Halloween Make-up: Zombie

Halloween is just around the corner! So far this year, we’ve shown how to create looks including a mauled Little Red Riding Hood, a high-fashion extraterrestrial, and a corpse bride. Now, I’m going to show you how to create one of the most requested looks this year is also a classic – the zombie! Zombies are incredibly trendy right now, with shows such as The Walking Dead and books such as Colson Whitehead’s Zone One adding to our fascination with the undead.

If you are thinking of creating this classic look this Halloween, here are some quick and easy tips to turn yourself or someone else into a flesh-eating zombie!

Highlights and Shadows: Lightly stipple the White Character/FX Color on the entire face with a MUD Professional Make-up Sponge. Build the product on the highest points of the face like the frontal bone, above the cheekbones, bridge of the nose, chin and the lower area of the cheek above the jaw line. For an emaciated appearance, use the Black Character/FX Color in the shadows of the face with #320 Oval Shadow Brush. Create shadows in the eye sockets with the Black Character/FX Color and #320 Brush. Begin with the darkest area, the inner corner of each eye. Follow inside the natural shape of the occipital bone. Feather the shadow out as you move into the crease of the top lid. Blend the edge in the crease for a soft edge. Next, carry the shadow under the eye. Allow the brush to follow the inside of the occipital bone for a dark circle effect. Move on to other areas of the face. Create a shadow just outside of the frontal bone, temples, each side of the nose, cheekbones, nasal labial folds, and the jaw line. Tip: symmetry doesn’t matter. In fact, it will add to the character. To achieve a mottled look, twirl the brush as you drag the brush against the skin. Lighten up on the pressure of the brush to taper off the end of the strokes. For the illusion of wrinkled, textured skin, use sideways strokes when applying make-up with the #320 Brush. The layered approach really gives a cool scary effect. Repeat steps on all exposed areas of the body.

Texture with Character/FX Colors: First, apply a swatch of Mustard, Olive Green, Blue, and Maroon onto a Stainless Steel Palette. Begin the texture in the eye area with the Mustard with #910 Stipple Brush. Tip: Use the colors around the eyes sparingly. Lightly stipple the Mustard in random areas of the highlight. Make sure to leave some areas of the white exposed. Stipple the Olive Green in a couple of areas where the highlight meets the shadow. Mix a small amount of the Blue and Maroon to create a red-violet color and unevenly stipple around the top and lower lash lines. Stipple a small amount on the outer corners in the inside of the occipital bone. Next, add texture and color to the other areas of the face. Dilute the Mustard Color with 99% alcohol and fleck little specks of color in sporadic areas of the highlight with a dye or toothbrush. Dilute the Olive Green and fleck in random areas where the highlights and shadows meet. Mix a little of the Blue with the Maroon to create a red-violet. Next, dilute the mixture and fleck the red-violet color in the deepest areas of the shadows. Load a powder puff with a generous amount of the Zero Loose Powder to set the make-up. Use a pressing motion; do not sweep the puff against the skin. This tip will prevent any smearing of the make-up.

Thick and Reel Blood: Use the Thick Blood to create texture in the injuries you choose to create. Tip: When creating cuts, scoop the Thick Blood with one side of the Stainless Steel Palette Knife. Press the flat surface of the Palette Knife to the skin. As you glide the Palette Knife to create the slash, slightly lift the opposite side of the Palette Knife with a bit more pressure to taper the end of the slash. Flip the Palette Knife over to taper the opposite end using the same technique. Zombies usually have some sort of teeth marks left from a bite. To recreate teeth marks, use the Thick Blood with the tip of a Palette Knife. Think of tip of the Palette Knife as each tooth. Press and blend inward toward the center of the bite. The top area of the bite should blend downward and the lower area of the bite should blend upward. Next, add the Reel Blood with #920 Angle Liner Brush or Q-tip. Because of gravity, the blood usually puddles more toward the lower ends of the injuries. With that being said, try adding the blood to the top ends of the injury first and wait for it to settle. Add the blood on the outer corner of the lips for dramatic effect. To give the illusion that blood splattered on your face as you’re eating human flesh. Use the flecking technique with the Reel Blood around the mouth area.