Cosplaying is more than just wearing cool costumes. It also requires great makeup transformation, too! Great cosplayers know that makeup plays a crucial role to their success.

Great choices of cosplay makeup before and after can show unbelievable results. See below for some impressive cosplay cosplay makeup ideas for you to try this year!
Table of Contents
- Cosplay Makeup Before and After Male
- 1. Ron Perlman as Hellboy
- 2. Ray Park as Darth Maul
- 3. Danielle Radcliffe as Ig Perrish
- 4. Jack Nicholson as The Classic Joker
- 5. Eddie Radmayne as The Danish Girl
- 6. Bill Skarsgard as IT’s Pennywise
- 7. Johnny Depp as Mad Hatter
- 8. Heath Ledger’s The Joker Version
- 9. Tim Roth as General Thade
- 10. Charles Chiklis as The Thing
- 11. Richard Brake as The Night King
- 12. Paul Bettany as Vision
- 13. Jared Leto as Rayon
- 14. John Travolta as Edna Tumblad
- 15. Ralph Fienned as Lord Voldemort
- 16. Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Hawking
- Cosplay Makeup Before and after Female
- Final Thoughts
- FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Cosplay Makeup Before and After Male
Let’s start the list with selected cosplay makeup before and after ideas for male cosplayers below. If you plan on going the extra mile for this year’s cosplay performance, we have no doubt our list will be a great inspiration for that purpose.
1. Ron Perlman as Hellboy

For those who watched Hellboy, we believe that you love Ron Perlman’s makeup as the big guy, right? A red makeup, paint and foundation is all you need to cosplay as Hellboy. Then add some prosthetics to create the two horns on the head.
2. Ray Park as Darth Maul

Darth Maul is an iconic character in Star Wars. Based on how he looks, we all know that he is a true evil character. If you want to create a look of this amazing Ray Park’s makeup before and after, you can cosplay as Darth Maul.
Use red and black cosplay makeup products, add some horns on the head, and wear red contact lenses.
3. Danielle Radcliffe as Ig Perrish

If you want to be all out in your cosplay performance this year, we think you might want to consider this Ig Perrish’s cosplay makeup before and after idea. However, it requires an extra amount of red makeup since you need to apply it to your whole body.
Also, get the huge horns applied to both sides of your head.
4. Jack Nicholson as The Classic Joker

Back then, many people praised Jack Nicholson’s cosplay makeup before and after because he looked amazing as the Joker. You can recreate his iconic look by wearing a white makeup, red lipstick, and dyeing your hair green using hair dye.
People will be shocked to see your before and after makeup looks.
5. Eddie Radmayne as The Danish Girl

There are several male actors who did amazing playing female characters, and Eddie Radmayne is definitely one of them. His makeup in playing a role in The Danish Girl looked amazing with ginger hair wig, red lipstick, and flawless makeup.
If you’re interested in cosplaying as a female character, you can consider this idea.
6. Bill Skarsgard as IT’s Pennywise

Pennywise is basically a character that almost everyone is afraid of, and Bill Skarsgard did an amazing job in playing a role as him. As you can see, the transformation is just amazing.
If you are going to cosplay as Pennywise, make sure you follow specific cosplay makeup tutorials and get high-quality makeup supplies for an excellent result.
7. Johnny Depp as Mad Hatter

Johnny Depp is an actor that plays many roles with amazing makeup looks, including this one. You can be like Johnny by cosplaying as Mad Hatter. Apply a pale makeup look with red blushes on your cheeks and under eyes.
Wear a curly red wig, add fake red eyebrows and lastly, wear green contact lenses on both eyes.
8. Heath Ledger’s The Joker Version

Heath Ledger’s cosplay makeup before and after is probably one of the best so far. His acting as the Joker was also acclaimed by many, and therefore we recommend you to cosplay as Ledger’s version of Joker.
Create a messy pale makeup, apply black eyeshadows around your eyes, and put on red lipstick in a messy way.
9. Tim Roth as General Thade

As true fans of the Planet of the Apes, we have to say that Tim Roth’s cosplay makeup before and after as General Thade was amazing!
Recreating this look will be a challenge, but it is still possible if you work with a professional makeup artist. It will require lots of prosthetics, but we have no doubt it will be worth it.
10. Charles Chiklis as The Thing

The Thing is a scary character with a kind heart and Charles Chiklis did an awesome job acting as the Thing. We weren’t able to recognize Charles behind the costume, and therefore cosplaying as the Thing would be a great idea.
Get a high-quality costume, and make sure you try it on for a comfort check.
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11. Richard Brake as The Night King

This one is one of the most difficult cosplay makeup ideas on the list, but the result will be awesome! If you are a professional cosplayer who always wants to perform something new and different, this one would be your best pick.
Get a professional to get it done for you, or follow a trusted tutorial online to create one yourself.
12. Paul Bettany as Vision

Paul Bettany did an amazing job acting as Vision, a character in the Avengers that we all love so much. Vision has a unique look with a cyborg kind of look plus a red skin. You can cosplay as Vision by recreating his look and applying a red solid makeup on your face.
Also, don’t forget to include the mind stone on your forehead, too!
13. Jared Leto as Rayon

