How to Look Sick with Makeup

Whether you’re playing a prank, putting on a production, or practicing for your Halloween costume, there are a few simple cosmetic techniques you can use to fool people into thinking you’re under the weather. Start by apply powdering your entire face to make it look pale, then draw circles under your eyes with a dark-colored brow pencil for a sunken, sleepless appearance. A smudge of pink or red lipstick can create the effect of feverish cheeks or a raw runny nose. You can even apply dabs of clear glycerin to mimic sweat or snot!

Part 1
Part 1 of 4:

Putting on a Pale Base

  1. Image titled Look Sick with Makeup Step 1
    1
    Start with a naked face. Skip the usual enhancements, like eyeliner, eye shadow, lipstick, and mascara. Leaving them off will give you a blank canvas to work with. From there, you’ll be able to stage each part of your face individually.
    • Wash and exfoliate your face before you begin so it will take the cosmetics better.
    • A makeup-free base is also more believable, since most people don’t bother with makeup when they’re feeling unwell.
  2. Image titled Look Sick with Makeup Step 2
    2
    Apply a foundation 2-3 shades lighter than your natural skin tone. Dab the foundation onto your cheeks, chin, and forehead. Then, blend it thoroughly so it isn’t too obvious. When you’re done, you’ll look like all the color has drained out of your face.[1]
    • If you’re unsure which foundation will look best, start with a shade closer to your skin tone and lighten up from there. Going too light at once may not be convincing.
    Advertisement
  3. Image titled Look Sick with Makeup Step 3
    3
    Contour your cheeks for a gaunt appearance. Dust a contouring brush with purple or maroon eye shadow and sweep the bristles along the length of your cheekbones from your earlobes to the corners of your mouth. Blend with a separate brush until only there's only a faint trace of the color remaining. This drawn, sickly effect will be enough to suggest that you've dropped weight.
    • If the shadow on your cheeks isn't quite gloomy enough on its own, try hitting other areas where color will show up well, like your temples and laugh lines.
    • Switch to a darker shade of eye shadow to broadcast that you're on your deathbed.
  4. Image titled Look Sick with Makeup Step 4
    4
    Use blush to feign a fever. For best results, pick out a subtle pink or magenta shade. Pat it onto the points of your cheeks and the center of your forehead and blend in every direction. Apply the blush lightly at first and add more little by little to hint at a temperature.[2]
    • Go easy on the blush. You want to look like a sick person, not a china doll.
    5. Advertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 4:

Altering Your Eyes

  1. Image titled Look Sick with Makeup Step 5
    1
    Draw dark circles under your eyes. Scoop up a small amount of reddish-brown or reddish-purple cream blush on your fingertip and underline each eye from one corner to the other. Blend the color downward until it fades into the skin just above your cheekbones. Instant tired eyes![3]
    • Keep the blush confined to your lower eyelid. If you blend it any lower, it may start to look fishy.
    • You could also use a brow or eyeliner pencil, though this might be tougher to smudge properly.
  2. Image titled Look Sick with Makeup Step 6
    2
    Rim your eyes with red cream blush or lipstick. Place a small dot at the outer corners of both eyes. Use the tip of your finger or a cotton swab to smudge the makeup around the edges and up under the lids. Red, swollen eyes are a clear sign that you've been crying, sneezing uncontrollably, or suffering from a lack of sleep.[4]
    • Avoid blending the blush or lipstick into the product you used to draw on your eye circles. Too much color in the same area may come off looking raccoon-like and unnatural.
  3. Image titled Look Sick with Makeup Step 7
    3
    Leave your bottom eyelid exposed to create the effect of eye bags. Rather than filling in your entire lid, leave about half an inch exposed just beneath your lower lashes. The uncovered skin will look puffy and swollen as a result.[5]
    • Make sure you’ve contoured your eyes carefully with the cream blush or brow pencil. Otherwise, your eye bags won’t look very real.
  4. Image titled Look Sick with Makeup Step 8
    4
    Use eye drops for a bloodshot stare. Squeeze 1-2 drops of regular saline into each eye and blink a few times. This is a harmless way to temporarily puff up your eyes like you’ve been dealing with wicked allergies.[6]
    • Be careful not to use so much that you get teary. All that hard work will have been for nothing if your eye makeup runs.
    5. Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 4:

