I always liked the character Harley Quinn, so when I found out about Mizz Worthy's Heroes and Villains contest co-sponsored with Illamasqua, I immediately knew I wanted to do makeup based on her. Depending on the era of Harley, and who's writing for her, she's a bit odd and zany or completely diabolical and quite mad. Well, we know she's not too sane regardless, 'cause she's madly in love with the Joker (and this was before Heath Ledger!). She also calls their pet hyenas her babies. So: crazy. But what I really like about Harley, is the way she's portrayed in some books/storylines as someone who's conflicted and torn. She bounces from being madly in love with a madman, and therefore his aide in crime, and being a wacky but skilled psychoanalyst.
I wish I was acrobatic, like her, but unfortunately I'm a bit of a clutz. Some stories have her gifted with superhuman strength in addition to her acrobatics, and immunity to toxins. I'm a mom, so I already have that superhuman strength, and I don't really live a life where immunity to toxins would come in handy, so I'm ok without those superpowers. Just gimme a bit of that agility, please!
By the way, Harley Quinn #45 on the Top 100 Villains of All Time according to IGN.com - so don't let her instability and harlequin-jester costume fool ya!
Harley Quinn is always seen the same way --- black mask, vampy lips, and that slim-fitting harlequin-jester suit with it's silly hat. I thought she needed a bit of an update in the makeup department, though I still wanted to hint at her traditional mask. Here's what I came up with:
I also wanted to portray the more gentle, conflicted side of Harley:
Having a little fun:
For what I used, keep reading...
As pale as I am, I still tried to get a bit whiter and more even - so I used MAC's Polished Ivory Paintstick all over the face. Wish I had the white one, but this is what was in the kit, and so it's what I used.
Anywhere you see red: MAC Artifact Paint Pot (plummy-burgundy cream shadow) topped with MAC Reflects Blackened Red Glitter. Additionally on the lips: a touch of clear lipgloss from Elizabeth Arden and a smattering of MAC Rue d'Rouge Dazzleglass.
Anywhere you see Black outline: MAC Bootblack Liquid Eye Liner.
The black eyes were MAC Blackground Paint Pot and Carbon eye shadow.
Mascara was Maybelline Lash Stiletto.
I used Stila Kajal liner on the waterlines, top and bottom, and to line the top of the red eye.
I also pressed a bit of MAC Reflects Blackened Red on the lid of the black eye, and created a bit of a liner effect with it on that eye.
The black eye was enhanced with a Fyrinnae pigment, Immortality, which has multicolored shimmer in a black base.
I love the dimension I got out of the "mask" - it sparkled nicely, though I'm not sure I caught that so well with the camera.