Since this method for making fake scars only uses regular makeup supplies, there aren’t any limits to where you can place the scar. Wherever you would normally use makeup is fair game.

Related Tutorials:

How to Make Burn Scars With Liquid Latex

How to Create Cuts and Scars With Rigid Collodion

How to create simple scars with makeup

All you need for creating these simple scars is three or four different shades of foundation or concealer and some setting powder (or setting spray). You’ll want one shade that is lighter than your skin tone, one that is darker, and one that matches. You can also include another shade with some pink undertones. I find it easier to use cream-based makeup for this, however, you can use multiple shades of powder eyeshadow if that’s what you have available. I got this palette with different skin tones in cream colors so that I had many different shades available.

1. Make a line (or shape) for your scar with makeup that is lighter than your skin tone. When doing this, I will make a line that is thicker in the middle and tapers at the end.
2. Use makeup that is darker than your skin tone to surround the light scar. Make a thin border around the light color with the darker colored makeup. You don’t want this to be too thick or it will be difficult to blend.
3. Use foundation in your normal skin tone around the light and dark scar. Then surround the dark layer with a neutral layer that is about the same shade as your skin.
4. Lightly squiggle the three colors to blur the edges. You don’t want to completely blend the colors together, but make the borders between them wavy and blurred for a more natural-looking, healed scar. At this point, you can also add in some pink tone into the middle, lighter layer if you want to.
5. Blend the outer color into your skin tone. Now you just have to gently blend the outer layer to create a seamless transition between the scar and your face.
6. Use a translucent powder to reduce the shine and set the makeup. Once you’re happy with the look, go over it with a matte setting powder. This will help to prevent any shine from the cream makeup, and it will work to keep the makeup from smudging too much.

If you plan on wearing this for a long period of time at an anime convention, you might want to bring supplies to touch it up occasionally. The setting powder helps it stay in place a lot, but it’s not a perfect solution. To remove the scar at the end of the day, simply wipe it off with any makeup remover that you would normally use.

The post Tutorial: Easy Scars for Halloween Costumes (With Makeup) appeared first on .

Related Tutorials:

How to Create Scars With Only Makeup

How to Create Cuts and Scars With Rigid Collodion

However, liquid latex is also the most inconvenient product to use. You need to be very careful using the product around your eyes. Avoid the eyelid and at least half an inch around the vicinity of your eye to prevent any accidents. You can use makeup to cover these areas after the latex is applied.

If you don’t prep the skin, liquid latex will stick to your hairs making it painful to remove. Some people will shave the skin in the area where the liquid latex will be applied. I find it’s just as effective to add a thin layer of vaseline (petroleum jelly) to the skin. If you will be adding liquid latex around your eyebrow, use a glue stick to seal the hairs on your brow.

You’ll also need to use separate disposable sponges to apply the liquid latex. It starts to dry fairly quickly, and will completely ruin any brushes that you use with the product.

Some people also have latex allergies and don’t realize it. This can be a pretty severe allergy, so always do a test on a small area of your arm before applying a large amount of latex to your skin or anywhere near your face. Wait at least thirty minutes after the latex dries on your skin to ensure you don’t start developing a rash.

How to make a large scar with liquid latex

To make a burn scar with liquid latex you’ll need a bottle of the latex, a tissue, cream makeup (in the red to brown spectrum), and translucent setting powder. You can also use powdered makeup to layer on top of the cream, but the powdered colors won’t adhere well to the latex prosthetic.

1. Apply a thin layer of vaseline to the skin. This will make it a lot less painful to peel the latex off after you’re finished wearing it. Other options are to use a thick moisturizer or shave the area where the latex will be applied. Avoid using too much, because that can prevent the liquid latex from adhering to your skin at all.
2. Rip up a tissue into small pieces. This will be used to give texture to the surface of your scar. 
3. Apply a layer of liquid latex. Liquid latex can be layered on top of itself for a more textured effect. Spread this first, thin layer over the entire area of your desired scar so that you can build off of it. Make sure you’re using disposable sponges so that you don’t ruin your regular makeup brushes.
4. Using more latex, paste pieces of tissue over the first layer of latex. Use the pieces of tissue you tore up and layer them one-by-one onto the scar shape. Paste them down with more liquid latex, and make sure there is some overlap from the pieces. Continue doing this until you’ve created a large, textured scar shape that you’re happy with. 
5. Let the latex dry before applying makeup. Liquid latex will dry relatively quickly into a rubbery material. However, if you used many layers, it might take half an hour or so before it’s ready to move on to the next step.
6. Add cream makeup. Powder makeup does not adhere well to the latex layer, so you want to use a cream formula. If you’re going for a burn scar, use a variety of burnt red, brown, and purple colors to create the desired effect.
7. Blend the edges with foundation. Make sure to blend the edges of the latex prosthetic using foundation, so it seamlessly transitions into your skin.
8. Use a translucent setting powder. Once your scar looks as desired, set it with translucent powder. This takes away any shine, and it will ensure the makeup stays in place.