Adding Realistic Touches to Your Nose and Lips

  1. Image titled Look Sick with Makeup Step 9
    1
    Show off a raw, runny nose with red lipstick. Paint the lipstick onto the tip of your nose and around both nostrils and spread it outward with the pad of your finger. Work a little into the creases around the edges, as well. Blend thoroughly and wipe off the excess where it begins to creep higher up on your nose or onto your cheeks.[7]
    • Stay away from shades that are too dark or too red. These scream “circus clown” more than they do “patient zero.”[8]
    • Carry a box of tissues around with you to complete the illusion.
  2. Image titled Look Sick with Makeup Step 10
    2
    Apply streaks of glycerin to simulate snot. Use a cotton swab to brush the glycerin under the openings of your nostrils. The clear liquid can pull double duty when dabbed around your brow and hairline like beads of sweat. Don’t forget areas like your neck and temples if you’re attempting to play off a big illness like the flu.[9]
    • Glycerin is safe, non-toxic, and can actually moisturize your skin, which means it’s okay to use as much as you need to really sell your symptoms.[10]
  3. Image titled Look Sick with Makeup Step 11
    3
    Use foundation to make your lips look pale and dry. Spread a thin coat of liquid foundation over both lips, then press and pucker them like you just put on chapstick to create little cracks and creases. Be sure to hit the inside of each lip as well as the front so the foundation will be visible when you open your mouth. When your lips are the same color as the surrounding skin, they'll seem to recede right into your face.
    • Tracing around your lips with a light-colored eyeliner pencil will help accentuate their dry, cracked, crusty condition and make people think you've come down with something serious.[11]
    • If you accidentally apply too much foundation, blot (don't wipe) your lips with a damp cloth to remove the caked-on bits.
    4. Advertisement
Part 4
Part 4 of 4:

Preserving Your Finished Look

  1. Image titled Look Sick with Makeup Step 12
    1
    Finish with a dewy setting spray. A generous spritz with a setting spray will help preserve your makeup and safeguard it against smudging and fading. The dewy kind can also lend a faint sheen, complementing the glycerin sweat you already applied and making it look like you’re not wearing makeup at all. Win-win![12]
    • Hold the bottle a foot or so away from your face while you spray to keep from accidentally blasting off your foundation.
  2. Image titled Look Sick with Makeup Step 13
    2
    Avoid touching your face. Once you’ve got your frail features looking just right, resist the urge to mess with them. Don’t scratch, pick, or run your fingers over any part of your makeup. A single smudge is all it will take for you to get busted.
    • Lay face-up so your makeup doesn’t rub off on your pillow.
    • If you absolutely have to fiddle with your face, do it delicately and be sure to fix any mistakes you make in the process.
  3. Image titled Look Sick with Makeup Step 14
    3
    Reapply your makeup as needed. Should you happen to experience any technical difficulties, simply touch up the problem area with a fresh coat of blush, pencil, or foundation. The shiny glycerin will also wear off over time, so you may need to paint on a little more of that periodically as well.[13]
    • Blend the fresh makeup until it’s indistinguishable from the old.
  4. Image titled Look Sick with Makeup Step 15
    4
    Try not to overdo it. Stop to inspect your handiwork every so often and use your best judgment to decide whether it looks authentic. The key to a face that screams “I can’t get out of bed today” is subtlety. Too much of any one product will come off looking phony and potentially blow your cover.[14]
    • Start small and add more where you think it’s needed. It may not take as much makeup as you think to bring the common cold to life.
    • Use makeup remover wipes to gently blot areas where you’ve caked a product on too heavily.
    5. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

  • Question
    What should I do to prevent the eyeliner from smudging?
    Christin Birckhead
    Christin Birckhead
    Makeup Artist
    Christin Birckhead is a Makeup Artist and the Founder of Conceptual Beauty, a beauty service based in Washington, DC specializing in wedding services such as engagements and bridal parties along with fashion shows and executive headshots. She has over 20 years of makeup and beauty consulting experience. She is also the lead makeup artist for Ascender Communications and freelances with the local NBC news team in the DC metro area. Her clients include Nancy Pelosi, Nancy Cartwright, Armin Van Buuren, Hugh Jackman, Vashawn Mitchell, Richard Smallwood, Benjamin T. Jealous, Colin Powell, Wanda Durant, and Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
    Christin Birckhead
    Christin Birckhead
    Makeup Artist
    Expert Answer
    Dry your waterline with a Q-tip before applying the eyeliner. After you put the eyeliner, put a little bit of eyeshadow on it to set it.
  • Question
    What does the eyeshadow primer do?
    Christin Birckhead
    Christin Birckhead
    Makeup Artist
    Christin Birckhead is a Makeup Artist and the Founder of Conceptual Beauty, a beauty service based in Washington, DC specializing in wedding services such as engagements and bridal parties along with fashion shows and executive headshots. She has over 20 years of makeup and beauty consulting experience. She is also the lead makeup artist for Ascender Communications and freelances with the local NBC news team in the DC metro area. Her clients include Nancy Pelosi, Nancy Cartwright, Armin Van Buuren, Hugh Jackman, Vashawn Mitchell, Richard Smallwood, Benjamin T. Jealous, Colin Powell, Wanda Durant, and Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
    Christin Birckhead
    Christin Birckhead
    Makeup Artist
    Expert Answer
    The first purpose of an eyeshadow primer is to keep the eyeshadow in place. The second purpose is to even out the skin tone on the eyelid.
  • Question
    What is the advantage of using a cream blush?
    Christin Birckhead
    Christin Birckhead
    Makeup Artist
    Christin Birckhead is a Makeup Artist and the Founder of Conceptual Beauty, a beauty service based in Washington, DC specializing in wedding services such as engagements and bridal parties along with fashion shows and executive headshots. She has over 20 years of makeup and beauty consulting experience. She is also the lead makeup artist for Ascender Communications and freelances with the local NBC news team in the DC metro area. Her clients include Nancy Pelosi, Nancy Cartwright, Armin Van Buuren, Hugh Jackman, Vashawn Mitchell, Richard Smallwood, Benjamin T. Jealous, Colin Powell, Wanda Durant, and Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
    Christin Birckhead
    Christin Birckhead
    Makeup Artist
    Expert Answer
    Cream blush is suitable for people who have textured and a little aged skin. You can apply it easily with your fingers or a brush. It is not very intense, and you can rub it away.
Advertisement

