Lily - The Courageous Leader

Lily, the brave and protective one of the group, leads her friends on this spooky quest. Her make-up needed to reflect both her steadfast courage and the physical and emotional toll of the journey. The look for Lily began with the application of a pre-made Pro Bondo piece to the chin. It was created using Épaississant Kryosil Thickening Agent 40 g and Adhésif Pros-Aide - The Original - 50 ml. This was mixed with a little Colorant Flocking Color Additive 50 g for a more realistic skin-like quality. The wound simulation was then filled with Faux sang Fresh Scratch 30 ml (dark) to give it a congealed yet recently occurred impression. A wound she suffered during the torturous mission to free the trapped spirits. In keeping with the character, a soft, youthful base of Digital Complexion Fluid Foundation was applied, keeping her skin fresh and natural to show her warmth and optimism.



It was important to keep a very natural ‘no make-up look’ to the skin, slightly dewy, with soft blush tones across her cheeks and lips to emphasize her innocence and the eerie, dark environment surrounding the lake. As the group encounters the spectral figures of the lake and their journey unfolds, the teenagers face grueling physical exertion. It was important to also add elements that conveyed this. After coating the eyelashes with Lash Revolution Mascara (black), a small amount of HD Cream Liner (ebony) was smudged under the bottom lash line. This wasn’t a part of the beauty make-up detail as such; the idea was to use the HD Micro Foundation Cream 12 g to encourage a smudged mascara impression. Make-up Blend 20 ml was stippled on top of the HD Cream Liner, which was then naturally watered down and transferred under the eyes for a tear-streaked, haunted look, making her seem as though the weight of the spirits' stories was affecting her directly. Further details helped to tell Lily’s story, such as Faux sang Fresh Scratch 30 ml (dark) being applied with a stipple sponge to the knees and palms of the hands, creating realistic grazes and surface scratches. Faux sang Supreme Blood External 50 ml (dark) was then stippled over these applications, giving the injuries a more recent look with the wet, fresh blood.



It’s always important to consider the overall aesthetic when applying details to convey a story of a character; therefore, the clothes need to be considered, too. How would the teenager’s story have affected their overall appearance? The clothing was torn and degraded by the wardrobe assistant, and then the make-up team added further details by mixing Boue synthétique (black) and Boue synthétique (brown) that was then soaked into the fabric in relevant areas. Using chip brushes and toothbrushes, small amounts of the concoction was flicked onto the hands, face, and neck, dirtying down the skin. Faux sang Supreme Blood External 200 ml (dark) was dripped into the fabric around the found sites to replicate the transfer of blood from the wounds before; finally, Glycérine 250 ml poured into spray bottles was doused over the actor’s hair, clothing, and skin to add further realistic detailing to their situation.

Jake - The Empathetic Heart

Jake, whose curiosity sets the adventure in motion, is the empathetic and thoughtful member of the group. His make-up had to reflect his innocence and emotional depth, along with his growing connection to the supernatural world of Hollow Creek. The design team wanted to contrast Jake’s initial “boy-next-door” look with a subtle transition into a more rugged and haunted appearance by the story’s climax. His fresh-faced look was created using minimal make-up—just some Digital Complexion Fluid Foundation and light contouring to give him a healthy, active appearance.



Jake’s appearance needed to then evolve to reflect the precarious events the teenagers experience. We opted for a large bruise to the cheekbone, which would have been caused by him dropping to the floor on the rocks when desperately trying to retrieve the Drowned Maiden’s locket. Shades from the Cream Color Circles Cream Color Circle (Bruise) and Cream Color Circle (Burn & Injury) were layered to mimic the natural stages of bruising. ‘Yellow Ocher’, a deep yellow tone that represents the initial stage of a bruise, particularly around the edges where the skin is swelling was stippled all around the cheek as a base layer. ‘Oxide Green’ and ‘Purple’ were added to depict areas of deeper tissue damage, blending these colors into the yellow to create a realistic transition between the hues. ‘Lake/Altrot’ and ‘081’, the red tones, along with ‘Bruise Purple,’ a blueish hue from the bruise wheels, help the skin to appear fresh and swollen. The reds are applied at the center for fresh trauma, while the blue adds a darker, deeper undertone to reflect blood pooling beneath the skin. These are all gently blended with a sponge and stippled with fingers to soften the transitions and avoid harsh lines, ensuring the bruise looks natural.



Subtle smudges of dirt and grime to his face and neck were additionally added, created from a wash of Boue synthétique (black) and Boue synthétique (brown) Mud Effects. This gave his skin a weathered, windswept look, showcasing the treacherous environment they experienced at the lake’s edge. His eyes were subtly shadowed with shades from the Cream Color Circle to suggest stress endured by the weight of the quest and the harsh elements of the woods. Jake’s transformation culminates in a moment of heroic determination, emphasized by the sweat, Glycérine 100 ml, dirt, and small injuries that show his commitment to saving the town—despite the physical toll it takes on him.

Sam - The Rebel Spirit

Sam, the usually fearless and quick-witted teen, brings an edge to the group. Her make-up look was designed to reflect her rebellious personality, contrasting sharply with the eerie environment while still showing her vulnerability in the face of such danger. Her look was a little bolder, with a smoky eyeliner and a slightly darker lip color. That gave her an effortlessly cool vibe. Eye Liner (black) was smudged around her darkened lashes and encouraged to bleed into the fine lines with a little Make-up Blend 20 ml.



We, again, needed to tell the story through the make-up as the group progresses through the cursed woods and encounters the tragic spirits of Hollow Creek. Sweat was lightly dabbed across her forehead and hairline using Glycérine 250 ml, with smears of Boue synthétique applied to her face, hands, and neck as if she had fought her way through the undergrowth. Her eye make-up began to fade, smudging naturally with the Make-up Blend 20 ml reactivating the Eye Liner (black). Faint scratches across her arms and knees were created using Faux sang Fresh Scratch 30 ml (dark) and Faux sang Supreme Blood External 200 ml (dark).



A small Pro Bondo wound was applied to the forehead, creating a nasty gash that was filled by layering Faux sang Fresh Scratch 50 ml (dark) and Faux sang Supreme Blood External 200 ml (dark). Sam’s look blended rebellion with raw determination. Her smudged eyeliner and bruises told a story of her fighting spirit, as well as her resilience despite the terrifying challenges she faced.

Ultimately, Jake, Lily, and Sam’s make-up looks were more than just visual aesthetics—they were an essential part of the storytelling, helping to draw viewers deeper into the haunted world of Hollow Creek. Whether it was Jake’s determination, Lily’s ethereal empathy, or Sam’s rebellious resilience, each character’s make-up told a story that was as haunting as the world around them.