To remove the liquid latex scar, simply peel it off your skin. If you’ve taken steps to protect the skin underneath, this is a simple process. If you haven’t the latex will still peel off without a problem. However, it will be like peeling a large bandaid off, and you will probably be left with a red, irritated mark on your skin that can take a few hours to fade away.

The post Tutorial: How to Make Fake Burn Scars With Liquid Latex appeared first on .

Since this method only uses makeup, there aren’t any limits to where you can place the scar. Wherever you would normally use makeup is fair game.

Related Tutorials:

How to Make Burn Scars With Liquid Latex

How to Create Cuts and Scars With Rigid Collodion

How to create simple scars with makeup

All you need for creating these simple scars is three or four different shades of foundation or concealer and some setting powder (or setting spray). You’ll want one shade that is lighter than your skin tone, one that is darker, and one that matches. You can also include another shade with some pink undertones. I find it easier to use cream-based makeup for this, however, you can use multiple shades of powder eyeshadow if that’s what you have available. I got this palette with different skin tones in cream colors so that I had many different shades available.

1. Make a line (or shape) for your scar with makeup that is lighter than your skin tone. When doing this, I will make a line that is thicker in the middle and tapers at the end.
2. Use makeup that is darker than your skin tone to surround the light scar. Make a thin border around the light color with the darker colored makeup. You don’t want this to be too thick or it will be difficult to blend.
3. Use foundation in your normal skin tone around the light and dark scar. Then surround the dark layer with a neutral layer that is about the same shade as your skin.
4. Lightly squiggle the three colors to blur the edges. You don’t want to completely blend the colors together, but make the borders between them wavy and blurred for a more natural-looking, healed scar. At this point, you can also add in some pink tone into the middle, lighter layer if you want to.
5. Blend the outer color into your skin tone. Now you just have to gently blend the outer layer to create a seamless transition between the scar and your face.
6. Use a translucent powder to reduce the shine and set the makeup. Once you’re happy with the look, go over it with a matte setting powder. This will help to prevent any shine from the cream makeup, and it will work to keep the makeup from smudging too much.

If you plan on wearing this for a long period of time at an anime convention, you might want to bring supplies to touch it up occasionally. The setting powder helps it stay in place a lot, but it’s not a perfect solution. To remove the scar at the end of the day, simply wipe it off with any makeup remover that you would normally use.

The post Tutorial: How to Make Costume Scars With Only Makeup appeared first on .

Related Tutorials:

How to Create Fake Freckles With Only Eyeliner Pencils

How to Create Fake Freckles Using Eyeshadow and a Spooly Brush

This method will create dramatic freckles very quickly. You can very easily press freckles across your entire face. These freckles are probably not going to hold up to close-up scrutiny, but the effect of the freckles will look excellent in photos for costumes and cosplay.

What you will need:

• A stipple sponge
• Brown cream makeup
• A blending sponge
• Your foundation

1. Cut your sponge into a round shape

Before you get started, you need to cut your sponge into a round-ish shape. Most of the time they will automatically come in a rectangular cuboid shape, but that will create harsh edges to your freckles that don’t look natural at all. Use a regular pair of scissors and cut off all the edges so that you get a round shape. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but you don’t want any hard edges.

2. Collect cream makeup on your sponge and press it on your face

Collect a dark brown cream makeup onto your sponge. You will then press the sponge onto your face to create the freckles. Make sure to only press the sponge up and down so that you avoid smudging the makeup as you apply it. 

Repeat this process all over your face to create a random pattern of dark and dramatic freckles. I like to start at areas of the face where the freckles would likely be darkest (nose, cheekbones, etc.) and then move to other areas without putting more makeup on the sponge. This will create more prominent freckles in the areas where the sun would be touching your face more.

3. Press the makeup with a blending sponge

Just like with the other two methods, you want to use a blending sponge to press the makeup into your face to make it less likely to smudge during the day. Make sure you don’t rub or wipe your face so that you don’t smear the freckles around.

4. Add foundation to create greater variation in color

Now it’s time to add a little bit of foundation to make the freckles look a little more natural. This will help to blend out the edges and add more variation in the color of the freckles. Take a little dab of your regular foundation and use a blending sponge to apply it to your face. Try not to over blend so you can make sure the freckles stay sharp.

Once you’re finished, it’s a good idea to apply translucent powder to your face to keep the cream makeup from smudging or running throughout the day. It’s a good idea for the other methods in this article too, but cream makeup is the most likely to smudge, so I highly recommend it here.

The post Tutorial: Realistic Fake Freckles Using a Stipple Sponge (for cosplay) appeared first on .

