How to: Terminator inspired special effects make-up

Hi all, I've recently been playing around with using tin foil to look like metal underneath the skin. I tried it on my sister's arm first just to see how it would look and I was very pleased with the outcome! I then tried it on my own face and was also pleased with how this looked! I took inspiration from the Terminator films, it such a classic character and this would be a great look for halloween!
This is how I achieved it...

You will need:
Tin foil
Spirit gum and spirit gum remover
cinewax
Supracolour in red and black and bruise colours
Metal spatula
Artificial blood
Any brush you don't mind getting messy!

For the arm:
I wanted to make it look like there were gashes revealing the metal underneath so first off:

• I tore pieces of the tin foil into random strips making sure they didn't have any perfect edges.
• Then apply spirit gum to the edges and stick down where desired. (spirit gum is very, very strong glue so try to use as little as possible)
• I also applied thin strips of foil on a finger, and also on half of one and added little circles of foil on the back of the hand.
• Then, roll pieces of wax into sausages and using the spatula apply to the edges of the foil. This is to create the look of skin.
• I then used a small brush to outline the edges in red and blend it outwards onto the wax using my fingers. Then add some black around the edges to give the effect of burnt skin.
• I then added quite a lot of dark artificial blood to the foil and basically everywhere on the arm, blood just gives it that gore factor which makes it look more effective and realistic.

Finished look:

For the face:

You'll need the same materials as above. I just covered one half of my face but you can cover whichever areas you prefer. However try to avoid using the spirit gum too close to the eye as the skin is more delicate and more susceptible to damage. 

• I used larger pieces of foil this time, but not just one large piece as it wouldn't be flexible with the movement of the face and would be uncomfortable. 
• I first used a skin colour supracolour as a base for a bit more protection against the spirit gum and just applied this with a foundation brush. Then I stuck the foil to my face where I wanted them. As I wanted it to cover my eyebrow I applied a layer of wax over my eyebrow to stop any spirit gum sticking to the hairs as this would hurt a lot to get out!
• Once all the foil was stuck on and made sure the edges were all stuck down, I outlined the edges in red and black supracolour using a small brush and blended using my fingers.
• I then used the black supracolour to fill in the eye area to give it more depth.
• I then applied artificial blood around the edges and over the foil and smeared on the other half of my face to give it a more realistic look.

The finished look:

REMOVING

To remove the foil soak a cotton wool pad in mastix remover (not cotton wool balls as these have too many fibres) and gently rub the edges until they come away and continue to rub underneath so it peels away. Use a cotton bud when removing it from around the eye as the fumes are VERY strong. Then use a make-up wipe to remove the wax, supracolour and blood.

Well that is it! Hope you enjoyed reading this!

See you soon

Beth x

Before and After make-up and how to hide redness

Hi all,

I wanted to do a before and after make-up post to show how make-up can be used to enhance a person's features and also make their skin look healthier. I used my sister, Ellen for this, she doesn't wear any make-up at all except when she goes out and for special occasions. She has great skin, it isn't oily or has any spots (I'm not so lucky!), however she has a lot of redness. 

Here are the before and after shots...

So to start off, I used MAC's Studio Fix Fluid in NC15 and using a foundation brush (all my brushes I use are Crownbrush) I started on the jawline and worked my up and around her face and adding a bit more to the more red patches. 
Then I used Kryolan's camouflage palette and using a concealer brush applied it under and around the eyes.
Then to contour I used MAC's powder blush in Taupe and using an angled blusher brush, applied this under the cheekbones just to give a bit of structure. You can also apply it under the jawline as well to create more shadow to give the appearance of a stronger jawline.
Then I applied MAC's translucent face powder using a large, soft powder brush.

I then defined her eyebrows using MAC's refill eyeshadow pans in Coquette and Handwritten using an eyeshadow brush.

Then for her eyes I wanted just to define them to make the colour stand out as she has really lovely blue eyes, and to make them appear bigger. For this I used a cake eyeliner by Kryolan and a small liner brush and lined the upper lash line with a small flick. I then used a MAC eye pencil in black to line her water line. I then applied MAC's Zoomlash mascara in black.
Then to finish off I applied a clear gloss to her lips. 

