How To Create Special Effects Liquid Latex Burns

October 25, 2015

Hey! Anyone else have an obsession with special effects makeup? There’s something about making an effort for Halloween that I absolutely love. A lot of the equipment required is pretty easy to get your hands on – liquid latex is beyond versatile. Even with minimal makeup experience, this tutorial is super simple. Here is how to nail liquid latex burns, which will spook everyone at Halloween!

To Create Liquid Latex Burns You Will Need:

Liquid Latex
Scar Wax
Moisturiser
Q – Tips / Cotton Buds
Fake Blood
Toilet Paper
Eyeshadow or Bruise Wheel
Foundation & Setting Powder
Primer
A Spatula / Butter Knife
Tweezers

What is Liquid Latex?

Liquid latex is a substance that is thick and milky in its liquid state which slowly dries into a rubbery, somewhat sticky skin. You can change your skin texture, create fake wounds, mould prosthetics, and do pretty much anything else your artistic, monster-making brain can dream up.
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*I must add, if you too choose to replicate this look, then please please do your research about liquid latex and patch test – it can be problematic and difficult to work with without prior knowledge*

Instructions

Step 1:

Wash your face thoroughly and shave off any hair in the area you are going to put your liquid latex. This is because if there is any hair when you take the latex of it will hurt! Think of liquid latex like PVA glue – it will peel off but will make you scream “ouch” if you put it in the wrong place. Moisturise as normal, then apply some everyday primer – this will make the burn last longer.

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Step 2:

Mould your sculpting wax into a long sausage shape. When moulding the wax, apply moisturiser to your hands to stop it from sticking everywhere.

Step 3:

Apply the wax as a barrier/outline for the burn. I applied it on the side of my face, my ear, and the top of my neck. Top tip, try to be quick. Scar wax, at best is super fiddly. The reason? It gets warm very quick, and will become sticky and difficult to work with. Too hot, and it will melt. Use lubricants, or setting powder to help work it into place – and keep it there.

Step 4:

The fiddly bit. Apply some moisturiser to the spatula/knife and blend both sides of the wax into your skin. You do not want distinct lines between the wax and your skin, more a blended gradient.

Step 5:

Apply liquid latex to the area you want to be burned using a cotton bud. Leave it for a minute or so for it to become tacky and in the meantime rip up some toilet paper.

Step 6:

This step made me feel like a child again. Stick the tissue onto the latex and keep layering it up (latex, tissue, latex, tissue etc..) Add as many layers as you want as it will add plenty of texture.

Step 7:

Wait for this to dry. You can speed the process up with a hairdryer if you want. If you choose this route, please approach with caution! Using a buffing brush, put some setting powder onto the burn to get rid of any shine. Apply foundation to your whole face, including the burn just as you normally would.

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Step 8:

Use your tweezers to pierce small holes in the tissue to symbolise loss of skin from a burn. I personally think that that with this, less is more. Using a cotton bud, apply some fake blood into these holes.

Step 9:

Now it’s up to you to add whatever colours you want – depending on whether you want it to be a fresh wound or a scarred burn. I created a scarred burn – using purple and green eye shadow to give it a bruised look.

Around the pierced holes I added white and dark red eyeshadow to produce an irritated look. You could also add a little bit of black, but do not overdo it. For depth of colour, use fake blood sparingly across the burn, especially within the ripped sores. Apply this with a cotton bud or sponge.

And there you have it! A bruised burn look for Halloween which you could match with any outfit. The great thing is that you can be very versatile with the design to match the look you are going for! Have fun trying this out guys!