Related Tutorials:

How to Create Fake Freckles With Only Eyeliner Pencils

How to Create Dramatic Fake Freckles With Makeup

Items you need:

• A brown eyeshadow (or other powder makeup)
• A spooly brush
• A blending sponge
• Your foundation

1. Collect eyeshadow on a spooly brush and flick it at your face.

Swirl your spooly brush in a dark brown shade of eyeshadow (or bronzer). You want to make sure you get quite a bit of loose powder onto the brush so you can effectively flick it at your face. You may need to work the surface of your eyeshadow for a bit to get enough loose powder to use. 

Tip your head back and hold the spooly brush over your face. Then flick the brush so the powder falls onto you (make sure to keep your eyes closed). Usually, there is only enough powder to cover a small section of the face, so you’ll want to collect more eyeshadow and repeat the process several times until you’re happy with the result.

The flicking technique can be a little difficult to get right, so it’s best to practice a few times before you’re at the convention putting freckles on. 

2. Press the powder onto your face using a blending sponge

After you’re happy with the result, you’ll need to press the freckles into your face. At this point, the powder is only loosely on the surface of your skin. If you don’t take the time to press them, the freckles will easily fall away or smudge.

Use a blending sponge to press down on all of the powder spots. Avoid wiping or rubbing with the sponge so that you don’t blur the freckles. This step will immediately make the freckles look lighter, so you may want to go back to step and add more powder if you want a more dramatic look.

3. Use foundation to blend some areas into your skin

Once you are happy with the result, it’s time to go back in with foundation and clean it up a little. Using very small dabs of foundation and a blending sponge, lightly cover areas of freckles that you want to be less dark or dramatic. Usually, it’s best to keep areas like cheekbones, brow bones, and your nose as the most prominently freckled parts of your face.

The post Tutorial: Create Fake Freckles Using a Spooly Brush appeared first on .

1. Focus on the eyes

The most important part of any anime look is, of course, the eyes. We need to design a look that gives us big, bold eyes. The rest of the makeup will be minimized so that we can put all the focus on the eyes.

However, that doesn’t mean the eye makeup has to be complicated. The real way to make your eyes stand out is by contrasting them with the rest of your face. This means creating sharp and distinct lines with eyeliner and emphasizing your eyelashes and eye creases.

To create the illusion of large anime eyes:

1. Use a white eyeliner to fill in your waterline. You can continue the white into the area just under your eye.
2. Use a dark eyeshadow to accentuate the eye crease. You can also add a smidge of dark shadow underneath the outer corner of the eye to add just a little more pop. Just make sure to not make this area so dark that it looks like an eye bag.
3. Add thick eyeliner starting above the center of your eye. Draw the line from the center out past the edge of your eye. Then create a hook around the white eyeliner area you have below your eye and fill the area in with dark eyeliner.
4. Apply thick mascara to the top and bottom lashes. You can add false lashes for an even more dramatic look.

For the illusion of even bigger eyes, consider using circle contact lenses. These are made with very large irises to give your eyes a baby doll effect. However, as someone who cannot wear most circle lenses because of an astigmatism in one of my eyes, I have to recommend caution with anime contact lenses. Always see your eye doctor before using them.

If you are using contacts, always put them in before starting your makeup. This way there is less chance of getting irritating makeup into your eye from the surrounding skin or your fingers.

2. Choose matte finish products

When it comes to cosplay, you need to think about how your face is going to look when it’s photographed. Many products that are used for everyday makeup, won’t make you look great in photos. The problem is with photography, you see everything! It’s even worse if you try to use products that are meant to be shiny or give you glowing skin. Most of the time, these reflect back at the camera in a way that makes your face look sweaty. Not what we’re going for.

Instead, get products that have a matte finish to them. These will create a more consistent canvas on your face. It might not look quite as natural up close, but it’ll make you look like you have perfect anime skin in photographs.

The other thing you’ll need to do is apply more makeup than you normally would for your everyday look. You don’t necessarily have to cake makeup on, but making sure you give yourself full coverage will do wonders for creating that flawless anime skin, especially in photos.

Personally, I apply my makeup in multiple layers, rather than adding one thick layer of foundation. To create my base makeup I will:

1. Apply concealer to spots and under-eye bags.
2. Apply a base, matte foundation.
3. Apply a powder foundation.
4. After the entire look is complete (including blush, contour, SFX makeup, etc.) I will apply a layer of matte translucent powder.

It’s always important to wear sunscreen (apply it before getting started with makeup). However, sunscreens that contain titanium dioxide or zinc oxide are more likely to reflect light and make your face look washed out in photography. You might want to consider using a sunscreen without one of these two ingredients while wearing your cosplay.

3. Make your face look younger with blush

Anime characters usually have faces that look eternally young. Well, I’m not getting any younger, but there is a simple way you can immediately de-age yourself using makeup. This is by creating young-looking, rosy cheeks.