I think this look really suits Ellen as it is not a heavy look, it is simple and pretty. If a person doesn't wear make-up everyday I don't like applying foundation too heavy as it can make them feel uncomfortable. I applied just enough here to give her an even skin tone and just a little contour to give a bit of structure. I love MAC's studio fix fluid as it has a medium coverage and you can build it if you want more. Kryolan's camouflage palette is highly pigmented so this is great at covering imperfections.

I hope you enjoyed reading this and found it helpful!
See you soon,
Beth x

Liquid Latex: how to use and what to use it for

Liquid latex is a great, versatile product. You can create really cool effects with it and make just about anything out of it. However, if you're new to using it, it can be a bit tricky to use. It is available to buy from almost any special effects make up shops, I get mine from Charles Fox. Make sure that it is suitable to be used on the body.

Safety first! 

It contains ammonia so it is very fume-y and smelly, so try not to use it in small, confined areas. 
This is a bit of a given, but do not get it in your eyes!
When applying on the skin, always, always use vaseline underneath it, this provides a barrier between the latex and the skin - more importantly, the hairs on your skin because believe me when I say it will hurt like hell if you try and pull it off and its sticking to your hair. 
When using on the face, be careful when using it around the eyes as your skin is more delicate, so be extra careful when removing it.

How to apply

I like to use wedge make up sponges, they're soft and easy to use and you can cover large areas quickly with them. Liquid latex will ruin anything you apply it with so I just throw the sponge away after I've used it, you don't want to be using your make-up brushes to apply it with as it will just stick to the hairs. If you prefer using brushes you can always buy cheap ones and throw them away afterwards.

I pour how ever much I need in a small bowl and then just use the sponge and start dabbing onto the skin where desired. Make sure to cover the area of skin in vaseline first, not a thick layer as the latex will never dry, just a thin layer is needed. To speed up the drying process you can use a hair dryer. Once it has dried it will go clear, then, if you want it thicker, apply more layers of latex. It will start to dry as a yellow colour the thicker it is.

You can then colour it using supracolour. I find this is the best thing to use as it covers well and is highly pigmented. I use my fingers, brushes and sponges to apply it, depending on what the look is.

Uses

Liquid latex is a great way to create blisters, burns, scars, wrinkles and gashes. Essentially it is like having a second skin. It is also used to create prosthetic appliances such as ears and noses. As I said it is very versatile. It is a lot of fun to play around with and experiment with to see what you can come up with.

Here are some looks I have created with it..

This is a 2nd degree burn effect. Here I have applied a thin layer of liquid latex, used my fingers to pull up parts to create blisters, used my fingers to colour it using a 'burns wheel' which is a set of colours used to create burns, available from Charles Fox and lastly applied some artificial blood. 
(*tip* using a cocktail stick is a great way to pull up parts and create holes.)

 This is a 3rd degree burn look. I used the same techniques as above but more extreme. 

This was inspired by a character from a television show. I used liquid latex to make it look like my skin was splitting. I used the same technique to create blisters but ripped them a bit more so that some bits were hanging off my face. I then used a dark artificial blood to cover them as well as supracolour from the 'burns wheel'.

Removing

If you're using it on more 'hardy' parts of the body such as hands and arms then you can usually peel it straight off. If you're using on the face or if you have more sensitive skin, it is better to use a cloth soaked in warm soapy water, apply this to your skin and gently pull of the latex. I have also found that using facial wipes are quite effective. 
(*tip* if I have any left over in the bowl and it hasn't dried, I pour it back into the bottle. Do not pour it down a sink because it may block it. Wait until it dries and then just peel it out of the bowl and throw it in the bin.)


I hope you enjoyed this and that it is useful to you!
See you soon
Beth x

Links:
Charles Fox: http://www.charlesfox.co.uk/

My website: http://bhaggar94.wix.com/bethfx

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bethhaggarmakeup