Halloween Kit Must-Haves... Kate Brown

Created: 11/10/2018 

Halloween Kit Must-Haves

By Kate Brown

As promised this week I wanted to run you through some of my Halloween must-have products.  Products that have got me through the craziest, busiest Halloween events, and have helped me create some cool special effects.  Like a lot of you (and my fellow bloggers!) I am a bit of a face paint addict, and am always trying to find new ways to improve and change up my kit but at Halloween I always come back to these old favourites… **disclaimer**what you are about to read next is my opinion only :-D

White:  Easily the most used colour over the spooky period you’ll need to make sure you are stocked up on your white so that you don’t run out!  My all time favourite white for bases is…………starblend white. What is so unusual about that I hear you mutter? Well, I’m afraid I don’t use it as it is intended (I can almost hear the starblend diehards gasp and shake their heads in disapproval)

I use my starblends white WET.  There I said it. If you are still reading, this is why;  using white starblends with a damp sponge (you have to spray the sponge, it does NOT work if you spray the cake) gives the most beautiful, smooth, semi opaque base that you can build up if you wish.  It is pretty much instantly dry, and has a much nicer, lighter feel on the skin. I use a normal sponge, and can blend other colours into it easily and quickly – it allows me to base a design out in well under a minute.

My other favourite whites for bases, are Mehron Paradise – which is lovely and soft- and also snazaroo – the sparkle white is great for a delicate sugarskull base!  Both applied either with a sponge or my pink tips base brush- a must have in your kit.

 

 

Bruise Wheel

Buying my first kryolan bruise wheel was a complete game changer for me in creating quick, realistic spooky/gory/special effects designs.  If you haven’t got one, you need one! They are creamy and super blendable and go on without water, you just blend a tiny bit into the skin.  LOVE! They come in a few different shades but my favourites are ‘burn and injury’ and ‘zombie’.

I’ve shown you a quick example below, this literally took me two minutes.  

Reds

I have two reds in my kits, that I often blend and apply with a stipple sponge for a ‘grazed’ look and around wounds (a stipple sponge is a fab tool).  I tend to avoid using fake blood on younger children, as they can smear it everywhere and if they smear it onto their outfits, it stains – etc etc. The reds that I love the most are global rose brown and deep merlot.  Used separately or together these are effective and realistic enough to look like blood for children’s faces!

Special FX Products

Ben Nye Nose & Scar wax is my go-to for cuts and wounds, its nice and firm but pliable too – make sure you use plenty of Vaseline on your fingers to make it easier to work with!

Zombie Skin.  Ahhh-maaaa-zziing.  This is easy to use, and a super quick latex paste product which can help you create the scariest of zombies in a matter of minutes.  The lovely Rachel Jardine did a great tutorial last year on how to use it, check it out!

I like to use a variation of bloods to create depth and interest and depending on the type of wound I’m creating but my faves are:  Global Coagulated blood;  gorgeously thick and dark for putting into the middle of wounds for depth and real gore.  Vermillion blood is also amazing in ALL the shades but I’m loving the ‘runny crimson’ at the moment to create a ‘fresh cut’ look.

Also regulars in my Special FX kit are:

-Cotton (for stitches)

-Global latex (for soooo many looks – slit throats, burns, cuts)

-Spirit Gum (for helping materials adhere to skin)

-​Gems & Glue (for my more glamoreen designs!)

-A good fixing spray, Kryolan have an excellent one (to give your one-off faces great staying power)

There are soooo many more products that I haven’t even got around to trying out yet, and I know that we have some exciting Halloween type products coming in our next ‘bloggers boxes’ so look out for some product reviews of those.

I promised a step-by-step this week which I will post on the TFPS facebook pages, using two of the lovely products they have sent me, Global pearl blue – a lovely soft, shimmery blue, and global funstrokes Costa Rica, which is not one I’d have ever have chosen off the shelf but is stunning.  Together they have made a rather lovely sugarskull…keeping in the Halloween theme!

Next week, I’m going to be testing out some high street ‘halloween make up’  (on my poor face) and documenting the results – how does it really compare to our professional products?  Should be interesting! (I hope)

Do let me know if you have any questions about Halloween designs or products that I can help with in the meantime!

Kate xx

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