Because young faces tend to have more fatty tissue on the face, the natural pink tinge will be in a different location than older adults. You can easily mimic this by applying the product on the apples of your cheeks instead of along your cheekbones.

Give yourself a big smile and see where your cheeks come up close to your eyes. Those are the areas where you want to add blush to make rosy cheeks. You can also add just a dash of color along the bridge of your nose to add to your youthful face.

Don’t be afraid to add a lot of blush. This is another area where makeup for cosplay photography will be different from everyday makeup. As a general rule, photos will be a little washed out, making all colors appear less saturated. To get your cheeks to stand out at all, you’ll need to go a little overboard with the blush.

4. Minimize the lips

Most of the time, anime characters don’t really have lips. They’ll have a line to indicate where their mouth is, but that’s pretty much it. Since we are human beings with real faces, we are not going to be able to copy this exactly. But what we can do is use makeup to minimize the appearance of our lips and de-emphasize them on our faces.

You do this by first covering your lips. Then you will apply only a small amount of lipstick as a gradient on your lips so they exist, but they don’t take any attention away from the eyes on your face. Avoid using bright or bold lipstick colors unless your specific character wears lipstick.

1. Start by covering your lips with your foundation or concealer. You may want to apply a lip primer first if you have dry or chapped lips.
2. Use a light pink or rosy color and apply it to the center of your lips. Focus the color on the center of the lips, where the lips touch together.
3. Pat the lipstick to feather the edges and create a gradient. Use your finger to gently feather out the color you added. The area in the center of your lips should be brighter, while the edges of your lips should not have any color.

5. Don’t overdo the contouring

As a general rule, anime characters do not have sculpted features or chiseled cheekbones. They have soft faces with a pointed, yet underemphasized chin. For a while, I thought this meant I should forgo the contouring altogether. However, I’ve found that is a recipe for a face that looks flat and lifeless in photos. 

Instead, you’ll want to create very soft contouring around the edges of your face. The only other contouring you want to do is around the chin of your jawline and on the edges of your nose. This way you can create more of a pointed chin and a smaller nose, to better match standard anime features.

1. Use a fluffy brush to apply contour color around your temples and cheeks. Start at the temple and make a spiral around toward the edge of the face. Make sure the contour outline remains soft, with no hard edges.
2. Add contour color on your jawline to create a sharp chin. Blend it in to look natural, but it does not have to be as soft as the contour on the rest of the face.
3. Add contour on the sides of your nose to make it look narrower. You only need a little bit of product to make the nose look a lot thinner. 

6. Highlight the nose tip and the inner eyes

There is very little highlighting that you need to do for your anime makeup. Typically, the only two places that I will highlight are the tip of my nose and the inner part of my eye. 

Highlighting the inner part of your eye makes them immediately appear wider, younger, and brighter. It is excellent for adding just a little more emphasis to your eyes. Highlighting the tip of your nose will make it look just slightly narrower, mimicking the small pointed noses that are common in anime.

1. Pat a white eyeshadow (or lighter than skin tone) onto the inner corner of your eyes. Feather out the edges so you don’t have any hard lines.
2. For added effect, use a white eyeliner on the waterline at the inner corner. This will make the area closer to your eye even brighter.
3. Use a dash of the same light eyeshadow on the bridge and tip of your nose. Feather out the highlighted area slightly by patting it with your finger.

7. Don’t be afraid to elaborate the eyelashes

When it comes to anime makeup, you can never go too far on your eyes. You want the eyes to be the focus, so adding false eyelashes for added emphasis is an excellent idea. 

Apply falsies to the entire row of upper eyelashes. Then cut a small piece and add it to the outer edge of your bottom lashes. Use a mascara brush to help blend the falsies in with your own lashes.

For added effect, you can even draw lower lashes using a liquid liner or a fine-tipped eyeliner. I like to make a few lines just underneath the outer corner of each eye, but you can make these as dramatic as you like.

The post 7 Tips for Flawless Anime Makeup for Cosplay appeared first on .

Before applying freckles with any methods, make sure you’ve already applied your makeup as usual. The freckles will be the last layer you add so that you don’t have to worry about smudging them afterward.

Related Tutorials:

How to Create Fake Freckles Using Eyeshadow and a Spooly Brush

How to Create Dramatic Fake Freckles With Makeup

The easiest method for adding freckles is by drawing them onto your face one by one using an eyeliner pencil. However, it’s not easy to create realistic freckles using this method. It’s best used when you’re trying to create subtle freckles, not dense or dark spots. You can also use this method in addition to the other methods I’ll talk about in this post to create a wider variety of freckles on your face.

You would also use the eyeliner method if you’re trying to create obvious cartoon-ish freckles. For example, it could be used for a character like Izuku Midoriya to create his character-accurate freckles even though they don’t look realistic.

