Five Fast Facts from Self.com’s Porn Makeup Artist Q&A
Porn has above-the-line talent and below-the-line talent, just as mainstream cinema does. Above the line consists of well-known directors and actors, the sorts of names you’d see plastered all over a movie’s cover, while below the line comprises the behind-the-scenes workers like cameramen, editors and costume designers. One of the most important on-set figures is the makeup artist. After all, when the goal of a movie is to present an idealized sex fantasy featuring full nudity, a little magic with blush, concealer and more is often necessary. Self.com recently sat down with porn makeup artist Lora Michael for an inside look! We present five fascinating facts from that interview.
1. There’s a way to make lipstick “dickproof”
Ever notice that lipstick seldom gets smeared in a porn movie, no matter how wild and crazy the BJ is? That’s no accident, according to Michael. “Pretty much every long-wear lipstick has the same first ingredient, isododecane. It’s an oil that evaporates and makes everything seal to your skin. It’s the magic ingredient,” she told Self.
2. Porn sets are often uncomfortably cold for the performers
You might think that the temperatures on porn movie sets would be adjusted to make the unclothed actors as comfortable as possible, but that isn’t necessarily the case. “Actually, most of the women are always cold because they’re naked and the room is adjusted to make the crew comfortable. Part of my job is to sit nearby with a big towel or a robe and bundle them up, otherwise they’re too cold to function,” said Michael.
3. Some porn shoots have “set pets”
Some sets have “furries,” even when it’s not a fetish shoot: “We have set pets. Yes, baby kittens. We have this outtake reel of the kittens wandering onto set and sitting there and watching, or popping out of the corner and playing with the actress’s hair while she’s getting fucked.”
4. Fake tans make everything harder
Michael isn’t a fan of fake tans, noting, “Everyone’s already the color they’re supposed to be. If someone really needs one of these women to be a different color, I just airbrush them that color on set and it doesn’t require the smelly chemical that interacts with the skin.” Does this mean John Boehner is banned from all porn sets?
5. The glow of “passion” is often a makeup effect
The heat of the moment isn’t always easy to capture in the start-and-stop environment of a porn shoot. Makeup artist the rescue! “If you’re trying to see passion and that someone has lost control because they’re having such a good time, they need to be a little glowy or it just looks weird. I’ll use a little bit of highlighter or moisturizer on the cheekbones so it doesn’t look so matte,” said Michael.
Read the full interview here.
(Featured image: Alex Grey)
