Earlier this year, as Ive posted, some friends and I from the Treasure Coast Cosplayers hosted a Creep Walk at a local Horror Con. My original character is a Gypsy Fortune-Teller named Simza Vadoma Luminista and she gauged her own damn eyes out, ya’ll. I wanted to share a step-by-step on how I do my makeup for this character, so here goes:

You will need:

• Window Screen
• Liquid Latex
• Tissue
• Fake Blood
• Foundation/Concealer
• Powder
• Black eyeliner jumbo pencil
• Black eyeshadow

1.) Using liquid latex and strips of tissue/paper towel/TP/whatever really, I attach the strips around my eye. This is the most time-consuming of the process but after a few rounds, you can slap it on pretty quickly. I make sure to go above my eyebrow so I avoid ripping out my eyebrows when I remove the makeup. I extend down along/just below my cheek bones.

2.) Once the tissue strips are attached and the latex is dry, I use cream foundation everywhere including the tissue so it’ll look like ripped skin. I used stage makeup whenever I’m doing special effects stuff because I trust it and it lasts the entire time. This foundation/concealer is by Ben Nye. You can order it online. It’s a very recognizable stage makeup name. (Masquerade and Kryolan are two of my other favorite brands and can also be purchased online)

3.) All inside the tissue circle, COVER your eyes using a black jumbo eyeliner crayon/pencil. I’m using one by NYC. it was super cheap at the drug store and works just fine. You’ll want to also seal the black using a highly pigmented black eyeshadow. (I forget what brand this is here but its of higher quality and provides great coverage.) I also used a regular size black eyeliner pencil for the details and getting every bit of my eye area.

4.) Use a brush to apply stage blood all around the edges of the tissue. Smudge it in the crack where the tissue attaches to your skin. This doesn’t need any precision; it’s supposed to look like your eyes were ripped out so you can just squish that stuff all around.

5.) You can purchase window screen by the roll at any home improvement store for relatively cheap. I used a circular cotton pad to measure out a good sized circle and cut a few pairs out. Apply more liquid latex around the edges of your screen circles. Let the latex dry just a bit and then apply INSIDE the tissue. The ripped, bloody looking “skin” should still be hanging ragged around the edge of the screen. Allow to dry completely.

*One of the annoying bits of this makeup is that your eyelashes, depending on how long they are, may rub against the screen and it just feels weird but you deal with it for the sake of having awesome gorey makeup.

6.) Finish up by adding more stage blood. And some more stage blood all around the “ripped skin”, inside the lip where “skin” meets screen, and allow some to drip from the “wound”.

Bam! There you have it. In well-lit areas, your friends can see the whites of your eyes behind the screen but in photos, close your eyes, and in dark areas you can get the effect perfectly fine.

I hope this inspires some of you to explore horror and special effects makeup. Its something I’ve always loved and totally need to dive back in. Thanks so much for reading!

Love, GK