Want to look like and convince others you wield one of the most powerful weapons in the universe? Is your favorite color green? Do you want to look unique and appropriately show off your Green Lantern fandom for Saint Patrick’s Day? Well if you answered yes to any of the previous questions I have the perfect makeup look for you to try out!

Considering tomorrow is the Feast of Saint Patrick, a holiday celebrating the popular Irish Saint who helped bring Christianity to Ireland by notably teaching the concept of trinity with the 3-leafed clover known as a Shamrock, we thought this Make-Up Made Geeky article would work best with a bit of green. So while many are out drinking and celebrating one Irish hero known for his green, here are some tips to look like one of DC’s greatest heroes in green, Green Lantern (though you can use the same tips to pull off the ol’ Emerald Archer, Green Arrow, if you feel so inclined). Now, one of the most iconic things about all Green Lanterns, aside from their cosmic rings, is their green domino mask and that is what we’re going to show you hot to replicate in makeup today. For step-by-step instructions on how I accomplished this look, stay tuned.
The very first Green Lantern appeared back in All-American Comics #16, in the summer of 1940 and before DC Comics was known as DC Comics. The character known as Alan Scott was created by Bill Finger and Martin Nodell and had a weakness of wood, not yellow. Scott however had more of a black/purple domino mask and was never a part of what would later be created and known as the Green Lantern Corps. Those concepts didn’t arise until the character was re-created by John Broome and Gil Kane in 1959′s Showcase #22. The new Green Lantern of the Silver Age was named Hal Jordan and he was a test pilot that came across a dying alien and was given the Green Lantern ring to help protect the universe (or at least his sector of the galaxy). Many Green Lanterns would follow after Hal Jordan, some human and some alien, but Hal has stayed the most iconic wielder of the Green Lantern ring to date.

 


So are you ready to make your very own Green Lantern domino mask and fight the evil of the galaxy? The very first thing I did was put in the white contacts. They give you that cosmic and alien look, much like Ryan Reynolds had in the film and colorists tend to portray in the comic art. I chose to do this before the makeup application, because later on when the makeup is complete you’d most likely ruin it by attempting to get them in. If you have sensitive eyes or aren’t used to wearing contacts I wouldn’t recommend wearing them, although I really think they add some cool contrast to this look.

 


I purchased this pair from lensvillage.com. Just an FYI, these contacts can restrict your vision a little while wearing them.

Next I took a white eyeliner pencil and gently traced the outline of the mask. This is so you can easily alter or fix any mistakes before you apply the green which would be more challenging to remove completely.

I went for more of a Hal Jordan inspired shape but you can adjust it however you like. It really helps to use a reference photo of the mask you want to replicate. Once you’re happy with the overall shape, it’s time for the next step.

 

Take a green face paint or cream makeup and fill in the mask. Use a smaller brush for more accuracy around the outer edges. Where there are any outer areas that are sharp or create a point, use an angled brush for precision. In the case of my mask, I have created some very angular points, similar to how they’re depicted in the artwork of Doug Mahnke, Ivan Reis, or Mike McKone. If you want something more like the recent movie, starring Ryan Reynolds, you might want to round it out and bring the mask a bit wider. Green Lantern’s mask has varied heavily over the past 50+ years, depending on the artist, but generally it keeps the same domino mask style. For more iconic versions, you might want to check how the mask has appeared in other various medias. Green Lantern has appeared in DC related cartoons and TV shows since the 1960′s, but it has been the past decade where he has really shined as the star of 3 separate movies and his own cartoon. Ryan Reynold’s 2011 live-action film was a bit of a box office flop, but the animated Green Lantern: First Flight & Green Lantern: Emerald Knights are both worth watching along with the Green Lantern: The Animated Series.

 

Now with a black color, lightly re-trace over the original white outline and blend a little bit with the green for a smooth more seamless looking finish. Again with the black, trace over your natural frown lines for an emphasized expression and blend. With some various shades of light and dark green eyeshadows, highlight and contour the mask. Be sure to have at least one shade of green that’s significantly lighter than the mask and another darker.

 

Think of where light would naturally hit your face, and accentuate those portions with lighter greens. Where there would naturally be shadows use darker shades of green to create them. In my version I concentrated lighter shades on the bridge of my nose down the center, in the inner corners of my eyes, and underneath my brow bone.

 

I used darker colors around the creases and slightly underneath my eyelids to create dimension. If you’re having trouble finding where to highlight and contour, please refer to the picture that has the proper areas labeled.

 

For even more obvious eye contrast, line your inner waterline with black eyeliner and add some mascara (optional). There you have it, now the makeup is complete! Accessorize with your favorite Green Lantern t shirt & Power ring! I’d also stay away from wearing anything yellow, haha!