Tag: cosplay

How to Choose Body Paint and Makeup for DIY Halloween Costumes

Halloween is the perfect time to try out body painting and character makeup. Whether you’re buying makeup online, going to a store, or using what you already have, below are some product ideas and answers to the common questions I get asked.

This post is intended for beginners and people new to body painting who don’t already have a makeup kit or products. Check out my resources page for links to some of the other specific products I have in my kit.

This post contains affiliate links. That means I receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase after clicking the link.

Jump to the section you need:

Body Paint Product Ideas for Specific Looks:

Collage of Halloween costumes and body paint: Avatar, Ursula, IT clown, Maleficent, She-Hulk, Flying Monkey, Sugar Skull

Please note that these are not the exact products I use when I’m doing my own or someone else’s makeup. These ideas are based on what I think is easiest to apply for a beginner, most cost-effective, or requires the least amount of tools.

Sillyfarm Face and Body Paint Supplies also has some pre-made kits for specific looks. Get 10% off your order with my referral link.

Body Paint Products Based on Your Needs:

What’s the easiest for beginners?

Have sensitive skin?

  • Check out water-based Mehron Paradise AQ Body Paint. This product is infused with skin soothing ingredients including Aloe, Vitamin E, Cucumber, Lemongrass, and Avocado. As with any cosmetic product, do a swatch test on your skin before applying it everywhere. This is one of the brands in my professional kit.
  • Check out water-based Cameleon Face and Body Paint. This is the brand of paint I use when I teach Paint Your Date class and it’s one of the brands in my professional kit.

Do you like working with pressed powder makeup, like eyeshadow?

  • Check out Mehron StarBlends for vibrant colors.
  • Use regular eyeshadow! It’s amazing what you can accomplish with standard eyeshadow you might already have.

Need it water- and/or sweat-resistant?

  • For sweat-resistant, try a cream-based makeup, such as Mehron Clown White, and set with a setting powder to make it smudge-proof, like Mehron ColorSet Powder. There’s a Joker-like clown makeup kit from Mehron that is cream-based. This is the type of paint that Cirque du Soleil performers wear. It’s also often what people find at Halloween pop-up stores. Using a setting powder is KEY for it to be smudge-proof and not greasy. I usually see people use cream-based on their face, not all over their body. (Re. water-resistant: I don’t have as much experience with cream-based and water. My experience is with alcohol-based hybrid airbrush paints).
  • For water-resistant and sweat-resistant, use alcohol-based hybrid paints, such as ProAiir Hybrid Airbrush Body Paint, and apply with a body paint sponge (I usually cut it in half), kabuki brush, or Iwata-Medea Eclipse Airbrush. I typically only apply it with airbrush as it gives the most even application. (Note: ProAiir is lightly scented like green apple)

I want to be metallic gold or silver or bronze.

I need body glitter!Biodegradable Glitter mix in iridescent gold for body painting and face painting and festivals.

I need to glue on fake ears or a nose, what should I use?

  • For a step up from spirit glue, use Pros-aide adhesive and adhesive remover. Apply it with a disposable applicator, such as a cotton swab. This is seriously sticky stuff, so don’t get it in your hair and don’t try to just pull it off at the end of the night! Use Pros-aide remover or 99% alcohol.
    • How to apply Pros-aide: Pros-aide is a contact cement, so you have to put it on both the prosthetic and your skin, then let it dry for best adhesion. Apply the glue to the prosthetic and to the place on your skin and then let it dry! It will be clear when dry. Once it’s dry, attach the prosthetic. Do it carefully because it’s hard to adjust once it’s stuck down. Use a setting powder or translucent powder on any sticky areas that are exposed.

How do I make sure it doesn’t rub off?


Well, it depends on what you’re doing. Keep in mind that friction is the enemy of body paint. So the places where the body paint meets clothing is where you’ll see it rub off first. Here are some things you can do to make it last longer:

  • For water-based:
    • Add Mehron Mixing Liquid to the water you use to activate the paints. I just eyeball it, but it might be approx 1:5 (Ex: 1 part mixing medium to 5 parts water). If it seems sticky on your skin, add more water to the dish.
    • Spray Mehron Barrier Spray on at the end as a final sealant. This acts like hairspray and helps hold the paint in place.
  • For alcohol-based hybrid paint:
  • For cream-based makeup:

Tools and Supplies for Body Painting

How much paint do I need?

