The difference between a zombie and a person with grey face paint is texture. Flat makeup reads as makeup. A wound that sits above the skin and stays wet reads as a wound. That is what latex is for, and it is easier than it looks.
Liquid latex goes on before any colour. Dab it on in thin layers with a sponge, let each layer go touch-dry, then build up three or four. Once it is dry, tear or cut an opening and roll the edges back with your fingers. The rolled edge is what makes it look like torn skin instead of a sticker.
Patch test first, on the inside of your arm, the day before. Latex allergies are not rare and Halloween night is not when you want to find out.
Ivory or a pale base over the whole face, including the lips. Dead skin has no lip colour. Hollow the eyes and the temples with a cool grey, blended hard.
Deep red in the centre, brown or black around the torn edge, and a yellow-green bruise tone bleeding outwards. Real injuries are never one colour.
This is the bit most people get wrong. You want two bloods:
A wound with only thin blood looks like paint. A wound with only thick blood looks dry. Both together looks real.
Rigid collodion is a different tool. It puckers the skin as it dries and gives you a sunken, old scar in about a minute, with no latex needed. It is our most-bought SFX product outside of blood, and for good reason.
Mehron Rigid Collodion, the Scar Maker $28.50
Our biggest FX kit, with enough product to do several people. #1 face paint palette, ivory face paint 32g, squirt blood 30ml, coagulated blood 10g, latex 50ml, trick palette, 1 inch chip splatter brush, sponge, shadow brush, grunge stencil and zombie cheek stencil.
A ripped cheek in three steps, no skill required. Zombie cheek stencil, three daubers, and a black, white and red mini split cake. Built for face painters with a long queue and for anyone who wants the look without the build.
Plenty of people build their own. The two that matter most:
Kits are made to order. We hand-pack every one, so allow an extra day before it ships.
For most people, yes, but latex allergy is common enough that you should patch test on your inner arm a day beforehand. Keep it off eyebrows, hairlines and anywhere with fine hair, because it grips hair and hurts coming off.
Peel it from an edge, slowly. If it is stuck, warm soapy water or a little oil softens the grip. Do not pull it off dry over hair.
Treat it like food colouring. It washes out of most fabrics but not reliably out of everything, so do not wear anything you care about.
Allow 45 minutes the first time, mostly waiting for latex layers to dry. Half that once you know the sequence.
Order before 2pm on a business day and it ships the same day. Auckland is usually next business day, the rest of New Zealand 2 to 4 working days. Free shipping over $80.