that is original and from the deepest recesses of your imagination. I expect to see wonder and beauty! Have fun every step of the way! If you copy or tweak an influencer’s existing work, you will be disqualified. You are an artist — don’t copy. And, I can promise you, everyone in the industry has seen enough of the over-done and constantly copied tutorials. Originality is difficult, especially in a social media-driven world, so accept the challenge to create.

Story: A few sentences about your creation and the story behind him/her/it can do a lot to sell your image. Don’t fall into the trap of telling what you did with the makeup. Instead, tell the story of who or what this person or creature is. The stronger your story and concept, the more precise and clear your application will be, and the more points you’ll be awarded. In the past, amazing makeup artists have lost the contest because they refuse to tell a story. Don’t let that be you.

Finalists & Scoring

Comments

I just love this. The Jack O’Lantern makeup is very common and often overdone, but this is a totally unique variation and it’s just captivating. The black and orange create a stunning contrast that grabs the attention. The careful white accents add dimension. The use of the sap is genius. This is a wonderful tribute to both Halloween and the tradition of face painting. There is a lot of creativity and skill present here. The image is portfolio ready. I do wish there was more of a story and less of a description.

Comments

Siren’s and mermaids are a favorite when it comes to Halloween submissions, but this one is a masterclass. With every aspect perfectly and thoughtfully composed, the photo is stunning. There are so many skills at play here, from flawless prosthetic application to detailed dimensional coloring (see the forehead, as an example). I am rarely a fan of crystals and pearls in makeup because they are often over and misused, but not here. They are used in a way that creates texture and that turns their typical use on its head. The story is well told and draws me right into the world (and it’s not a world I want to be in)! Top-notch!

Comments

I love this reimagining of Storm. I think it is a vivid and fresh take and I would love to see it come to life on screen. This is a masterpiece. It’s so beautiful, in fact, it looks more like “comic style” fine art than a makeup application. The interplay between colors on the face is so dimensional. I think the lightning coming out through the eye while the big storm builds on the heart and chest is a great visual metaphor. I do wish I was hearing her story, rather than the reason behind its creation.

Comments

This is fresh and fun. In one stunning image, there is a beautiful demonstration of skill in both beauty and special effects. (Beauty makeup, bald cap application, transformative face paint, tattoo work, not to mention, “killer” fashion styling). The work of this nature requires extraordinary precision. The lines are crisp, clear, and clean. The color-use is superb. The bald cap and hair placement are HD quality. And, the smokey eye is STUNNING.

This takes me into the worlds of Mad Max, Alita, and all the other great post-apocalyptic fantasies. If she burst through my door, I would know I was either going to be saved or be obliterated…and I’d definitely hope for the former. The more you look, the more you discover—but it doesn’t make the mistake of overwhelming the viewer…that’s great art. To my eyes, this is perfection.

Comments

Nothing annoys me more than basic copy artistry. The Voodoo is by far one of the MOST overdone how-to copies. BUT, this variation has given it a unique spin that made me fall in love with it all over again. They say the devil is in the details, well, the addition of the stuffing pouring out of the seams took this from “tired” to “terrific”. Honestly, many things in makeup have been done before, but it’s how we craft it to make it our own that creates magic. I love this. The skin is pristine, the illusion is epic. The smokey eye is radiant. I think the tiny detail of the stuffing on the tip of the nose is tipping over the edge into artistic ecstasy. Great work.

Looking to enroll in some of QC’s courses? Learn more about each course here!

It’s time to announce the winners of our 2019 Halloween Makeup Contest!

Thank you to all of our participants, semi-finalists, finalists, and our judges, Nathan Johnson and Azzi Williams! Nathan and Azzi has written personalized comments for each of the finalists, and used their scoring system to determine the winner of each category.

Click the links below to navigate to each category and view the winners:

• “Trick” Finalists
• “Treat” Finalists

The lucky winner of our student prize draw is QC Makeup Academy student Brittany Bauhaus! Brittany wins a Huda Beauty “Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette” in the color Amethyst, and two pairs of Stilazzi’s fantasy lashes.

Thank you again to everyone that participated!

Thank you to everyone who participated in QC’s Halloween Makeup Contest: Treat category. Below is Azzi’s critique of the five finalists. Click here to view Nathan’s critique on the Trick category finalists.

Here’s what Azzi was looking for:

Originality & Effort: A unique, creative makeup that is detailed and works seamlessly with the hair, costume styling, and accessories to create an overall striking and dramatic look. We will disqualify plagiarism.

Skill/Technique: Clean and sophisticated makeup techniques, attention to detail, and high-pigmented products that capture your sci-fi or fantasy character.