What tools do I need?

Skin Prep and Paint Removal

How do I prepare my skin?

  • Avoid applying heavy lotions, oils, or creams before applying water-based or alcohol-based makeup. It will make it harder for the paint to stick to your skin.
  • Hydrate the night before by drinking water and moisturizing.

Will it stain my skin?

  • It depends. Everyone’s skin is different. If yours it dry, it might stain but it usually only lasts a day and comes off after a few washings.
  • If you’re concerned about your face being stained, use Marly Skin Prep on your skin before you apply paint.

How do I get the paint off?

For water-based:

For alcohol-based:

  • Makeup wipe or waterproof makeup remover like Garnier Micellar Water for Waterproof Makeup for sensitive area around the eyes and on face. 
  • Rub liquid soap (castile soap, dish soap) all over paint before getting wet. Make it muddy.
  • Then rinse off in shower. Repeat if needed.
  • For stubborn areas of paint, 91% alcohol, baby oil, coconut oil, or waterproof make-up remover.

For cream-based:

  • Makeup wipe or remover
  • Cream-based makeup remover like Pond’s.

Where to Buy Body Paint and SFX Products

screenshot of Breanna Cooke's Amazon storefront

Where can I buy this online?

I’m in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, TX. Where can I buy this stuff?

Is there something I missed? Let me know!

Check out my resources page for even more products I use.

If you live in Dallas, TX, you can also book a Halloween appointment with me.

Book a Halloween Appointment

Photo of Breanna painted as Ursula with text box with blog title "How to choose body paint and makeup for DIY Halloween costumes"

breanna cooke body painting

Paints I Use for Body Painting

Which paints do I use? It depends! I use different paints based on availability and my project’s needs. Below are some products that I use most frequently. For a general list of all my various art, website, and supply resources, visit my Resources page.

Quick disclaimer: I do not speak for all body painters, everyone has their own preferences for various reasons. I’m listing products that I have personal experience with. I am also not representing any of these companies and I also can’t vouch for how any of the products will work for you and your process. That said, some of the links in this post are affiliate links from Amazon and the like, and at no additional cost to you, I’ll receive a small commission for referring you. This helps me continue doing what I do!

Shop Local: While ordering online is often necessary, I also like to support local businesses whenever possible. If you live in Dallas, TX, you can purchase some of these products locally at Camera Ready Cosmetics (order online then pickup in store, too) or Norcostco Theatrical Supply.

Water-Based Body Paints


Cameleon: The eye-popping colors first drew me to Cameleon paints (no, that’s not a typo in Cameleon). I love the opacity and they’re great for line work too. The baseline Cameleon paints are free of any animal origin ingredients, are BSE free, and are not tested on animals. They are glycerin-based and use paraffin wax as a binder. Cameleon Paint is FDA and EU Compliant and is paraben-free, sulfate-free, with no perfumes and no drying agents. I typically use these (and the other cake paints listed below) with a brush and occasionally a sponge. Cameleon paints are not available locally in Dallas but you can find even more colors from their US distributor.

Mehron Paradise AQ: When I first got into body painting, I started with Mehron Paradise cakes. They are lovely for blending and once they’re activated with water they have a creamy consistency. Mehron Paradise AQ is vegan and is not tested on animals and is unscented. If you want to try a lot of colors in small quantities, check out the Mehron Pro Face Paint Palette with 30 colors. Mehron Paradise cakes are available in Dallas at Camera Ready Cosmetics or Norcostco Theatrical Supply.

Wolfe FX: I primarily use the Wolfe FX white and black because they are excellent for bold line work, but sometimes they are hard to find in stock. I’ve used TAG black and TAG white, or Cameleon black and Cameleon white as an alternative. Diamond FX black and Diamond FX white are also good options but I have limited experience with them. Wolfe FX paints are sometimes available locally at Norcostco Theatrical Supply, otherwise I order them online.


