Ageing the skin using Latex

Products:

- Liquid Latex

- Acetone

- Old Age Stipple

- Illamasqua Powder

- Kryolan Concealer Palette

Tools:

- Powder Puff

- Stippling Sponge

- Baby Buds

- Hairdryer 

HEALTH AND SAFETY

- Always read labels on the products, if you feel there is something you could be allergic to, do an allergy test. If using on someone, always do an allergy test at least a week beforehand to see if you need to source another model. 

- If the person is allergic they will experience an itchy/burning sensation, and the area will become red. TAKE IT OFF IMMEDIATELY

- Cover over your Model

- DO NOT tip Latex down the sink, scoop it out onto some couch roll and throw in the bin.

- Get hair completely out of the way, you don't want it caught up in the product.

- Eyes have have to be closed until the products have dried.

- Always test the heat of the hairdryer on yourself before using it on your model.

Other things to note:

- Use a barrier cream/foam under all the products, moisturiser has a grease base to it and the latex won't stick to the skin as well with it. 

- Acetone is good for melting latex, it takes down the edges. 

- When applying product to the body, the skin is a varied colour so stippling with create a better effect- especially if used in layers. 

- Powder over the top to set the latex.

Process of ageing 

- Prep skin by applying barrier foam where you want to age (the places where they look most aged are crows feet or the forehead)

- Pour the latex into a bowl.

- Slightly softly stretch the skin.

- Use the orange stippling sponge, stipple the product on in a thin layer feathering out the edges. 

- Use the hairdryer on the coolest setting and dry until the latex has turned clear. 

- Whilst drying the skin, bring the skin  back together slightly together to create the look of wrinkles.

- Layer up the latex and repeat the process. 

- Once you're happy, use the Illamasqua powder to set. 

- In order to get rid of edges, use a baby bud with acetone to melt the edges into the skin.

The first lot of wrinkles I did

I thought that I needed to bring the latex closer to the
eye to make them look more realistic.

EXTRA:

- In order to make the skin look older, use D14/D15 in the Kryolan concealer palette, and take it under the eyes and down the nose. Also onto the forehead in order to create lines, dot the colour on and blend out. 

- In order to do dry skin, do the same technique of applying the latex and rub it with your finger to get  the dry look. 

To age the hands:

- Use the old age stipple instead of the latex, but use exactly the same technique.

- Old Age stipple will need colour adding to it. 

Ageing the hands

Reflection

I really enjoyed learning how to age the skin, it's definitely interesting to see the skin change in texture through the application of latex. I also found it really interesting as I have never done any special effects previously. 

Initially I didn't take the latex under the eye and close to the outer corner, so when I took the photos after I finished I thought that it looked a bit odd. Therefore I decided to go back in with the latex and applied a thinner layer closer to the eye. I think comparing the two photos that it definitely looks a lot better and flows with the rest of the skin. 

I think that my attempt at Ageing the hands doesn't look very effective on the hands, I think that it looks very fake. I think that I could've added some colour to it so that it blends in better with the rest of the skin on her hand.