Greetings from Barbieland. So you’ve managed to sneak past the Nolan die-hards, changed out of your dark, brooding coats into your very pink fits and secured a ticket for the Barbie movie. Post-watch of Greta Gerwig’s 114-minute standout delivery, you’re now in an overwhelming mix of tears and unbridled joy—and you simply want to head straight back into the cinema for another ride. Well, suffice to say you’re not alone. Only difference is, we, the beauty team at Vogue Singapore, have decided to relive the film into a necessary playback of the aesthetic rampage that is the film’s mesmerising visuals, which took on another life form on screen.
Breathtaking dreamhouse interiors and immaculate top-to-toe Barbiecore outfits aside, we’re talking sumptuous, voluminous wigs, spotless body tans and strobes of highlight for that flush of radiance—each one dreamt up by hair and make-up artist Ivana Primorac. After all, we are talking about creating the most iconic doll to have ever descended on Earth, 2001: A Space Odyssey style.
And if you’ve already boarded the Barbie train, you would know it wasn’t just Margot Robbie’s ‘Stereotypical Barbie’ that glowed on screen; every other Barbie and their Kens were enlivened with their own hair and make-up routine. There were the larger-than-life ponytails spotted on Emma Mackey’s and Sharon Rooney’s Barbie, Ryan Gosling’s Ken’s beach tans and Issa Rae’s berrylicious fuschia pout. And then there were the playful scribbles for Kate McKinnon’s ‘Weird Barbie’. Heck, even Robbie’s Barbie’s cellulite was pretty.
So without further ado, we present to you the most dreamy beauty moments we spotted in the Barbie film below. With that, we’re off to book our second ticket to Barbie next. See you on the other side (again).
1 / 7
Creating the idyllic Barbie
Margot Robbie was indeed, the perfect person to cast for Barbie—and Gerwig made sure to lean into it during the opening scene. Timed along to Lizzo’s ‘Pink’, Robbie’s mien a flawless picture of radiance: a healthy peach base topped with just the right amount of pink on her cheeks and lips.
2 / 7
Choosing the right shade
In a Barbie utopia (not ruled by a room of men in suits), the brief for Barbie would simply to be the perfect version of ourselves—no matter who we are. So it only makes sense that each of Gerwig’s Barbies had their own body tan, shade of blush and lipstick hue. Case in point? Issa Rae’s serve in a muted mauve lip and that purplish highlight strobe on the apples of her cheeks.
3 / 7
No strand out of place
As per the Mattel doll, Barbie’s hair demands height and volume—as voluminous as can be. This was achieved by way of sumptuous larger-than-life wigs, each luscious lock softly tousled and styled to fall over the shoulders. To achieve the half-up ponytail, all the Barbies had their hair held in place by a colour-coordinated hair accessory, be it a headband or visor-like headpiece.
4 / 7
Ken's beachy tan
Ryan Gosling knew exactly what he wanted going into Barbie—and it shows in his head-to-toe transformation for the film. Sporting a wispy platinum blonde mane and a sunset-spray beach tan, he was every bit Kenough—chiselled abs and all.
5 / 7
The kaleidoscopic world of 'Weird Barbie'
An opportunity to go as wild as can be was given to the MUA team and they took it. The moodboard for ‘Weird Barbie’ was clearly a dream to play with—inspired by the kids who used to draw on their Barbie dolls and cut their long tresses off. Kate McKinnon’s Barbie hence had colourful marker scribbles drawn all over her face, teamed with a shaggy haircut atop her head.
6 / 7
Doll-like transformation
If we’re talking about Barbies that served delicious doll-like inspo for the everyday, Hari Nef’s Barbie just might take the cake. From her nerdy glasses look to her effortlessly crimped tresses and this picture-perfect capture of her straight orange locks, that luscious magenta pout and those powder yellow lids, Nef’s looks were truly befitting for Barbieland.
7 / 7
Everything's pink, but make it cottagecore
On her journey to the real world, Robbie’s Barbie opted for a look that speaks to the cottagecore girls at heart: her blonde locks forming a louche French braid that hangs over one shoulder—finished with a very necessary pink ribbon accent.