Hybrid and Alcohol-Based Body Paints


Hybrid Paints: I like to use ProAiir and FAB hybrid paints because they’re great for vibrant colors and opacity. You can get a lot of coverage very quickly with them. Plus they are water-resistant and sweat-resistant, so they’ll hold up for an underwater photoshoot or an acrobatic performance. Some of my favorite colors are the ProAiir electric blue and cobalt. For some extra staying power, I seal it with ProAiir Prolong Extender. Hybrid paints are made with 100% cosmetic blend alcohol (same alcohol that is used in hair sprays, mouth wash, eyeliner, etc.). The ProAiir paints are made in the USA and are scented (similar to green apple scent). I usually use an Iwata Eclipse CS airbrush to apply ProAiir, however you can also use a sponge or kabuki brush to apply to large areas. When I use my Iwata bottle-feed airbrush, I often use the ProAiir Snorkel Adaptors to connect directly to the bottle of paint. ProAiir is available locally in Dallas at Norcostco.

Alcohol-Based PaintsThe Endura paints from European Body Art (EBA) are my other go-to for long-lasting airbrush paints. These alcohol-based paints are water- and sweat-resistant and work best with an airbrush. I personally tend to use them for more subtle effects or lighter coverage but you can also build them up. I apply these paints with an Iwata Eclipse CS airbrush or an Iwata bottle-feed airbrush. EBA paints are available locally in Dallas at Norcostco.


Glitter and Metallic Body Paint


Glitter: I’ve switched over to biodegradable glitter and feels good to have more environmentally-friendly products in my kit. I’ve ordered bio glitter from Amerikan Body Art in Florida, Body FX in New Zealand (available in the US from Silly Farm) and from Universal Soul in Los Angeles. The Bio Glitter from Body FX is produced from biodegradable film which is derived from sustainable sources and Universal Soul’s glitter is made with cellulose film derived from eucalyptus trees.  It’s completely shelf stable and the degradation process will only begin in soil, waste water or compost where micro-organisms are present. They’re both suited for dry, water-based, or oil-based applications. While it’s crucial to use cosmetic glitter in body painting (don’t use craft glitter on your face!), some cosmetic glitter is still considered a micro-plastic and doesn’t biodegrade once it goes down the drain. It can make its way into our waterways and oceans and get ingested by fish and other organisms. There are quite a few bio glitters available from different vendors and I’m currently trying to use options that are available in the US to reduce the shipping distance for the small quantities I use.

Metallic Effects: The Mehron Metallic Powders are my go-to for a cost-effective full body paint metallic finish. You can find these in gold, silver, rose gold, copper, bronze, and lavender. Be sure to purchase Mehron Mixing Liquid to mix into the powder. Mix small amounts of the Mehron powder with Mehron Mixing liquid and brush it over the body. For a more yellow gold, I’ve brushed on a gold Mehron Paradise cake (the product photo looks a bit like tan, but it is really a more yellow gold) or gold Cameleon cake, then applied a gold shimmer powder from Ben Nye. The Mehron and Ben Nye products are usually available locally in Dallas, TX at Norcostco Theatrical Supply.


Body Paint for Specific Looks


Avatar: For my personal Avatar body paint costumes, I used the Kryolan Aquacolor in baby blue for the base coat. For the stripes, I used the Avatar Rainbow Cake from Silly Farm. It has a dark blue and a light blue side. I use the darker blue for the stripes, then I add a highlight on top of the stripe with the lighter blue. For the white dots, I use Wolfe FX whiteCameleon white, or TAG white.

Mystic Costume from the Dark Crystal

Mystic Costume by Breanna Cooke

I finally made a Mystic costume from the Dark Crystal! It’s been on my costume wish-list for a long time. There are still a lot of improvements to be made, but I got the costume to a wearable point just in time for the May Dallas Comic Con in 2015. Keep scrolling down to see my process photos.

