"DIY Guidelines for Simple Zombie-style Face Paint"
A Beginner-Friendly Zombie Makeup Tutorial
Get ready to channel your inner undead with this easy-to-follow zombie makeup tutorial. No liquid latex or special effects makeup is required for this tutorial, making it suitable for beginners.
- Establish a Pale Base Cover your entire face and neck with a pale color—white or light gray face paint or cream makeup. This gives a dead, undead base skin tone.
- Contour with Dark Colors Use black or dark gray face paint or powder to contour hollow areas like the cheeks, temples, under the eyes, and sides of the nose. Blend outwards to create sunken, skeletal features.
- Add Bruising and Veins Using red, purple, and blue creams or eye shadows, lightly brush around the eyes, mouth corners, and bruised spots on face and neck. Blend softly for a realistic irritated skin effect. For veins, use a thin brush to paint faint blue or purple lines radiating outward.
- Create Wounds or Torn Skin Impressions Without liquid latex, mimic torn flesh by layering cracked or spattered red and black makeup along cheekbones, jawline, or forehead. Dab stippled red face paint with a sponge to simulate raw skin or blood.
- Define Features with Black Use black eyeliner or face paint to deepen creases around eyes and mouth, outline shadows, and draw cracks or holes. Emphasize hollow nose by shading with black or dark gray.
- Highlight with White Apply white face paint or eyeshadow on high points like cheekbones, forehead, and nose to create contrast and a more 3D undead look. You can also dot white to simulate bone showing through skin.
- Finish with Details Smudge black or dark eyeshadow under eyes to create a tired, decayed look. For teeth, paint small white vertical lines on lips or around mouth to simulate exposed teeth. Add messy hair or a wig for effect.
For a more customized look, blend purple eye shadow on the upper and lower eyelids to further darken the eye area. Use dark brown eye shadow to darken the eye area, including the lower eyelids, undereye area, and the crease of the eyelids. Mix medium and dark brown shadows and apply to the corners of the mouth. Apply dark brown eye shadow to the center of the lips and layer black eye shadow over the very center of the lips.
If you're feeling particularly ambitious, you can enhance your look with a zombie costume, fake wounds, fake blood, and a veil for a glam-and-gory zombie bride look. The face paint can be found on Amazon or at a local craft store.
[1] Beginner-Friendly Zombie Makeup Tutorial without Liquid Latex or Special Effects Makeup [2] Standard Makeup Basics for a Convincing Zombie Look [4] Detailed Product List and Variations for Different Zombie Styles
- To complement your zombie look, create a contrasting lifestyle with a dash of fashion-and-beauty by blending purple eye shadow on your upper and lower eyelids, darkening the eye area with dark brown shadow, and applying dark brown shadow to the corners of your mouth.
- Transform your home-and-garden into a zombie haven by acquiring various zombie-inspired products such as a veil, costume, and fake wounds from Amazon or a local craft store, to complete your undead look.
