Make sure that the glue you use is skin-friendly. You will be applying it directly to your skin. Use foundation that matches your skin tone. If you have regular everyday makeup you can use this as it’s probably already matched to your skin tone. You can also use a liquid foundation that’s a little off from your skin tone to enhance the effect of wounded flesh. Lay some newspaper down and make sure you aren’t wearing any clothes you don’t want to get ruined should you accidentally spill.
If you’re making the wound on your hand you may only need half of one square of toilet paper. For large wounds you may need two or three squares. Tissue paper such as Kleenex also works. It’s best to use tissue paper with no etching or markings. Once you have the toilet or tissue paper you need, tear another section to match this one. You want to have at least two identical strips of paper. You will be applying at least two layers of paper and glue to the area where you are making the wound.
If you are making a zombie bite or cut on your hand you won’t need as much glue. But if you are making a gash on your arm you’ll need more. You need to use enough glue so that your toilet paper can stick firmly to the area.
Let the glue dry for a minute or so. When your paper is firmly attached, repeat the process. Use your brush to add another layer of glue on top of your toilet paper. Cover the entire surface and then lay down another layer of paper. Two layers will work but adding more layers will give your wound more depth. If you want to create a deeper cut or gash, add three to five layers.
The texture from the glue will add a nice effect to the edges of your wound once you apply makeup. If the paper has a defined edge and isn’t painted down then your wound won’t look as realistic. Use a hairdryer, if you have one, to help the glue dry faster.
Smooth out the areas where the wound joins the skin by applying some foundation to your actual skin. This will make it harder to tell where the tissue paper stops and your skin begins. You want to use a foundation that closely matches your skin tone. It doesn’t have to be exact as an off-color foundation can add a nice discoloration. A flat foundation brush works very well and will blend the area nicely.
You can cut a straight line if you want more of a gash or a circle for something like a zombie bite. Be very careful while cutting as you are using scissors very close to your skin. It’s best to cut just a little slit to create an opening in the paper. Once you have an opening, tear and peel the rest of it. Don’t remove the torn tissue paper from the area. You want to give your wound a peeling look. This will add depth to your fake wound.
Brush the eyeshadow directly onto your skin which you exposed by tearing away the tissue paper. You should also brush the areas of paper around your skin. The dark eyeshadow creates a nice bruising look.
To make the wound look more realistic, apply the fake blood to your skin and the paper. Then take a brush and brush the blood to blend it in. After you have blended some fake blood, you can then pour more onto your wound to give it a bleeding effect. To make the blood drips look real, apply a few drops to an area and then let it run downward. For example, if you made a gash on your arm, apply the blood to the top of the wound and then let your arm hang naturally to allow the blood to trickle down. [2] X Research source When you want to remove the fake wound, simply wash the area.
You want to get eyeshadow with colors that include dark blue, light blue, light brown, dark brown, red, dark pink/peach, and yellow. Dark red lip gloss or lipstick works well for the blood. Lip gloss will give your wound a shinier, more fluid look than lipstick. Lipstick will work perfectly as dried blood. You can also use fake blood at the end to add an extra touch.
Blend out the edges so that it looks less like a clot of Vaseline and more natural. This method with Vaseline is better for smaller wounds around your hands or arms.
If you wish for your wound to look as if you were stabbed by something, make the line a little uneven but keep it relatively thin. If you’re going for a larger cut or gash, carve a larger area that’s a bit wider.
Use a darker shade of brown or gray in the center to add depth. At the edges, use a light pink/peach tone to blend the edges of the wound to your actual skin tone. Use the red eyeshadow between the pink/peach and the brown to make part of the wound look fresher. You can also use the blue and/or yellow eyeshadow around the wound to create a more beaten up look. Blues, yellows, greens, and purples will give your wound a bruised component. [3] X Expert Source Nini Efia YangMakeup Artist Expert Interview. 27 August 2019. Make sure the eyeshadow is blended well, so there are no unnaturally straight edges.
Lipstick will give your wound more of a dried-up look than lip gloss. Drip the fake blood in the center of the wound and let it pool or run to complete your wound.
Liquid latex. Ben Nye makes a good liquid latex that is often used in the theatre. Brushes. Fake blood. Tissue paper. Try to use plain tissue paper without etching or designs. Dark eyeshadow. It’s also a good idea to lay some newspaper down as liquid latex and the fake blood can get messy.
Liquid latex can be messy and kind of tricky to use. Try to paint it on evenly and don’t rush. Though liquid latex dries fairly quickly, you want to make sure you apply it as smoothly as possible.
The tissue paper will stick pretty well to the latex. You can then pull and tear away the edges of the tissue paper which aren’t attached.
Two layers of paper are usually sufficient, but if you want to create the look of a deeper wound you should add three to five layers.
You can use a toothpick or tweezers to tear a hole or cut a line. The paper and latex will peel back giving the effect of an open wound with your skin peeling away.
Make sure that you apply the foundation in a way so that it blends out from the latex and tissue onto your actual skin. Rub the surrounding area with your finger to further blend.
Paint around the wound and on your actual skin with darker colors in the center of your wound. Use lighter colors as you progress outward. Add a few drops of blood and mix. Then add a few more in and around the wound and let the blood drip.