Photo Quality:Nice clean, crisp image that is of great quality–something you would see in a makeup artist’s portfolio. Nothing is blurred, out of focus, or has poorly thought-out backgrounds (certainly no bedroom clutter in the background). And less is more with skin retouching and Photoshop–yes, I will be able to tell!

Story: Tell the story behind your creativity, your way. What is your design concept and why? Where did you source inspiration? You don’t need to write an essay, but a few paragraphs will help give some context to your look.

Finalists & Scoring

Comments

Veronika tells an absolutely powerful, compelling, and unique story that forms the conceptual framework to this truly exceptional look.

The added special FX elements along the scalp give this look an extra-terrestrial edge, while the story comes to life with the floral detail around the eye. What brings this whole look together is the way the crystals come to life in the hand!

Great attention to detail. This is a look that requires immense effort to bring the entire body to life and give it a truly alienesque fantasy look. The colors and textures all work in harmony to spark curiosity and intrigue.

Comments

The pigment, colors, and blending of this gorgeous sea creature fantasy look is so mesmerizing. The intensity of the blue, contrasted against the luminous, smooth white skin really makes the character come to life. Meanwhile, the contour, the brow blocking, and the beautifully textured elements across the scalp gives the work a truly ultramarine-creature-feel.

Photographically, the entire image captures an underwater mood with exceptional detail and creativity. From the styling, through the darkness of the background contrasted against the white face in the center, the look truly does “emerge from the shadows of the ocean” and into the light!

Comments

The attention to detail, artistic mastery, and refined brushstrokes show tremendous skill and talent. The colors, textures, and blending work effortlessly to create a truly ethereal, fantasy, other-worldly look. I absolutely love the additional elements of the contact lenses and jewel work.

The way all the textures are worked right into the hair and all the beautiful jewel work, contrasted with the skull-like detail across the jawline is a wonderfully compelling juxtaposition. There’s a little touch of candy color, a bit of Halloween darkness, and a bit of “burning man”, all rolled into one.

A truly exceptional creation that really captures the spirit of the fantasy “treat” Halloween spirit–sweet, curious, mysterious, and out of this world!

Comments

A highly pigmented, intense and powerful interpretation of the classical alien fantasy look. The backdrop helps the body come to life because of the great contrast. This work also shows wonderful brushwork.

A few minor tweaks can be done to enhance the look. The green could be blended a little more evenly across the body, or blended with complementary colors for a creative twist.

What’s gorgeous about this look is the “tribal” element of the stenciling and detail, which is simple, beautiful and organic in its finish. This element could be worked into the story or concept of the entry in more detail.

Overall, additional special FX elements along the frame of the face add a great Halloween touch. And the entire mood is dark yet mesmerizing.

Comments

A beautiful artistic creation that captures a very sweet and romantic love story. The blending and attention to detail are beautiful, and the techniques to create a true piece of art shows tremendous talent.

The colors and pigment are intense, but could be given more pop with some added neon tones, such as in the sunset and across the eyes.

The entry is a powerful fantasy look, but a few little elements could take it to another dimension to give it a Halloween twist. For instance, some special FX techniques could have been used to add texture and multi-dimensionality to the sunset, birds, or lovers. Some highlight, contrast, and glittery elements or appliques could also enhance the multi-dimensionality of this incredible body of work.

Looking to enroll in some of QC’s courses? Learn more about each course here!

Thank you to everyone who participated in QC’s Halloween Makeup Contest: Trick category. Below is Nathan’s critique of the five finalists. Click here to view Azzi’s critique on the Treat category finalists.

Here’s what Nathan was looking for:

Effort: Higher points will be awarded to those who combine diverse skills with incredible imagination to create a detailed and captivating horror look. Makeup technique is fundamental, but the more visually stunning the final image is—through the tasteful use of hair, costume styling, props, and accessories—the more points will be awarded.

Skill/Technique: Students who demonstrate the use of polished makeup skills, detailed application, symmetry (when it is supposed to be symmetrical), and a diverse use of techniques will be awarded higher points. There are no rules in horror, so don’t be afraid to change, refine, and create new techniques.

Photo Quality: A good quality image is essential. The photograph should be clean, crisp, and appropriately lit. Higher points will be awarded to images that look like they could be in a horror magazine or media feed. Points will be deducted for images that are blurry, messy, or have cluttered or thoughtless backgrounds (e.g. messy bedrooms, bathrooms, etc.). This doesn’t mean that you need an expensive setup, it just means you need to clean the oils off your camera lens or to borrow a better phone or camera. Incredibly gentle retouching is acceptable, although your makeup should be doing the perfecting on its own. Blurred skin, visible or over-retouching, and filters will result in a loss of points or disqualification.