Mystic Head

1 – Cut foam shapes from Poly Foam;
2 – Sculpted with razors and engraved lines with a soldering iron;
3 – Covered with tissue paper and spray glue;
4 – Brushed on liquid latex from BITY Mold Supply;
5 – Painted with airbrush and various acrylics. Glued on wig and hair segments.
6 – Done! Photo by Alan Tijerina Photography.

Mystic Costume by Breanna Cooke

Mystic Feet

1 – Pool noodles and pipe insulation carved with razors and utility knife;
2 – Covered with spray glue and white tissue paper;
3 – Brushed on liquid latex from BITY Mold Supply;
4 – Painted with airbrush and various acrylics.

Mystic by Breanna Cooke

Mystic Hands

1 – Poly foam and pipe insulation carved with razors and utility knife (hat tip to Courtney and Scotty at Zod Fabrication for sharing their raptor hand photos!);
2 – Covered with spray glue and white tissue paper;
3 – Brushed on liquid latex from BITY Mold Supply;
4 – Painted with airbrush and various acrylics.
5 – Attached to costume. My real hands are in the front hands. Photo by Alan Tijerina Photography.

Mystic Costume by Breanna Cooke

Mystic Body

1 – Poly foam pieces glued with Barge Cement. (I made paper templates before cutting each piece of foam);
2 – More poly foam (looks like an armadillo!). Tail made with a white bedsheet and stuffed with poly filling;
3 – Arms made with pool noodles;
4 – Arms covered with poly foam;
5 – Shirt made from two bedsheets and hand-sewn to fit;
6 – Final costume worn at #DallasFanExpo

Mystic Costume by Breanna Cooke

Mystic Armor

1 – EVA foam (anti-fatigue mat) for armor pieces. Shaped with heat gun. (I made paper templates before cutting each piece of foam);
2 – Traced each piece of armor in fabric;
3 – Glued fabric to EVA foam with spray glue;
4 – Glued pieces of tan fabric for details, painted with airbrush and various acrylics;
5 – Closeup of bracer;
6 – Final costume worn at #DallasFanExpo

Mystic Costume by Breanna Cooke




 

Demon Horn Tutorial for Make Magazine

Make Magazine Horn Tutorial

Need horns? Check out my demon horn tutorial for Make: Magazine! These horns are easy to modify to fit the shape and size of your costume character. Plus they’re flexible and lightweight!

Need a printable horn template? Check out my Maleficent Horn Printable Template digital download in my shop. You can print at home on 8.5x11in. paper, then cut it out.

Share photos of your horns with me on Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, and Twitter.

 

Maleficent Photos by Alan Tijerina Photography

Breanna Cooke as Maleficent | Photo by Alan Tijerina
Photo by Alan Tijerina

More Maleficent! I had the good fortune of bumping into Alan Tijerina Photography while I was at Dallas Fan Days in February. He captured some great photos of my Maleficent costume on the patio at the Irving Convention Center. And in case you missed it, take a look at my blog posts about how I made my Maleficent collar and horns so you can be Maleficent too!

Breanna Cooke as Maleficent | Photo by Alan Tijerina
Photo by Alan Tijerina
Breanna Cooke as Maleficent | Photo by Alan Tijerina
Photo by Alan Tijerina Photography
Breanna Cooke as Maleficent | Photo by Alan Tijerina
Photo by Alan Tijerina
Breanna Cooke as Maleficent | photo by Alan Tijerina
Photo by Alan Tijerina

Making a Maleficent Collar and Cloak

Breanna Cooke Maleficent costume - Photo by Alan Tijerina Photography
Photo by Alan Tijerina Photography

Last Friday I won the Saturday ticket giveaway from the Irving Convention Center for Dallas Comic Con Fan Days! I was so excited, but I didn’t have a new costume finished…and how could I go to Fan Days without dressing up?!  I already had Maleficent horns from a previous project, so I took on the challenge of making a Maleficent collar and cloak in one night. Below are some of my behind-the-scenes photos of my late night crafting.

Collar

Breanna Cooke Maleficent costume collar DIY I got some great ideas from this DIY Maleficent tutorial by Pins and Things. She used cardboard and wire to hold the collar upright. I opted for craft foam, hot glue and wire as the core for my collar. I sandwiched the wire between a layer of craft foam. Then I sewed fabric sleeves for each section, pulled it over the craft foam, and sewed up the open end.

