“It was the finishing touch that gave it a doll-like appearance,” Primorac comments, mentioning their initial attempt to make the skin appear plastic. “Plastic didn’t look good during pre-production because it doesn’t represent the best version of oneself. It just looks strange. That’s when I realized that, in children’s minds, Barbie dolls are the most beautiful things in the world. So we can’t make the actors look strange. We have to make them look beautiful.”
Various beautiful Barbies and Kens are showcased. Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures.
In addition to the custom body makeup, Gosling regularly received airbrush tans. Kimberley Nkosi, the expert in tanning and skin finishing, tanned him twice a week using Isle of Paradise. “The perfect combination for Ken was a green base, which resembled a medium tan. I added a hint of purple base to add depth and counterbalance any lighting or makeup effects. This prevented any redness from appearing on screen,” Nkosi explains. “Otherwise, he would have appeared red or orange. We wanted a natural look but with that striking ‘Ken-tanned’ appearance.”
Isle of Paradise Medium Self-Tanning Body Drops
Isle of Paradise Dark Self-Tanning Body Drops
To maintain hydrated skin between exfoliation and tanning sessions, Nkosi provided Gosling with products from well-loved skincare brands like Tatcha, CeraVe, and The Ordinary. “Ryan clearly took good care of his skin,” Nkosi mentions.
Why Barbie’s Makeup is Minimal
In Barbie Land, makeup is kept minimal while the hair is extravagant. Primorac and Margot Robbie have acknowledged that Barbies have larger-than-life hair to emulate a doll-like look. However, the makeup is the opposite; it is tailored to enhance the beauty of each actor and leans more towards a natural aesthetic. Primorac aimed for classic yet modern looks.