Items you need:

• 2 or 3 shades of a brown eyeliner pencil
• A blending sponge
• Your foundation

1. Use multiple shades of brown to create dots on your face

Start by using your eyeliner pencil to scatter dots throughout your face. Try to be as random as possible and make some larger dots and some smaller. I recommend using eyeliner that has an actual pencil tip since that makes it easier to control the shape and size of the dots you create.

Real freckles are not all consistently the same color, so if you want a more realistic effect, it’s best to use multiple eyeliner pencils in varying shades. I usually make a lot of dots with the lighter shade and then add a few more scattered around with darker shades of pencil.

2. Pat your freckles with a blending sponge

At this point, you want to make sure that your freckles are not going to smudge too much on your skin. You’ll want to press your freckles onto your face with a blending sponge. Press your sponge up and down over all of the freckles you created (avoid any wiping motion since this will smudge the freckles). 

3. Press foundation over some freckles

To add further variety to your freckles, you’re not going to add some foundation on top of some of them. This will help to make your freckles a little more subtle and melded into your skin. Use a blending sponge with a tiny dab of foundation to lightly cover some freckles. 

Generally, freckles will be more visible where the sun hits your face more. So adding the foundation away from those areas helps the overall look. For example, making the freckles softer under the eyes and nose, but keeping them sharp on the cheekbones.

The post Tutorial: How to Create Fake Freckles With Eyeliner Pencils appeared first on .

Even though covering your eyebrows is the most accurate method of matching a character’s wig color, it’s also a lot of work. In most cases, simply coloring your brows will get you close enough to the wig color. Remember, most people have a natural eyebrow color that doesn’t completely match their hair color. So, it’s okay if your eyebrows are a little off from the color of your wig.

Related Tutorials:

How to Color Your Eyebrows for Bright Wigs

How to Cover Your Eyebrows and Redraw Them

The simplest way to color your eyebrows is by simply adding color to tint them toward the color of your wig. Unless you have very light eyebrows, this method is really only sufficient if you have a dark-colored wig. 

You’ll want to use a spooly brush (the same type of brush used for mascara) to brush out your eyebrows before you start. I will generally do this method after I’ve finished my basic makeup on the rest of my face. You don’t need any specialized makeup to use this method. All you need is:

• Eyeshadow or a brow pencil in your desired color
• A small angled eyeliner brush
• A clean spooly brush

1. Use an angled brush to add color

Using an angled eyeliner brush with eyeshadow or an eyeliner or brow pencil, add color to your eyebrows. Use small strokes in the direction of your eyebrow hairs to create a more natural look.

Since most people have eyebrows that are somewhat dark, use a color that is brighter than you think you need. The dark hairs of your eyebrows will mute the color a little making it appear overall darker when you are finished.

2. Use a spooly brush to move the even out the color on your brows

Using your spooly brush, comb through your eyebrows. This will help to distribute the color evenly throughout the eyebrow hairs so you are not left with clumps of color in a few spots. 

This will also take some color off of your eyebrows, so you’ll want to go back in and add another layer or two of eyeshadow color. Then comb it through the hairs again and repeat until you are happy with the result.

3. Clean up the edges

If you are very neat with makeup, you might not need this step, but I’m always the kind of person who accidentally colors outside of the lines. If that’s you too, don’t worry. Simply take a Q-tip with some foundation and clean up the edges of your eyebrows so the color is contained.

The post Tutorial: How to Color Your Eyebrows for Cosplay appeared first on .

Cosplay makeup is not just about using what you have in your daily routine; it’s a whole different level of detail and creativity. You’ll need to step into the shoes—or rather, the face—of somebody else entirely. From getting a flawless base to accentuating features you didn’t even know you had, the transformation is remarkable. Whether you’re looking to throw on a wig and a set of elf ears or going full-throttle into a body paint adventure, it all starts with your makeup kit.

Do remember, your toolkit isn’t just a one-size-fits-all. Different characters might require a unique set of products. But don’t worry, building up your arsenal with some cosplay makeup essentials will have you ready for just about anything. Consider this the starting point to express your creative self and become the characters you’ve always wanted to portray.

• Related reading: Easy makeup tips to improve your cosplay!

1. Matte foundation

Foundation is used to smooth out the color on your face so it doesn’t look red or splotchy. If you have never used makeup before, this is the product that will make the most difference in leveling up your cosplay. Everyone’s face (including and especially my own) has some amount of uneven color that can be improved using a little bit of foundation.

Foundation also serves the purpose of smoothing out the texture of your skin and making it appear more finished. I recommend using a foundation with a matte finish. This will look better in photographs because it won’t have a glimmering or greasy shine to it. In photography, almost any kind of shine is going to make you look sweaty in photos, so the goal of cosplay makeup is to make your face as matte as possible.

2. Translucent powder

Translucent powder is a matte, transparent powder that you use as a final layer over the rest of your makeup. This is a multi-purpose powder that works as a fixing element, keeping your makeup in place all day long. It also helps to prevent too much shine on your face, which will keep you from looking sweaty in photos.

