Gold Cosplay Makeup 💫 Goa’uld Skin Effect

Makeup Through the Stargate is a new signature series where I #stargateshorty explore a variety of makeup looks, sfx, techniques and iconic character styles from the TV show Stargate SG1 and its franchise universe. 

One of the canon antagonists of the show are the Goa’uld System Lords. Basking in all things gold, much of the inspiration taken to bring this iconic makeup to life was heavily influenced by Egyptian culture and mythology. We see this especially true for the system Lord Apophis and the Jaffa under his rule. The consistent use and appreciation of gold is significant to the Goa’uld way of being. To be Goa’uld symbolizes luxury, power, divinity, and the Goa’uld’s self-proclaimed status as gods. The gold emblem on a Jaffa’s forehead, such as Teal’c’s, is not merely decorative—it’s a marker of their servitude and rank within the Goa’uld hierarchy along with his glowing skin, slaying smoky eye and winged liner.

When Teal’c transitions from relying on a symbiote to using tretonin, a synthetic drug that replaces the immune system functions provided by the symbiote, we see a subtle change in his makeup and character design. His skin appears less luminous, and the gold of his emblem becomes less striking over time. This visual shift parallels Teal’c’s journey of independence from the Goa’uld and their influence.

In my TikTok series, I experimented with achieving the gold makeup look of Teal’c and the Jaffa, noticing how the rich, metallic tones of gold. In the case of Teal’c we learn makeup can be toned down or altered to reflect character changes. As Teal’c takes tretonin and fully embraces his rebellion, the less prominent gold tones in his design reflect his move from a Goa’uld-controlled pawn to a leader of the free Jaffa. This nuanced shift is a testament to the brilliance of Stargate SG-1’s storytelling, where even something as simple as makeup carries deeper narrative meaning. Let’s see how this experiment went, shall we?

Products Used;

• Mac Studio Fix Foundation 

• Mac Strobe Pinklite Cream

• Nyx Colour Correcting Palette 

• Morphe 35G Artistry Palette (Gold Eyeshadows) 

• Mac Blush Brush

• Sephora Concealer 46 Brush

• Sephora Fan Brush

• Mac 170

Makeup Through the Stargate: Goa’uld Gold Skin Effect 

Part 1: Highlighter

Part 2: Concealer 

Part 3: Foundation 

Part 4: Gold Eyeshadow Swatches

Part 5: Gold Placements 

That wraps up this experiment! Using basic products you may already have in you makeup bag, it’s safe to say this iconic gold shimmering skin effect can totally be achieved ✨ I’d be curious to test other highlighting products to further enhance this effect on the skin possibly giving a brighter gold glow. Who knows, maybe we’ll have a makeup evolution of our own. Which character would you want to see me dive into next on my series, “Makeup Through the Stargate” ? 

p.s. Full YouTube Tutorial in the works…