We've seen porn stars from many interesting angles (just saying). But when makeup artist Melissa Murphy decided to upload before-and-after photos to Instagram featuring the adult film industry's finest ladies, we suddenly saw them in a totally different light.
Murphy, who first got her brushes dirty working at the makeup counter in a Boston mall, has been transforming porn stars for eight years. She scored her first gig when she picked up dog-walking duties for a porn director's assistant. However, she admits that she was way out of her league when "The Luscious Pornstar" Gianna Michaels sat down in her chair.
"I showed up and didn't know that it was makeup and hair. I had nothing to do hair. She was such a good sport because if I was here, I'd be horrified," Murphy told us. "All I knew how to do was make people pretty at the mall. You don't learn highlighting, contouring and all that good stuff."
She upped her makeup skills by hanging around porn film sets, studying other artists' work, reading books and watching tutorials online. Murphy's hard work and dedication paid off as jobs poured in thanks to the pornography industry's booming DVD sales. And what started out as a money maker (what it took her a week to earn at the makeup counter, she nearly made in one day as an on-set makeup artist), turned into a creative outlet.
So, what's a typical day like for a porn star makeup artist? Murphy tells us that it can go one of two ways.
On an "in-and-out day" (no pun intended), she arrives on set, asks the girl to pose for her famous before shot, then goes to work. She may do a quick touch-up, but nothing too over-the-top. For a "full day," which usually involves feature and indie films, she is one of the first people on the scene. Murphy may have to make over multiple girls and even include special effects.
The makeup look of a porn star has evolved dramatically over the past decade, largely due in part to HD technology, according to Murphy. Directors desire a more flawless and natural appearance. "They don't want to see the makeup," she adds.
There are certain products she avoids to ensure this, including dark lipstick colors. Those bold hues made popular during the '90s won't cut it in the world of porn as they stick to any and everything. That's why it's all about nude, pinkish pouts. And even though airbrush foundation can provide a seamless finish, after a few romps between the sheets, a porn star is sure to come out on top sporting unwanted lines and marks.
So, instead, Murphy keeps her makeup kit stocked with Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover foundation and concealer (she uses the latter mostly as a highlighter), Stila One-Step Correct primer, Maybelline Superstay 24 lip color (she's gotten great feedback on its staying power), false eyelashes and the pro favorite, egg-shaped makeup sponge, Beauty Blender.
Murphy had received tons of positive responses about her handiwork (surprisingly from a lot of men who have a newfound appreciation for makeup as artisty) before it caught the attention of the media. Now, with her "before-and-after" photos making the rounds, she hopes that people will also appreciate how much makeup those gorgeous girls are wearing... so we won't be so hard on ourselves for not looking the same. She adds, "When you strip down all the makeup, we're really just people."
Check out Melissa Murphy's jaw-dropping before-and-after photo series below, then tell us in the comments section if this changes your perspective of porn stars.
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