Nothing in life is creepier than the realistic-looking gashes, gouges and wounds you see at cosplay events, on TV shows like The Walking Dead or on those incredible Halloween costumes that people go all out on. The good news is that you don't even have to be a professional makeup artist or a TikTok influencer in order to create DIY liquid latex for special effects makeup all on your own.
Even better, there are actually hacks you can use to create these fake wounds without using liquid latex or expensive FX makeup kits at all. Not only are they hard to find in some areas but liquid latex can also cause allergic reactions in some people. This makeup tutorial will show each step in the process of creating SFX makeup at home with common household products that won't break your budget or irritate your skin.
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Things You'll Need
Unflavored gelatin
Water
Raw oats
Red food coloring
Yellow food coloring
Bowl
Wooden spoon
Tablespoon
Popsicle stick
Black eye shadow
Makeup brush
Needleless syringe (optional)
Artificial maggots (optional)
Pour gelatin into a bowl
The first step is to pour two packets of unflavored gelatin into a bowl. If you are planning to create an extra-large gash or will be covering a large area of your body in fake wounds, you can add one to two more packets of gelatin at a time.
Add boiling water
Next, add 2 tablespoons of boiling water to the bowl. Use a wooden spoon to stir the mixture until all of the gelatin is dissolved. As you stir it, it will begin to cool down slightly and thicken up.
Tip
A few lumps here and there can add texture to the fake wound you’ll be applying, so don’t be afraid to leave them in if that’s the look you’re going for.
Squeeze in food coloring
While you're stirring the gelatin and boiling water mixture, squeeze in a few drops of red food coloring to make it look like fake blood.
Tip
As soon as you add the boiling water to the gelatin, it will start to set. So, don’t wait too long before squeezing in your drops of red food coloring or the color won’t blend in well.
Apply fake wounds
Apply the DIY liquid latex you've made from scratch onto any spot of your body where you want a fake wound to appear. Use a popsicle stick to do so and spread it on just like you would with body paint. This process is similar to how you would apply fake blood.
Warning
The food coloring can dye your skin and clothes, so be careful when applying the DIY liquid latex to your body.
Press in raw oats
Gently press some raw oats into the liquid latex you've made. They will stick to the wet gelatin and add texture to your fake wounds.
Create some layers
To make your gouge look even more realistic, experiment with creating layers. Blend in some drops of yellow food coloring with a makeup brush to make your gouge look infected. Dab on some black eye shadow to make the area around your gouge appear bruised.
Upgrade the look
Upgrade the look and make it even creepier by sticking a needleless syringe filled with red water or artificial maggots into the fake wound and hold them in place until the gelatin sets.
Have fun with your DIY liquid latex
The DIY liquid latex you make with the help of this tutorial can be used for all kinds of purposes, like stage makeup, Halloween makeup or cosplay. You can get creative and use the liquid latex anywhere on your body and make each wound unique. Plus, it's an easy DIY project anyone can do from the comfort of their home! Don't forget to check out these handy guides on making fake stitches and fake gunshot wounds to take your special effects makeup to the next level.