To apply a translucent powder, you’ll want to use a big fluffy brush. Dip the brush in the powder and gently pat it all over your face after you’ve finished applying your makeup. Then simply brush off the excess powder. This simple step will immediately give you a more finished and long-lasting makeup look for your cosplay.

3. Blotting paper

If you are ever cosplaying in the summer or are prone to greasy skin, I cannot recommend blotting paper enough. This is a thin tissue paper that you can pat against your skin to absorb excess oil and sweat without ruining your makeup. 

I recommend carrying a small packet with you so that you can quickly blot your face right before a photoshoot. This way, if you had grease build-up during the day at the convention, it won’t make you look too sweaty in your photos.

4. Primer

Before applying any makeup, it’s good practice to use a face primer. In general, a primer works to help seal a surface and keep it from absorbing the paints and products that are put onto it. It does the same thing for your face, preparing it as a canvas for the rest of your makeup. When you use primer, wait for it to dry on your face before doing the rest of your makeup.

Using a primer at the start of your makeup routine will help to smooth out the surface of your face, make it easier to apply makeup, and help your makeup last longer. All of these are great pluses when applying makeup for cosplay, especially because you’re usually using many layers of makeup for long periods of time.

5. Bodypaint

Bodypaint won’t be necessary for all cosplays, but it’s quite common to find characters that have unnatural, brightly colored skin. Learning how to use body paint is an essential skill for pulling off these characters.

If you are a beginner to face or body paint, I recommend using a water-based paint, such as Mehron’s Paradise AQ. This is easiest to learn how to apply and if it’s sealed with a fixing spray, it will last all day long. To learn more about body paint and how to apply it, check out my tutorial.

6. Makeup fixing spray

If you are using any kind of body paint, a fixing spray is an absolute must. It’s also incredibly useful if you have oily skin that makeup tends to slide off of. Fixing spray works to hold your makeup in place for long periods of time without any risk of smudging. 

This is the final step of a makeup routine. Simply hold your spray at arm’s length, close your eyes and mist your face with the spray. Wait a minute and then gently dab any excess moisture with a towel or tissue. With that, your makeup should stay in place all day long even if you accidentally touch your face.

7. White eyeliner

White eyeliner has been a surprisingly useful tool for me when cosplaying. It can be used to make your eyes look wider and brighter. All of which can be useful when cosplaying an anime character or any character that’s younger than you.

When cosplaying an anime character, I will apply white eyeliner to the waterline underneath my eyes. This creates the appearance of slightly larger eyes. I will also apply white eyeliner to the inner corner of both eyes. This works to brighten your eyes a little since there tends to be a lot of shadows in this area of the face.

8. Makeup brushes

While it’s possible to apply makeup using only your fingers, it’s not something I typically recommend. Investing in a decent set of brushes will give you the tools you need for more detailed, delicate makeup and they will help you blend your makeup.

The brushes that every cosplayer want to have in their kit include:

• 2-3 small eye makeup brushes: One fluffy for blending eyeshadow and one skinny and angled for detailed shapes
• 1-2 large blending brushes: for applying blush and blending contours
• A brow brush: to comb any unruly eyebrows, it looks like a mascara brush
• A fluffy brush: to use for translucent powder

You can also include other sizes and shapes for more variety, but as long as you have these you’ll have all the basics. You can also choose to use a large brush for applying concealer and foundation, but I’ll mention later that I prefer using a makeup sponge for these products.

9. Neutral lip makeup

Many anime characters have almost non-existent lips. To try to match this style in a real-life costume, you will want to try to deemphasize your lips on your face. Instead of using a brightly colored lipstick, you’ll want to find colors that are nude or neutral. Something that will work with your skin tone to give your lips a slightly pink color without really standing out on your face.

11. Special effects makeup

While not essential for every cosplay, you can also have some fun playing around with special effects makeup. This could be useful for zombie characters, or anyone who has a scar on their skin (check out my tutorial for making different types of scars for cosplay).

Some products that you can play around with to learn some effects are:

• Rigid collodion: This is used for making indents and puckers on your skin. You can use it to make a scar or a brand on your skin depending on your character.
• Liquid latex: This is an extremely versatile tool. You can make all kinds of shapes, bumps, and textures on your skin. Always test a small amount of this product on your arm first. Many people are allergic to latex without knowing it.

12. Blending sponges

In addition to makeup brushes, it’s a good idea to use some blending sponges in your makeup routine. I use these for blending in concealer and foundation because sponges do a better job at mimicking skin texture than brushes do. You’ll end up with more natural-looking coverage than using your fingers or brushes. Sponges are also easier to clean, so they tend to be my go-to when using these creamier and liquid products.

