Director
Creative or operational relevance to directing
Makeup applied anywhere except the face — arms, hands, back, legs. Used for tattoos, scars, tans, dirt, or matching skin tone to the face.
Body makeup deals with areas outside the face. This is more work than it sounds: as soon as an actor wears short sleeves, the skin on their arms and hands must match the face — and rarely does so on its own after makeup application.
What it's used for
- Matching. Hands are usually darker or redder than the made-up face.
- Covering tattoos, scars, and birthmarks that don't fit the character.
- Applying tattoos, injuries, dirt, sweat.
- Continuity across shooting days — documented with photos.
Practical considerations
Body makeup transfers: onto costumes, props, seating. Therefore, it is set, and the costume department is informed beforehand. And it takes time — a large tattoo can easily take an hour, every shooting day anew.
From the crafts
Perspectives
Producer
Importance in production planning and execution
More in the lexikon
Related terms
Test your knowledge
Quiz
1. Zu welchem Department gehört „Körper-Makeup"?
2. Wie viele verschiedene Fachperspektiven bietet dieser Eintrag?