the simple five: quick zombie makeup

For those who have been undecided on whether you'll participate with the candy hunt this evening (ughh, it's raining and cold!), here's a quick last minute costume idea, if the decision is to "go".  Although it's not the most "accurate" in terms of zombie creations, it will suffice for the mere 20 minutes that the kids will be walking around the neighbourhood.  Good enough for me.

Quick Zombie Makeup/Costume

Items you'll need:

(most items can be found in your kitchen, pantry, or at the local store)

• Red Food colouring 
• Corn syrup
• Makeup sponges
• Gauze bandage
• Black and white face makeup (inexpensively found, or you can use white/black cream eye pencil).

Directions:

• First, get dressed in old, dark clothing. (the red food colour can stain your clothes).

• Using a makeup sponge, cover the face with white makeup.
• Under the eyes and patches on the cheeks, smudge some black makeup/eyeliner, blending it into the skin.
• Mix 3 parts corn syrup to 1 part water (I used about 3 tbsp. corn syrup and 1 tbsp. water) in a bowl until the consistency is smooth but still thick (you can use cornstarch to thicken to make "blood clots", if you wish).
• Slowly add drops of red food colour until it is the colour you desire (sometimes adding a little green will make the red appear darker).
• Using the makeup sponges, dab the red colour mixture lightly on the skin (around the mouth and cheeks) and drop a little on the gauze bandage.
• Wrap the bandage around your head.

Done.  And since the weather is usually cold, any warm, old clothes would do (the older the better) to complete the zombie look.

Have fun...be safe.  

{For those who are interested in making the hippo costume in the above picture, please refer to my Hip Hippy Hooray post.  It is not a last minute costume...you'll need to give yourself a few days to complete it.}