13. Waterproof eye makeup

Eye makeup can make or break a cosplay, so make sure to invest in smudge-proof, waterproof products that will hold up for the entire day. Mainly, I’m talking about eyeliner and mascara, since these types of eye makeup are more likely to smudge.

You don’t necessarily need to go for an expensive high-end brand. There are many relatively cheap brands that have a very good reputation. E.l.f. makeup, for example, is pretty good quality and will last a long time. I recommend them if you’re looking for good products to get started with makeup.

14. An eyeshadow palette

It is never a bad idea to have an eyeshadow palette with a lot of different shades and colors. The powdered makeup can be used for so many different purposes beyond just eyeshadow. You can use them to color your eyebrows to match your wig, or to create special effects with makeup. 

As you cosplay more, you will undoubtedly end up collected many palettes as you find the perfect colors to work for your costumes. To start with, however, I recommend finding one with neutral and matte colors. Unless you know what you’re doing, stay away from any shimmering and glimmering colors. It’s very easy to overuse these to the point where they look tacky on your skin.

15. Makeup remover wipes

When getting all of your makeup supplies, do not forget about what you need for taking it all off at the end of the day. You’re using products that were designed to resist water and be difficult to remove, so relying on simple soap and water doesn’t always do the trick. You also want to be as thorough as possible when removing your makeup since leaving it on overnight can easily lead to acne or skin irritation.

I prefer to use remover wipes when taking off my makeup. These are easiest to bring to a convention and use even if the bathroom is occupied by all your cosplayer friends. However, there are also sprays and other products you can use that will work just as easily.

How often should you replace your makeup?

Makeup products will eventually expire. If you don’t use them regularly, you’ll still want to replace the products occasionally so that they don’t have bacterial growth or turn rancid because of the oil used in the formula.

Most containers of makeup will let you know how long you should be keeping the product. If you look on the label you’ll see a little number (usually 3, 6, 12, or 24) letting you know how long to keep the product after you’ve opened it.

In general, liquid and cream products have shorter lifespans than wax and powdered products. Liquid eye products, like mascara and eyeliner, should be replaced every 3-6 months, while foundation and concealer should be replaced every 6-12 months. Wax lipstick will usually last quite a bit longer, up to two years. And powdered products are generally okay to use until they get chalky instead of powdery.

The post Cosplay Makeup Starter Kit appeared first on .

Colored cosplay contacts are safe to wear if they have been fitted to your eyes, cared for properly, and FDA approved. Legally, you must submit a prescription from an eye doctor that contains the curve and diameter of your eye before you can buy colored contacts.

There are several online stores where you can purchase a wide array of approved contacts for your cosplay. However, not all contacts will fit the shape of your eye, so you can’t just go and buy contacts without understanding the safety and guideline surrounding them.

Are cosplay contacts safe?

Colored contact lenses are safe to wear if you meet these three requirements:

1. They correctly fit the measurements of your eyes.
2. They have been FDA-approved.
3. You take proper care of the lenses.

You also need to obtain a prescription for decorative contact lenses before you purchase them by going to the eye doctor for a contact lens fitting (even if you have perfect vision). Contacts are not one-size-fits-all, so you should only wear the ones that fit your eye measurements. Wearing contacts that don’t fit properly can be just as damaging to your eyes as wearing lenses that are not FDA-approved.

Health risks from wearing unsafe contact lenses include:

• Eye infection
• Impaired vision
• Conjunctivitis
• Scratches to your cornea
• Blindness (in severe cases)

Some people try to sell cosplay contacts illegally, without getting FDA approval. I wouldn’t avoid purchasing contacts from eBay or from any store that does not require you to submit a prescription from your eye doctor.

Circle lenses and eye safety

Most brands of circle lenses (the type that is meant to make your eyes look bigger) are not approved for sale in the United States. The reputable brands are manufactured in South Korea and approved by the South Korean FDA. Since the US cannot regulate their production, these types of colored contacts are not cleared.

There are also some concerns that circle lenses are not as safe for eyes because they are larger and might deprive the eye of oxygen. At the same time, they are widely available and safely worn by many people in South Korea, China, Japan, and Taiwan.

Basically, this means that, technically, you should not buy circle lenses. While I personally avoid circle lenses due to astigmatism in one of my eyes, you can make your own decision about the risks and safety of the product. At the very least, I recommend making sure the lenses have been approved by the South Korean FDA or the European equivalent (the EMA).

How to buy contact lenses legally

Contacts are considered medical devices (even if you don’t need them to correct your vision), so it’s illegal to buy or sell them without a valid prescription. Arguably, the best way to do this is to go directly through your eye doctor to purchase colored contact. They’ll be able to recommend a reputable brand and check to make sure it fits your eye. However, options at optometrists are usually pretty limited, and they tend to be more expensive.