Fun/Originality: Create a makeup look that is original and from the deepest recesses of your imagination. I expect to see wonder, terror, beauty, and horror! Have fun every step of the way! If you copy or tweak an influencer’s existing work, you will be disqualified. You are an artist—don’t copy. And I can promise you, everyone in the industry has seen enough of the well-shadowed skeleton teeth, the typical sugar skull, the ventriloquist’s dummy, and all the other over-done and constantly copied tutorials. Originality is difficult, especially in a social media driven world, so accept the challenge to create.

Story: A few sentences about your creation and the story behind him/her/it can do a lot to sell your image. Don’t fall into the trap of telling what you did with the makeup. Instead, tell the story of who or what this person or creature is. The stronger your story and concept, the more precise and clear your application will be, and the more points you’ll be awarded. In the past, amazing makeup artists have lost the contest because they refused to tell a story. Don’t let that be you.

Finalists & Scoring

Congratulations to our finalists and everyone who took the time to enter. Remember, winning is nice, but putting the effort into your craft and learning from the process is far better. There were so many incredible submissions this year, it was hard to even settle on the top five. The final determinations came down to the expertise in the work and the uniqueness of the look. Unfortunately, some really spectacular images were disqualified because they were slight variations on famous social media how-to videos. My advice to everyone reading this: if you want to be an artist, stop copying. You are unique and creative. What is inside you is more than enough. There is no better moment than now to let yourself shine.

That being said, let’s celebrate Cassie, Romane, Charley, Kaysey, and Tamara.

Comments

Cassie’s work really captures the spirit of Halloween. The art direction and composition of this photo are superb. Small details like the maggots on the forehead, the textured skin, and the contact lenses put it over the top in the best of ways. If I were to offer one bit of advice, I would recommend making the teeth smaller. Huge pieces of plastic, look like huge pieces of plastic. Perhaps if you decided to create row after row of smaller teeth, the realism of the look would have carried through to the mouth. This is really a beautiful submission. Congratulations.

Comments

This makeup carries a very timely message. In terms of morals, sadly, this is more reality than fiction. Everything about the image, from the plastic waste, to the manner in which the model has been carelessly left amongst the rubbish and rubble (as if her life was of no significance), adds to the impact.

The subtle makeup on the face conveys death perfectly. I only wish the wounds had more thoughtful precision. The throat, for example, seems to suggest both strangulation and a slit, but neither really comes through. The wound on the stomach is so stuffed with plastic, that you cannot tell if there is anything there other than some blood and plastic. If these wounds had some dimension and clarity, the image would have struck the gut more powerfully.

Comments

This is a fine example of body painting art. Paint and powder effects rely on highlight, contour, and illusion to have any impact. Kaysey did this masterfully.

With the addition of a facial prosthetic, she was able to transform the features beyond the capabilities of paint and powder alone. The work is riddled with detail. The transformation created with the hair is masterful. Small details are incredibly powerful.

For years and years, we have seen the half-face makeup looks. Although there is nothing wrong with it, I would have preferred to see a more novel approach. Perhaps the flesh-eater half could have been consuming the opposite half as if the transformation burned across the face. Perhaps there could have been something more than a bloody line dividing the two applications. I don’t want to take away from the splendor of this, I simply wish it had a more unique twist.

Comments

I am obsessed with this submission. I have seen variations of the jack o’ lantern person before, but this is unique on so many levels.

First, the use of Grandma is epic. The work with the scar wax/third degree is very good. It is smooth and nearly disappears into the skin. A touch more smoothing on the edges would have hit perfection.

Tamara’s work has a visceral effect. Matching the innocence of loving Grandma with such a gory effect, she has created a compelling image. Sadly, it lacks a story. Had you put a touch of effort into crafting the smallest story and put some thought into composing an image to enhance the story, you would have received 24 points—and won.

Comments

Romane demonstrates a tremendous amount of technical artistry in this submission. Not only are we seeing a beautiful application of color, but we are also seeing prosthetics, a bald cap, and handcrafted elements to reshape features. At first glance, one may view this as a face mask that was glued on from top to bottom. But that is part of the magic of the work because it is so much more.

Most impressively, it has been applied with precision, symmetry, and balance. The story is short, more of a statement, but it represents the image and leaves an impact. The photograph is high quality. I simply wish there was a little less shadow in the eye sockets.

It takes mastery to blend the flashing of a prosthetic into the skin, and Romane achieved it here. A touch less mood in the lighting would deliver the punch while allowing the viewer to really see just how much skill and technique went into this masterpiece.

Looking to enroll in some of QC’s courses? Learn more about each course here!