Ben Nye Dark Blood Aged & Oxidized, 946 ml

Ben Nye Dark Blood Aged & Oxidized, 946 ml

Ben Nye Dark Blood Aged & Oxidized is oxidised stage blood by Ben Nye Makeup, built for theatre, SFX training and horror effects where older, already-present blood needs to look convincing. The colour is a deep brownish red, matched to the tone of oxidised blood in older wounds, post-trauma effects and undead character work. The formula is safe in and around the mouth with a fresh peppermint flavour. The 946 ml bottle is the bulk format for SFX schools, large theatre productions and pro sets.

• Deep brownish red, oxidised tone for older wounds and undead looks
• Fresh peppermint flavour, safe for use in and around the mouth
• Stays fluid for extended working time (does not dry out)
• Based on hydrolysed corn starch, paraben-free
• Washes off skin with warm water and soap; test on fabric first

What is Ben Nye Dark Blood?

Dark Blood is a classic in the theatre circuit, developed by Ben Nye Makeup in Los Angeles. The formula is based on hydrolysed corn starch with water, propylene glycol and peppermint flavouring. This lets the blood drip and flow naturally while staying fluid throughout the entire scene. It is ideal for live work where blood genuinely needs to run.

The flavour and composition are designed for use in and around the mouth. For undead effects with blood at the corner of the mouth, bitten lips or open wounds where an actor has blood close to the face, this is the blood you can use safely without an unpleasant taste.

Why do pros choose Dark Blood?

The colour is deliberately matched to older, oxidised blood. Deep brownish red, with the tone of blood that has been in or near a wound for some time. On camera and under stage lighting this reads as genuinely oxidised blood, without any post-production adjustments.

Because it stays fluid, the behaviour stays predictable: drops run, pools remain wet, smears spread the way real blood does. Choose Dark Blood when you want to portray a character who was already injured before the scene begins. For drying effects and scab formation, combine it with Ben Nye Fresh Scab.

How to use Ben Nye Dark Blood

Apply Dark Blood directly from the bottle or pour it into a small dispensing dish. Three commonly used techniques:

• Brush or tip application: dab with a brush or tilt the bottle so gravity does the work for realistic drip behaviour.
• Spatters: use a Ben Nye Full Splatter Brush or the smaller Mini Splatter Brush for targeted blood spatters on skin, clothing or set pieces.
• In the mouth: take a small amount or dose via a capsule. Do not swallow, but the peppermint flavour is comfortable to hold briefly.

Build effects in thin layers: a first layer of Dark Blood as a base, then add targeted spots with a second layer where the wound needs to look older or deeper. Combine with Ben Nye Thick Blood for thicker, congealing passages or with Ben Nye Fresh Scab for blood crusts and older wounds.

Pro tip: build Dark Blood up in thin layers for oxidised wound edges: a first base layer, then targeted second-layer spots where the wound needs to look older or deeper. Combine with Fresh Scab along the wound edge for added realism.

Setting and removal

Dark Blood stays fluid. Setting is neither needed nor desirable. For removal, work through these steps:

• Skin: warm water with mild soap, dabbing it away. For stubborn residue use a Wonder Towel; finish with a good skin cleanser. On fair skin a faint reddish tint may remain for a few hours before it fades.
• Clothing and fabric: rinse immediately with cold water. Then wash at 30 degrees Celsius with a stain remover. Test on a hidden area first. Ben Nye states that the blood washes out of most fabrics, but gives no 100 per cent guarantee.
• Set pieces and props: warm water with soap works in most cases; test on porous materials first.

What can you use it for?

• Theatre and stage productions with live blood effects
• Halloween looks and horror themes (old wounds, oxidised blood, undead effects)
• Haunted houses, scare mazes and horror events
• Cosplay and character work with oxidised or lingering blood
• Post-mortem looks, dead characters and older lacerations
• SFX training and make-up schools, where Dark Blood is a standard teaching material

Contents

1 bottle of Ben Nye Dark Blood Aged & Oxidized, 946 ml with pour spout. Deep brownish red, oxidised tone, peppermint flavour.

Ingredients: Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Aqua (Water), Propylene Glycol, Aroma (Flavour), Phenoxyethanol, +/-: CI 16035, CI 42090. Not tested on animals.

Other sizes and variants

Dark Blood Aged & Oxidized is also available in 29 ml (starter size for kits and rehearsals) and 236 ml (for longer productions and SFX training). This is the 946 ml bulk bottle.

For bright, arterial red fresh blood choose Ben Nye Stage Blood Original Zesty Mint 946 ml. For thicker, congealing effects see Ben Nye Thick Blood. The full range of dark red stage blood is in the dark red stage blood category.

Compliant with EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009. Product photos are taken under professional lighting. Colours may differ slightly depending on your screen settings.