1. Go to your eye doctor

If you are going to purchase colored contacts elsewhere, the first step is still to go to an eye doctor. They will measure the diameter and base curve of your eye so that you can get contacts that fit you properly. Even if you have perfect vision, they’ll probably also send you home with some basic, clear contact lenses to practice wearing.

The eye doctor will also let you know if you have astigmatism that might prevent you from wearing certain types of contacts. Personally, I found out that I have astigmatism in one eye. There are certain clear brands of contacts that I can wear, but I would not buy colored contacts without the direct approval of my doctor.

2. Find contacts based on your measurements

Now that you have your measurements on your prescription, you can search online to find contacts that fit your eyes. All contact lenses should have diameter and curve measurements in the information section where they’re being sold. Find a pair that matches your prescription. 

From there, you’ll also want to include any vision correction that you need (this information will also be included on your prescription slip). If you have perfect vision, you can keep these numbers at 0.00.

Unfortunately, you will definitely find some contacts that you want that are the wrong measurements. It’s sad when that happens, but save your eyesight and look elsewhere. If you really want that exact style, it’s much safer to learn how to edit your eyes in photoshop instead.

Contact lens care and safety for cosplay

The other aspect of safe contact lens use is making sure you take proper care of them. If you leave them in for too long or don’t keep the lenses clean, you could easily end up damaging your eyes. When you go to the eye doctor for a fitting, they will also give you instructions on how to care for contact lenses and how to put them in your eye. Make sure to pay attention to their advice.

Tips for contact lens safety.

• Get a case and contact lens cleaning fluid. You can usually purchase these at just about any drugstore or pharmacy. Do not use anything other than contact lens cleaning fluid with your contacts.
• Take the contacts out of the liquid it comes in and put them into the case. When your contacts arrive, you want to take them out of their original bottle and place them in the cleaning fluid for at least 24-48 hours before wearing them.
• Look at the lens before putting it into your eye. You’re checking for any rips in the lens, or any pet fur, dust, or small particles that would irritate your eye. You also want to ensure that the lens is not inside out.
• With the pad of your finger, put the contact into your eye. Avoid using your nails, since that can scratch the contact or your cornea.
• Practice putting contacts on before the convention. If you are not used to wearing contacts, it’s going to take some practice before you get them in quickly
• Put the contacts on before makeup. Eye makeup can get onto your contact lens, so always put them in first.
• Only wear the contacts for a few hours at a time. Colored contacts are thicker than daily clear contact lenses. They are not meant to be worn for an entire day. It’s best to avoid wearing them for longer than 4-6 hours at a time. Less if you are not used to wearing contacts.
• Use eye drops to keep your eyes from drying out. Contacts can dry your eyes out very quickly and make them look and feel irritated. Bring some eyedrops with you and apply them frequently during the day.
• Throw away your contacts when they expire. Contacts are not meant to be worn indefinitely. Most colored contacts are yearly, which means you should toss them about a year after you’ve opened them.
• Do not sleep in contacts of any kind. Sleeping in contacts can scratch your eyes and cause significant irritation.
• Don’t go into a pool or body of water with contacts on. Avoid any kind of swimming or even heavy physical activity with colored contacts.
• Do not share your contacts with anyone. To prevent spreading infection, never let a friend borrow your contact lenses.

Do you really need to wear colored contacts for cosplay?

I don’t think anyone within the cosplay community would say your eyes have to match your character. Because of the dangers of wearing contacts wrong and the general squeamishness of putting something into your eye, eye color is one of the aspects of cosplay that is overlooked when it’s not accurate.

If you want to wear colored lenses with your costume, just make sure to pay attention to safety and take care of the contacts. However, if you can’t find something that fits or you can’t make it to the eye doctor, no one will think you’re bad at cosplaying. Even though you might value the accuracy of your cosplay, it is not worth your eyesight. 

Where to get colored contacts for cosplay

As I mentioned before, you can get decorative lenses directly from your eye doctor. If you have any kind of astigmatism, this is how I recommend getting your lenses. 

However, most people will purchase lenses for cosplay online because they will be much cheaper. When purchasing contacts from an online shop, they should always ask you for your prescription or a way to contact your eye doctor. If the shop does not ask for this information, I would avoid purchasing contacts from them. 

The same goes for any contact lens stalls that you see at convention dealer’s rooms. You always want to make sure their contacts are approved for sale in the US, and the lenses are the correct size for your eyes.

Some online stores that are known for selling contacts for cosplay include:

• Honey Color
• Pinky Paradise
• Lens.me

It’s important to note that these shops also sell lenses that are not approved by the United States FDA. While they are known for having quality products, some of the lenses have only been approved by foreign government agencies that might not have the same standards as the US.

Some US brands that have colored contacts that are FDA approved include:

• Solotica
• Acuvue
• Air Optix
• TORIcolors
• FreshLook
• Bella Colored Contacts
• FreshKon

The post How to Find Contacts for Cosplay and Know They are Safe appeared first on .