Attaching the Collar

Breanna Cooke Maleficent costume collar DIYThe robe for my costume wasn’t going to support the weight of the collar, so I made a base from EVA foam (you can use those interlocking anti-fatigue floor mats, visit my Resources page for where to buy it). Now the whole collar would be a solid, removable piece from the robe. I shaped the EVA foam with a heat gun and made a fabric sleeve for it in the same way I made the collar sleeves. I hot glued and sewed the individual collar pieces to this foam/fabric base, then loosely stitched it to the robe.

Enhancing the Collar

Breanna Cooke Maleficent costume collar DIYIn the recent Maleficent movie, she has a cloak with the iconic pointy collar and a cloak with a feather collar. I took the best of both and added the feathers to mine. I used a section of black hackle feather trim (check Michael’s or Hobby Lobby) and glued it to the collar base with hot glue.

Cloak

Breanna Cooke Maleficent costume cloak DIYI never thought I’d find a use for my graduation gown, but tada! It provided a great base for the Maleficent robe. I purchased 4 yards of black polyester, cut a hole in the middle, and draped it over the robe like a poncho. I sewed the sides of the fabric “poncho” and left room for armholes, then cut open the front and stitched the fabric to the collar of the gown. If I’d had more time, I would have loved to make a really elegant cloak from scratch. Maybe next time!

Horns

Breanna Cooke Maleficent horns DIY with craft foam and electrical tapeAnd don’t forget the horns! Check out my other post with details about how I made my Maleficent horns. They’re made with reticulated foam, craft foam and electrical tape!  

Face

Breanna Cooke Maleficent makeupI used a variety of products to create the Maleficent face. I love the purple accents in the cartoon version of Maleficent, so my makeup was a mashup of both Maleficent looks.

  • Eyes: light and dark purple eye shadow (shown on my hand in the photo)
  • Eyebrows: Wolfe FX Hydrocolor cake in black
  • Face: Airbrushed with European Body Art Endura airbrush paint in white and black. Contours with grey eye shadow.
  • Lips: Vincent Longo lipstick in “Lust” (not shown)


The Wicked Witch and Flying Monkey Team Up

 

When I made my Flying Monkey costume, I never dreamed that I would meet a Wicked Witch of the West! Chelphie Cosplay is the creator and wearer of this fantastic witch costume and she has a pretty spectacular cackle too — just ask! Our dynamic duo has been spotted at a few events and we even placed 2nd in the 2013 Dallas SciFi Expo Costume Contest. Check out some of the photos:

Wicked Witch of the West and Flying Monkey by Ken Pearson
Photo by Ken Pearson Photography

 

Wicked Witch of the West and Flying Monkey costumes
Photo by Vodka Photos

 

Wicked Witch and Flying Monkey at Dallas Fan Days 2013 - Photo by Last Ryghtz
Photo by Last Ryghtz

 

Wicked Witch and Flying Monkey at Dallas Fan Days 2013
Photo by Alan Tijerina

Read my Flying Monkey Costume blog post to see more behind-the-scenes photos for my monkey costume.

A Day in a Dragon’s Life

Ever wonder what dragons do all day? You may think that they just hoard gold and breathe fire, but dragons lead a surprisingly normal life. Here’s a glimpse into what goes on:

First, they sit and think.

Breanna Cooke's green dragon costume inspired by Ysera, the Dreamer from World of Warcraft. Photography by Brian Merlo

Then they start working on some chores, like mowing the lawn,

Breanna Cooke's green dragon costume inspired by Ysera, the Dreamer from World of Warcraft. Photography by Brian Merlo

And watering the plants.

Breanna Cooke's green dragon costume inspired by Ysera, the Dreamer from World of Warcraft. Photography by Brian Merlo

They spend time keeping their claws nice and tidy.

Breanna Cooke's green dragon costume inspired by Ysera, the Dreamer from World of Warcraft. Photography by Brian Merlo

They take breaks by watching movies,

Breanna Cooke's green dragon costume inspired by Ysera, the Dreamer from World of Warcraft. Photography by Brian Merlo

And make afternoon snacks.

