# This lady is a magician: Porn star makeovers **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 14, 2013, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-lady-is-a-magician-porn-star-makeovers/652875 "2013-03-14T00:17:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brickbacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-lady-is-a-magician-porn-star-makeovers/652875/1 "2013-03-14T00:17:28Z")
The [story](http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2013/03/13/porn_star_makeup_melissa_murphy_shares_her_before_and_after_tricks.html): > [@](#): > > Melissa “Makeup” Murphy is a makeup artist to the porn stars—for the past eight years, she’s been transforming women into sexy zombies, naughty nurses, and cabaret tarts for their performances in adult films. A few months ago, she began posting before-and-after shots of her work online, and the results are unexpectedly fascinating. Her photos of porn stars with and without makeup ask us to ditch our preconceived notions about how porn performers look, to examine the role that makeup plays in sexual performance, and to respect the craft of the makeup artist, no matter what set she’s on. I talked with Murphy, 35, about her experiences making up porn stars on set—and how she feels about her photos blowing up online. Examples of her work: [Puma Swede](http://instagram.com/p/VPZA4lHVRr/) [Chanel Preston](http://instagram.com/p/V5UM3LHVY1/) [Anikka Albrite](http://instagram.com/p/Uc4eiVHVSS/) [Katja Kassin](http://instagram.com/p/T7LAzdHVb5/) [Aria Amor](http://instagram.com/p/TT6AXgnVfA/) [Alexis Ford](http://instagram.com/p/S1pxXtHVfv/) [Vanilla DeVille](http://instagram.com/p/SlnAHbHVR8/) [Larkin Love](http://instagram.com/p/SM5A5CHVbe/) [Veronica Avluv](http://instagram.com/p/RoKFu4HVXd/) [Rachel Starr](http://instagram.com/p/QkyqBXnVcK/) [DarrylHanah](http://instagram.com/p/PXj75AHVUE/) [Holly Michaels](http://instagram.com/p/OHzgyDnVeM/) [Kristina Rose](http://instagram.com/p/OFGESXHVaE/) [Peru](http://instagram.com/p/VsUvXqnVUF/) More [here](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/11/porn-stars-without-makeup_n_2853817.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular#slide=2215236). It’s truly amazing what they can do with makeup. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-lady-is-a-magician-porn-star-makeovers/652875/2 "2013-03-14T01:08:38Z")
Secret’s out. Without makeup, my 13" looks downright pitiful. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-lady-is-a-magician-porn-star-makeovers/652875/3 "2013-03-14T01:12:28Z")
Don’t they say Spunk is supposed to be good for the complexion? You wouldn’t know it seeing the before pic of these ladies. All those creme pie facials aren’t working. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-lady-is-a-magician-porn-star-makeovers/652875/4 "2013-03-14T01:37:13Z")
Lenny: According to my uncle, Miss Springfield isn’t as beautiful as she seems. Word is she uses appearance-altering cosmetics. Moe: Oh my God, that’s shocking. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-lady-is-a-magician-porn-star-makeovers/652875/5 "2013-03-14T01:52:17Z")
i always look for lip color first. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-lady-is-a-magician-porn-star-makeovers/652875/6 "2013-03-14T01:59:30Z")
Anybody else think “addict” when they see some of these pics? ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-lady-is-a-magician-porn-star-makeovers/652875/7 "2013-03-14T02:05:29Z")
Man! Most of them look really dreadful - before, and especially after. Way too much duckface, and most of them look like they were hit with Homer’s makeup gun at its highest setting. Only one or two I can look at without shuddering. Pity, there are some quite attractive porn stars, just not most of this crew. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-lady-is-a-magician-porn-star-makeovers/652875/8 "2013-03-14T02:34:55Z")
I was worried that I’d see a crack-addled-looking pre-makeup Holly Michaels, but my fears were not realized: She’s cute in her before picture, too. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-lady-is-a-magician-porn-star-makeovers/652875/9 "2013-03-14T03:27:55Z")
Veronica Avluv looks much, much better before the makeover, and ten times younger too, despite the wrinkles. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-lady-is-a-magician-porn-star-makeovers/652875/10 "2013-03-14T04:12:31Z")
