How to Do Zombie Makeup at Home

Dark, sunken eyes are key to zombie makeup.

Whether you are attending a fancy dress party or a Halloween event, the zombie look is an iconic image that is both cheap and easy to imitate, with some shredded clothing and fake blood being all that is required for the costume. Applying makeup is also an important step in constructing your costume, with professional-looking results easy to achieve from the comfort of your own home.

Things You'll Need

• Headband
• Liquid latex
• Makeup brushes and sponges
• Toilet paper
• White cream makeup base
• Red face paint
• Black face paint
• Dark green face paint
• Peach face paint
• Two colored face paints of your choice

Instructions

Zombie Makeup

1. Cleanse your face and pull your hair back with a headband. Next, apply a thin, even layer of liquid latex to your face using a makeup brush; allow 15 minutes drying time.

2. Lay a single sheet of toilet paper on each cheek; then, using a liberal amount of liquid latex on your makeup brush, seal the toilet paper to your face. Allow 15 minutes to dry.

3. Apply another sheet of toilet paper to the forehead. However, keep the toilet paper loose and pliable in the central area, since you will need to be able to tear this later on to form a fake wound. Seal the sheet to the forehead with liquid latex and allow it to dry.

4. Apply a white cream makeup base over the entire face, using either a sponge or a makeup brush.

5. Gently tear open the sheet of toilet paper you placed on your forehead earlier on. Tear the "wound" in an irregular pattern, making sure to fold back the extra paper to reveal your real skin beneath. Next, using a makeup brush, fill in the inside of the "wound" with red and black face paint.

6. Using either a makeup brush or a sponge, apply a very dark green face paint around the entire eye area -- above, below, and close to the nose -- to give the eyes a sunken appearance. Also apply the paint around the mouth area, especially in your smile lines.

7. Apply a peach face paint over the entire face using either a brush or sponge, slowly blending the color into the makeup that you have already applied. After this, blend one or two additional colors of your choice into the face, making sure to apply a darker shade with each new layer, until you achieve your preferred look.

Tips & Warnings

• It is recommended that men shave away any stubble before applying zombie makeup.

• Be sure you are not allergic to any of the materials used in this article -- including all face paints and liquid latex -- by doing a small test patch before use.

• Be aware that face paints can prevent your skin from breathing, and are therefore best avoided in hot weather.

References

• Curbly: How to make Zombie Make-up » Curbly | DIY Design Community «
• Zombie Maker: Basic Zombie Makeup