Warnings

  • Don’t let anyone come too close if you’re trying to convince them that you’re sick. Chances are they’ll see through your charade once they get a good look at you.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
  • It’s not a good idea to use makeup to con your parents into letting you stay home from school.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
Advertisement

Things You'll Need

  • Powder foundation (various shades)
  • Cream blush (various shades)
  • Red or pink lipstick
  • Eyeliner or brow pencil
  • Glycerin
  • Dewy Setting Spray
  • Applicator brush
  • Cotton swab

You Might Also Like

Apply Eye Makeup (for Women Over 50)16 Tips and Tricks for Applying Ageless Eye Makeup (For Women Over 50)
What Is a Good Age to Start Wearing MakeupWhat's the Right Age to Start Wearing Makeup? A Guide for Parents and Kids
How to
Use Makeup Setting Spray
How to
Stop Eyeliner from Smudging
Fix Dried Out Eyeliner Gel
How to
Fix Dried Out Eyeliner Gel
How to
Avoid Makeup Creases
Cover Acne Scars with Makeup
How to
Cover Acne Scars with Makeup
Prevent Makeup Transfer on Clothes3 Ways to Prevent Makeup Transfer on Clothes
How to
Cover Broken Skin with Makeup
Apply Illuminator
How to
Apply Illuminator
How to
Apply Makeup to Dry Skin
Makeup Removal Tips That’ll Get Every Last Bit off of Your Face
How to
Apply Makeup as a Man
Keep Eyeliner on Your Waterline All Day
How to
Keep Eyeliner on Your Waterline All Day
Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ https://thebeautygypsy.com/five-ways-to-fake-sickness/
  2. ↑ http://www.refinery29.com/japanese-makeup-trend
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F84RMLyUt0g&feature=youtu.be&t=31
  4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk1Jphi2mT0&feature=youtu.be&t=96
  5. ↑ https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/japans-weird-new-beauty-trend-looking-sick-on-113436039668.html
  6. ↑ https://thebeautygypsy.com/five-ways-to-fake-sickness/
  7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPNb_e02S_k&feature=youtu.be&t=205
  8. ↑ https://thebeautygypsy.com/five-ways-to-fake-sickness/
  9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk1Jphi2mT0&feature=youtu.be&t=116
  1. ↑ https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-20275/glycerin-topical/details
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F84RMLyUt0g&feature=youtu.be&t=118
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk1Jphi2mT0&feature=youtu.be&t=141
  4. ↑ https://www.marthastewartweddings.com/411732/wedding-makeup-touch-up-tips
  5. ↑ https://www.beautyheaven.com.au/makeup/blush/how-to-channel-the-harajuku-girl-makeup-trend

About This Article

wikiHow Staff
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 141,640 times.
108 votes - 81%
Co-authors: 9
Updated: February 16, 2022
Views: 141,640
Categories: Makeup
Article SummaryX

To make yourself look sick using makeup, apply foundation 2-3 shades lighter than your natural skin tone, which will give you a pale, sickly complexion. You can also add a little blush to your cheeks to make it look like you have a fever. Use a reddish-brown cream blush or lipstick under your eyes so you look tired and sick. Put a little red lipstick on your nose to make it look like you have a cold. Whichever products you use, make sure you don't put too much on, since this will look obvious and give you away. For more tips, including how to make your lips look pale and dry, read on!

Did this summary help you?
Advertisement