Skanks-R-Us. I really don’t like such heavy makeup. Surely they can be made up to look a little more accessible, like real people? Whatever happened to the MILF-Next-Door approach? ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-lady-is-a-magician-porn-star-makeovers/652875/11 "2013-03-14T04:16:20Z")
The improvements are stunning. I’d pay a lot to have her work on me. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-lady-is-a-magician-porn-star-makeovers/652875/12 "2013-03-14T05:30:30Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I really don’t like such heavy makeup. Surely they can be made up to look a little more accessible, like real people? Whatever happened to the MILF-Next-Door approach? This. Several of the woman look more attractive without makeup. I am _so_ not a fan of heavy makeup. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-lady-is-a-magician-porn-star-makeovers/652875/13 "2013-03-14T06:08:33Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > All those creme pie facials aren’t working. 😃 No no no, a creampie is completely different from a facial 😃 ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-lady-is-a-magician-porn-star-makeovers/652875/14 "2013-03-14T13:29:17Z")
This is why I can’t stand “porn star” porn. They look so much better, so much more real, without the makeup. Give me a video of a regular person enjoying sex, not doing it for the paycheck, any day of the week. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-lady-is-a-magician-porn-star-makeovers/652875/15 "2013-03-14T14:23:31Z")
Well how about that? After seeing this I realize that my gf is actually better looking than a porn star! ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-lady-is-a-magician-porn-star-makeovers/652875/16 "2013-03-14T14:58:04Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > This. Several of the woman look more attractive without makeup. I am _so_ not a fan of heavy makeup. Really? I would consider most of them close to ugly before the make up. On a naturally beautiful woman less is more. Some of these need lots of help. I guess it’s indicative of the current porn industry that I don’t know the names of any of them. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-lady-is-a-magician-porn-star-makeovers/652875/17 "2013-03-14T15:03:24Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Anybody else think “addict” when they see some of these pics? Yeah, but I’m really trying to cut back. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-lady-is-a-magician-porn-star-makeovers/652875/18 "2013-03-14T15:26:04Z")
The difference is so striking in some of those that I can’t help but think maybe she uglified them a bit for their “before” pics. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-lady-is-a-magician-porn-star-makeovers/652875/19 "2013-03-14T15:42:06Z")
> [@corkboard](#): > > This is why I can’t stand “porn star” porn. They look so much better, so much more real, without the makeup. Give me a video of a regular person enjoying sex, not doing it for the paycheck, any day of the week. One reason I prefer the Eastern European stuff. Much more restrained with the makeup. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-lady-is-a-magician-porn-star-makeovers/652875/20 "2013-03-14T15:45:00Z")
> [@corkboard](#): > > This is why I can’t stand “porn star” porn. They look so much better, so much more real, without the makeup. Give me a video of a regular person enjoying sex, not doing it for the paycheck, any day of the week. This. Allie Haze is particularly nice looking without makeup, and Kelly Klass looks like about half the women I went to college with (and that, in itself, is a turn-on). I think as a culture, we need the heavy makeup, the fake tits, etc., to soothe our puritan instincts. We need to feel these women are Not Real - subcultures, stereotypes, sex dolls, whatever - to be ok with their doing what they do. We seem to need (a lot of us) pure sexual icons to get off to. You might fantasize about Jenny at the coffee bar or Jessi in your seminar. You probably do. But the next time you buy from Jenny or discuss with Jessi, it’s going to throw a shadow over those interactions if you can’t keep your mind off the way Jenny’s body looks under that apron or how Jessi’s bare feet keep kicking off her shoes. You know it’s not fair to them, and indeed, even if you and Jenny/Jessi were somehow to get a thing going, your seeing them as mere bodies would only screw that up. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-lady-is-a-magician-porn-star-makeovers/652875.md?page=2)