BJD Doll Face-up: Essential Tips & Tools

Jul 14, 2025 By zhuallen

Giving your BJD doll a face-up is a detailed and rewarding process. To create a refined and lasting look, you'll need to pay attention to a few key points and gather the right supplies.

Face-up Considerations:

1. Cleaning & Sanding:

Thorough Cleaning: Before any makeup, always clean the doll's face thoroughly with a mild cleanser (like a model-specific cleaner or diluted dish soap). This removes oils and dust, ensuring the makeup sticks well.
Gentle Sanding (Optional): If your doll's face has visible seam lines or uneven spots, you can gently sand them with very fine sandpaper (e.g., 2000-3000 grit) for a smoother surface. Be careful not to damage the resin.

2. Using Matte Sealant (Top Coat):

Why It's Key: Matte sealant acts as both the base and protective layer for your BJD face-up. It provides a matte texture for makeup to adhere to and helps set and protect each layer, preventing smudging.
Spraying Technique: Apply in light, multiple coats, letting each coat dry completely. Keep a consistent distance while spraying to avoid applying too thickly, which can cause drips or a grainy texture. Work in a well-ventilated, dust-free area.
Recommended Brands: Look for BJD-specific matte sealants like Mr. Super Clear (MSC) or Volks UV Cut Clear.

3. Makeup Tools & Materials:

Doll-Specific Makeup: Avoid human cosmetics; their ingredients can corrode or stain resin. Use model-specific pigments (e.g., Tamiya or Gunze pastels, oil pastels, watercolor pencils).
Brush Selection: Have various sizes of fine detail brushes, flat brushes, and powder brushes for detailing, blending, and coloring.
Sponges & Cotton Swabs: Handy for applying base layers, blending blush, or fixing small mistakes.

4. Application Order & Layering:

General Order: Typically: Clean → Matte Sealant (base) → Eyebrows → Eyeliner → Eyeshadow → Blush → Lip Makeup → Adjust Details → Matte Sealant (fixative) → Eyelashes (adhere) → Final Matte Sealant.
Light, Multiple Layers: Apply each makeup step in light, multiple layers. This prevents applying too much color at once, making corrections easier.
Seal Each Layer: After significant makeup steps, spray a thin layer of matte sealant to fix them. This protects completed sections from being damaged by subsequent steps.

5. Detail Work & Corrections:

Patience is Key: Doll face-ups demand a lot of patience and precision.
Correction Fluid/Eraser: Keep model-specific correction fluid or kneaded erasers ready to clean up or correct any errors.
Faux Eyelashes: Adding faux eyelashes can dramatically enhance the eyes. Use model-specific adhesive.

6. Environmental Needs:

Ventilation: Always work in a well-ventilated area when spraying sealant, and wear a mask.
Dust-Free: Try to work in a dust-free environment to prevent specks from landing on your face-up.
Humidity: Avoid spraying sealant in humid weather, as it can cause a cloudy or whitening effect.

Required Tools & Materials:

1. Cleaning Supplies:

Mild cleanser (e.g., model-specific cleaner or diluted dish soap)
Soft cloth or paper towels
Cotton swabs

2. Matte Sealant:

BJD-specific matte sealant (e.g., Mr. Super Clear (MSC) or Volks UV Cut Clear)

3. Makeup Materials:

Model-specific Pastels: For blush, eyeshadow, eyebrow base
Model-specific Watercolor Pencils: For drawing eyebrows, eyeliner, lip lines, and other fine details
Model-specific Oil Pastels: Can be used for lip makeup or special effects
Acrylic Paints: Small amounts for very fine lines like eyeliner or eyebrows (must be diluted)
Clear Gloss: For a shiny effect on lips or eyes

4. Brushes & Tools:

Fine Detail Brushes: For intricate work like eyebrows, eyeliner, and lip lines
Flat Brushes: For broader coloring or blending
Powder Brush/Blush Brush: For applying pastels
Sponges: For base makeup or blending
Cotton Swabs: For corrections or detail work
Tweezers: For applying eyelashes
Palette: For mixing paints