OK so now that we’ve covered how to build Rey’s staff, outfit, tabards and accessories, we’re left with the finishing touches: hair and makeup.

I’ll be real: I’ve seen some girls go all out and do contouring and all that to try to achieve Rey’s facial structure and they SLAY.

I don’t do that.

Only because I don’t know how.

And also because I’ve found that kids just kind of go with it and don’t care if you’ve got the perfect Daisy Ridley cheekbones. Hell, I’m sure when they see me they know I’m not Daisy Ridley – or they see me and think Daisy Ridley really let herself go, because I am not close to her physically in any way, shape or form, aside from the brown hair.

Instead of driving myself crazy pre-troop, I focus on THREE things when doing Rey hair and makeup:

1. A defined brow
2. Highlighter (to simulate that desert sheen)
3. Three buns

For makeup, I don’t stray too far from my everyday routine, but just add a few extra layers or extras.

1. First I start with my everyday foundation, IT Cosmetics CC+ cream in Light. It adapts to my skin so even if I get some color in the summer it’s not mask-like.
2. I’ll pay some extra attention to my brows with my every day Cover Girl Easy Breezy Brow Pencil in Rich Brown. If I’m feeling extra, I’ll use a setting wax on them too.
3. I’ve used Maybelline Define-a-Lash pretty much as long as I’ve HAD eyelashes, so I stick with that.
4. I honestly don’t remember where I picked up the Bronze/Blush highlighter palette up there, but it’s my go-to when I want to be EXTRA, when cosplaying or on date night. I’ll dust some on my cheeks and forehead to simulate a little desert shine and tend to like the way it looks in photos (see above for this highlighter in action).
5. For lips, I flip flop between just a swipe of chap stick for a natural look, and this old-as-hell Cover Girl Lip Slicks in Bronze Goddess. It’s a sheer, bronze-y gloss that just adds a slight pop of color that looks like I spent the day in the sun. Which, you know, Rey…
6. When I’m all done I take a big brush and dust a light layer of my most prized possession: bare Minerals Mineral Veil. This is a finishing powder that I honestly didn’t know I needed until I got it for free with a Sephora purchase. The full size is ridiculously expensive and when this one runs out I will undoubtedly start a gofundme to get a full size version because it is that integral to my LIFE. It’s a basic setting powder that holds everything in place but it’s like… magic because it doesn’t add any color or a chalky look. It just… makes everything perfect. Which is helpful when I’m at a 7 hour troop where I won’t have time to check my look in a mirror every hour.

Although if Phasma’s around, I’ve got a walking mirror whenever I need it 😉

Once the makeup is done, I tackle my buns.

The three-knob hairstyle is by far the most iconic part of the costume, and I’ll be honest: I love it. I love that kids can emulate Rey’s look easily just by asking their moms to do their hair, and my heart leaps with joy when a little one with Rey buns bounces up to me at a troop and I get to exclaim “We have the same hair!!” and see their excited, proud smiles!

The thing is: I’ve got what I call Bun Luck(TM).

When I first started cosplaying as Rey, I had loooooong hair, in varying layers:

 

This made for incredibly difficult buns.

Even when I tried two buns, I wound up ripping a lot of my hair out when trying to take the buns down.

Halloween 2017: these took 30 minutes to put up and 30 minutes to take out.

For many reasons – easier buns being one of them – I chopped most of my hair off in January and have had mostly Good Bun Luck since then.

Aside from the day I took my Rebel Legion submission pictures (when it took me about 45 minutes and a near meltdown to get the buns in), I’ve been able to nail the buns on the first try EVERY TIME.

I figured out the trick early on to get the “biggest knob on the bottom” look: start with even less hair in the top bun than you think is right, and then build the next bun using what’s left, including the tail of the previous bun.

Then bun, wrap, repeat.

It took me a lot of practice, but that’s honestly all I can give you by way of advice. That, or make friends with a handler at a troop who just finished putting Rey buns in her little daughter’s hair and give her puppy dog eyes until she offers to do your buns.

Seriously, we were the best Reys there, thanks to the Resistance Hairdresser:

And that wraps it up for my Rey build! I hope you enjoyed learning how I built my Rey and can’t wait to see what you create using my tutorials and advice!

Scavenge on! ❤