Breanna Cooke's green dragon costume inspired by Ysera, the Dreamer from World of Warcraft. Photography by Brian Merlo

They clean up the dishes,

Breanna Cooke's green dragon costume inspired by Ysera, the Dreamer from World of Warcraft. Photography by Brian Merlo

And mop the kitchen floor.

Breanna Cooke's green dragon costume inspired by Ysera, the Dreamer from World of Warcraft. Photography by Brian Merlo

Then to top off the day, they go for a car ride! Wheeee!

Breanna Cooke's green dragon costume inspired by Ysera, the Dreamer from World of Warcraft. Photography by Brian Merlo

Photography by Brian Merlo

Interested in seeing how this costume was created? Check out my blog post: Green Dragon Costume

Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr!

How To Make Maleficent Horns

Maleficent hornsNeed Maleficent horns ASAP for Halloween? Here’s how I made a headpiece, inspired by the 2014 movie version of Maleficent. I made these pretty quickly so the process isn’t documented as well as I would have liked, but hopefully you’ll find some useful tidbits!

You will need:

  • Craft foam
  • Electrical tape
  • Reticulated foam (upholstery foam or styrofoam could work too)
  • Black faux snakeskin or pleather fabric
  • Tin foil and duct tape (for the helmet template)
  • Utility knife
  • X-acto knife
  • Scissors
  • Contact cement
  • Paper and sharpie (for the helmet and horn template)

1. Make a helmet with craft foam.

I learned out to make this helmet from Evil Ted Smith’s Youtube tutorial. Watch his video to learn how to make a helmet template that fits your head. Instead of using thick EVA foam, I used craft foam for a more flexible headpiece. I was a bit rushed so the seams aren’t as smooth and rounded as they could be.

2. Draw a horn template, trace it onto reticulated foam, and carve it out.

BreannaCooke_MaleficentHorns_0009_mergedDraw a horn shape on paper. If you need a template, check out my Maleficent Horn Printable Template digital download. Cut the paper template out, then trace it onto a block of reticulated foam or upholstery foam. Remember to trace out the horn twice.

Then carve the horn out of the foam with a utility knife or with scissors. Make sure the blade is sharp. Compare your horns with each other to be sure you’re getting the right shape. You can find upholstery foam at most fabric stores. Reticulated foam is often used as padding in packaging so you might need to hunt around for some.

Horns made from upholstery foam being glued together with liquid latexIf your foam is not thick enough, glue two sheets together with rubber cement or liquid latex.

Use scissors or a box cutter to shape the horns Use scissors or a box cutter to shape the horns, as if you are whittling a piece of wood. As you work on the second horn, compare it to the first one to be sure they are the same shape.

3. Cover the horns with electrical tape.

BreannaCooke_MaleficentHorns_tapeI used electrical tape to create the horn ridges. Instead of wrapping the electrical tape around in a spiral, I cut each piece individually. Fold over the top edge of the tape to achieve the ridged effect. For a more realistic-looking horn, you can make the ridges with paper towels and liquid latex. Check out my demon horn tutorial over at Make Magazine that outlines those steps in detail.

4. Glue snakeskin fabric on the front of the headpiece.

BreannaCooke_MaleficentHorns_0001 copyUse contact cement to apply the fabric to the front and fold it under the front edge.

5. Glue horns on and cover the helmet with electrical tape.

BreannaCooke_MaleficentHorns_0008Glue the horns on with contact cement. To cover the rest of the helmet with tape, start at the base of the horns and weave your pieces of electrical tape around the helmet. I cut shorter pieces instead of trying to wrap long pieces all the way around. Continue to fold the top edge of the tape over to achieve ridges all the way down.

6. Go be fierce!

BCooke_DHB2014_0018

 

 

Need a Maleficent cloak and collar?

Breanna Cooke as Maleficent | Photo by Alan Tijerina

Check out my (very hastily made) cloak using a graduation gown as the base and craft foam with wire to make the collar. I’ve outlined the materials and steps here in this blog post.

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