Being a casual superhero film enjoyer, it usually takes a lot to have me running to the theaters for a premiere. That wasn't the case for the latest The Batman reboot, though, because DC had me hooked with just three words: Catwoman, and Zoë Kravitz. As if that wasn't enough, the film also had renowned makeup artist and Dame Pat McGrath as Zoë's makeup designer—and if that doesn't make any beauty lover run to see any movie, I don't know what will. So predictably, that's what I did. With my mask on tight and refreshments at the ready, The Batman officially became my first film in theaters after two years. Was it worth it? Definitely, at least, if you ask a makeup-loving patron like me.
The Exact Makeup Zoë' Kravitz Wore in The Batman
Honestly, the grim lighting at Gotham left much to the imagination in terms of color. With most scenes filmed at the dead of the night or under nightclub strobes, Selina Kyle (Zoë) relied on the power of great skin, smudging, and glitter for her glam—because Catwoman wearing a cat eye would be too easy, wouldn't it? And after doing some digging, my suspicions were confirmed.
Ahead, you'll find all of the Catwoman makeup details you need, straight from Pat McGrath herself.
Skin
"I started designing [Selina Kyle's makeup] from the skin," Pat revealed to American Vogue. Her goal was to create a naturally radiant complexion that's spotless in HD, which was luckily an effortless feat with a muse like Zoë. The real challenge was to make the looks "feel strong, but relatable" while having both "divine skin and [an] exquisite eye."
In an interview with Harper's Bazaar, Pat said they painted subtle layers of the Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish foundation, concealer, and powder for the Selina's base, and "drenched" the actress in luminosity with the brand's Highlighter + Balm Duo. They even coordinated the balm's application with each scene's time of day!
"The balm side of the dual-ended stick delivers a fresh, post-spa-like finish to the skin, which looks flawless even in H.D," she spilled to Vogue.
Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Foundation, P4150, PAT MCGRATH LABS, Sephora
Skin Fetish Highlighter & Balm Duo, P2950, PAT MCGRATH LABS, Sephora
Eyes
Having the industry-renowned cat eye master on board guaranteed that Selina Kyle's eye looks would be a hit. However, it wasn't all about the flick, as we gathered. "For Selina, the cat eye was all about an underground mood—smudged and sparkling," Pat explained. She "subverted" the Catwoman eye on purpose, opting for different shapes to deconstruct the classic instead.
A standout example was Selina's first appearance in the movie: the diffused kohl around her eyes created a lifted-but-not-quite-winged shape, while the punch of gold glitter underneath popped under the club's lights. It made me think of a hybrid between the smoky wings on the Versace Fall 2022 show, and the glitter tears on Marc Jacobs Spring/Summer 2020. Both shows' beauty looks were also expertly crafted by McGrath.
To create Selina's eye looks, Pat's team had three non-negotiables: "The details were exaggerated using the PermaGel Ultra Glide Eye Pencil in Xtreme Black to create the shape and structure, and Precision Liquid Eyeliner was used to give a graphic, but elegant flick of liner. And, of course, we couldn’t have a fierce femme fatale without generously coating her lashes with mystique using Dark Star Mascara," she shared to Bazaar. Meanwhile, the subtle smokes and hints of color were courtesy of her Mothership palettes.
Smokey Eye Duo Mini, P1600, PAT MCGRATH LABS, Sephora
Perma Precision Liquid Eyeliner, P1950, PAT MCGRATH LABS, Sephora
Mothership I Subliminal Eyeshadow Palette, P7600, PAT MCGRATH LABS, Sephora
Lips
Zoë's lips may be a work of art on their own, but they were made even more divine with some classic nude lip tricks. On camera, the actress wore the MatteTrance Lipstick in 1995 and Christy as a blurred stain. They then added shape with different shades of brown lip pencils (Structure and Contour from Pat's line) as needed, achieving Selina Kyle's signature un-bare pout.
MatteTrance Lipstick, P2400, PAT MCGRATH LABS, Sephora
PermaGel Ultra Lip Pencil, P1700, PAT MCGRATH LABS, Sephora
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