Encore Alcohol Activated Palette - Contour (by Joel Harlow)

Encore Alcohol Activated Palette - Contour (by Joel Harlow)

The Encore Alcohol Activated Palette - Contour is a professional waterproof SFX palette with 10 colours, designed by Academy Award winner Joel Harlow. It is built around highlights and shadows as the foundation of character make-up, whether applied on bare skin or foam latex and silicone prosthetics.

Joel Harlow's credits include Planet of the Apes, Constantine, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Alice in Wonderland, Inception and The Lone Ranger. This palette contains the colours he has relied on consistently throughout his career. Browse all Encore Alcohol Activated palettes.

• 10 alcohol-activated colours, waterproof once dry
• Adheres to skin, foam latex, silicone and latex prosthetics
• Magnetic refillable case with white mixing surface in the lid
• Activate with EBA Fuel Spray or 99.9% isopropyl alcohol
• FDA-compliant ingredients, made in Costa Mesa (California)

What is an alcohol activated SFX palette?

Alcohol activated make-up is not activated with water but with cosmetic alcohol or a dedicated activator such as EBA Fuel. That means it adheres to surfaces where water-based face paint simply slides off: foam latex, silicone, gelatine and fabric. Once dry it is waterproof, transfer-resistant and holds for hours, even under heavy studio lighting.

Who is this palette for?

This palette is aimed at professional make-up artists and SFX artists working in film, TV and theatre, as well as advanced hobbyists moving into prosthetic work. It replaces a range of individual colours and goes the distance for hundreds of looks before the pans run out.

New to alcohol activated make-up? Start with thin washes (a wash is a diluted, translucent layer) and build gradually. The pigments are strong, so less is more, especially with the darker shading colours.

What colours are in this palette?

The 10 colours are built around three functions: skin tones as a base (3 neutral and cool tones for the starting layer), character and effect colours (5 for skin variation, ageing, veining and detailing) and shading and depth (2 for contrast and dark accents). Use them individually or layer them together.

• N1 - neutral skin tone for an even base
• C1 - light cool skin tone for highlights on prosthetics
• C2 - mid cool skin tone for contouring and transitions
• GRAPHITE - grey shadow for wrinkle depth and hollows
• MAROON - dark red for vein work and wound undertones
• HENNA BROWN - warm brown for skin folds and ageing detail
• SEAWEED GREEN - cool green for subtle vein areas and sickly undertones
• OIL SPILL - dark iridescent tone for deep shadows and graphic accents
• AGED TATTOO - faded blue-black for aged tattoo and ageing effects
• INTENSE PURPLE - deep purple for bruising, veining and deep contouring

How to use it

Activate with EBA Fuel Spray 120ml or 99.9% isopropyl alcohol on a round brush or stipple brush. Work in thin washes, thin layers build more depth than one thick application. The make-up dries within seconds and is then waterproof.

Pro tip: Start with N1 as an even base across the prosthetic or skin. Work C1 along raised surfaces for light accents. Deepen skin folds and wrinkles with HENNA BROWN, then add vein detail with SEAWEED GREEN and INTENSE PURPLE in narrow washes. Finish with GRAPHITE or OIL SPILL in the deepest hollows for maximum dimension.

Skin safety and skin prep

The Encore formula uses cosmetic alcohol and FDA-compliant pigments. For sensitive skin: patch test on a small area in the crook of your elbow first. Avoid application on broken skin, eye mucous membranes and lips.

For extra adhesion and protection against rubbing, apply a thin layer of EBA ProSeal Spray or EBA H2O Seal before or after application.

Setting and removing

Alcohol activated make-up is intrinsically waterproof once dry, no additional setting spray needed. To remove it at the end of the day you will need a dedicated remover. Water and soap alone will not do the job.

• EBA Unveil - alcohol-free, hydrating remover for sensitive skin and the face
• EBA Vapore - alcohol-based remover for quick full removal, including on prosthetics
• Mouldlife Life-Wipes - make-up remover wipes that also remove skin adhesives such as Pros-Aide (Mouldlife product, not EBA)

What can you use it for?

• Film, TV and professional SFX make-up
• Theatre and stage productions with long running times
• Prosthetic work on foam latex and silicone
• Character make-up where you want to accentuate or create sculptural forms
• Contouring, ageing and detail work on prosthetics and bare skin
• Cosplay and character transformations
• Halloween and horror looks where you want to go beyond standard face paint

Contents

10 alcohol-activated colours in EBA's signature magnetic refillable case with a white mixing surface in the lid. Individual pans are replaceable, so you do not need to replace the whole palette when one colour runs out. FDA-compliant ingredients, made in Costa Mesa (California, USA), not tested on animals.

Activate with EBA Fuel Spray 120ml (the official EBA activator, fine mist) or the smaller EBA Fuel 30ml for on the go.

Other colours and variants

Prefer a different theme? Take a look at the Encore Old Age, the Encore Autopsy or the Encore Blood palette for other SFX applications. Browse the full Encore Alcohol Activated range for all palettes.

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