Jared Leto is like a man with a thousand faces. He can play any role, including a role as Rayon, which was a female character.
His Rayon’s cosplay makeup before and after was mind blowing, and it can be a great inspiration for those of you who want to try cosplaying a female character for once.
14. John Travolta as Edna Tumblad

Next we also have a male actor playing a role as a female character. You can be like John Travolta by cosplaying as Edna Tumblad. You need to wear a bodysuit, and wear a dress with glitters, plus a classic hair wig with a pink bandana.
As for the makeup, apply a natural makeup, and make sure you use a setting spray to hold your makeup all day long.
15. Ralph Fienned as Lord Voldemort

Yes, he-who-must-not-be-named will always be an exciting character to cosplay. You can cosplay as Lord Voldemort by applying makeup that features a pale face, a bald head, and a nose with no holes on it. Lastly, don’t forget the black robe, too.
16. Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Hawking

There is no other actor that can play Stephen Hawking as good as Eddie Redmayne. If you adore Eddie, then you might be inspired by his amazing cosplay makeup before and after as Mr. Hawking.
First, create some wrinkles on the face and wear old-school glasses and a wig as the final touch.
Cosplay Makeup Before and after Female
Nope, we don’t forget about female cosplayers out there. Here we also have a list of the most amazing cosplay makeup before and after, done by famous celebs and makeup artists.
17. Meryl Streep as Rabbi

Aside from being a great actress, Meryl Streep is also known for playing roles with amazing makeup transformations. This one is no exception. She successfully transformed herself into Rabbi with a totally different look.
Aside from the white beard and hair, an amazing makeup plus the glasses also play a crucial role for this look.
18. Wonder Woman Cosplay

This girl has been around the internet for quite a long time for her ability to cosplay as many characters, including Wonder Woman. In our opinion, she surely did an amazing makeup job cosplaying as Wonder Woman.
This is truly a professional cosplay makeup work that makes a great inspiration.
19. Karen Gillan as Nebula

If you are a fan of the Avengers, we have to say that cosplaying Nebula would be a great idea. Creating her look will take more time since you need to wear a bald cap, create the robotic pattern on the head, plus creating the blue skin with textures.
It might need airbrush work but the result will totally be awesome.
20. Angelina Jolie as Maleficent

Maleficent’s look is just so iconic and many cosplayers have been trying to recreate her look. Maleficent’s cosplay makeup before and after is something to adore especially by cosplayers.
You can cosplay as her by putting on a white flawless makeup and red lipstick, and wearing black horns that you can easily get online.
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21. Helena Bonham Carter as the Red Queen

The Red Queen’s makeup from Alice in Wonderland is something that we think you need to consider having.
The makeup includes a pale white skin, a red lipstick, blue eyeshadows, and an iconic red hair wig as the final touch. Also, make sure you put on the evil face expression, too.
22. Sofia Boutella as Jaylah Star Trek Beyond

Jaylah has a scary look, but she is actually a kind girl who is willing to help Captain Kirk and his crew.
Her looks deserve to be recreated for your next cosplay convention. It has an amazing appearance with white skin and hair, black eyeshadows around the eyes, and sharp lines that follow along the white hairstyle.
23. Emma Thomson as Nanny McPhee

Who can hate Nanny McPhee? She is a strict nanny with great powers to turn unlikely situations around. Emma Thomson showed amazing cosplay makeup before and after, and cosplaying as the nanny will be an exciting idea.
We think that you can do it yourself by following an online tutorial. Also, don’t forget the mole on your right chin, too!
24. Tilda Swinton as Madame D.

Next up we recommend you to cosplay as Madame D. The makeup work is challenging, and that’s what makes it interesting to try. You can create makeup that makes you look a lot older with wrinkles everywhere.
Wear a black red lipstick, and get a white hair wig as the final touch.
25. Nicole Kidman as Erin Bell

If you want to learn about the beginner cosplay makeup, you might to try this one out. This makeup style features an old and tired look with lines, wrinkles and black marks on the face.
Add to the tired look by drawing dark lines under the eyes using brown eyeshadows, and style your hair in a messy style for a dramatic effect.
Final Thoughts
Make sure you look your best at the next cosplay conventions and events by wearing great costumes and amazing makeup styles, too! The key to a successful cosplay is not just about the costume, but also the makeup.
So, make sure you refer to our list of cosplay makeup before and after ideas, and be ready to surprise your fellow cosplayers with your own version of before and after look.
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
How can I make my cosplay makeup last all day at a convention?
For cosplay, you need to choose a full-coverage foundation to ensure that your skin looks flawless all day at the convention. Use setting powder because it can help your makeup stay in place all day and prevent any shine or oiliness.
How do I achieve a natural look with cosplay makeup for realistic characters?
You can wear natural makeup items and follow trusted online tutorials for excellent results. Also, make sure you prep your face properly and use high-quality primer, foundation and setting spray for extra hold.
What are some tips for applying prosthetics or special effects in cosplay makeup?
The first tip is to make sure you have all the necessary prosthetics supplies on hand, and prepare the appliance on your face. Once you attach the prosthetic appliance on your face, blend the edges using liquid latex.
Last tip, don’t forget to add details to the face like the base, highlights, shadows, blushes and lip colors.