Superstar Special Effects

Superstar Special Effects Makeup

Superstar is a Dutch make-up brand with a long history in professional face and body paint. Their Special Effects range pulls together the Superstar products you need for special effects makeup: fake blood and blood capsules, Superstar Mastix as a skin adhesive, and Superstar Translucent Setting Powder for finishing and setting your work.

Linda Gloudemans, owner of SchminkenGrime.nl, works regularly with Superstar at events, in workshops and in her role as a trainer. Her experience as a make-up artist, trainer and examiner means she knows which SFX products you need and when.

What's in this category?

The Superstar Special Effects category covers three product groups for SFX work:

• Fake blood and blood capsules: fake blood in light and dark shades, in thick and thin consistencies, setting blood, and bottles from 20 ml to 250 ml. Blood capsules come in packs of 5 or 12 for in-mouth effects.
• Superstar Mastix 9 ml: a water-based skin adhesive for attaching crepe wool beards, prosthetics and blood capsules to the skin.
• Superstar Translucent Setting Powder 30 g: a translucent powder for setting greasepaint and skin adhesive.

Which product do you need?

The right choice depends on the effect you want to create.

Fake blood is chosen by the type of wound or effect. Light blood has a bright red tone, dark blood a deeper shade. Thick blood stays in place better, thin blood runs more freely. Working on a large stage or film scene? Go for a larger bottle. For occasional Halloween work, a small bottle is plenty. You will find a full breakdown of the range on the Superstar Fake Blood page.

Blood capsules are used for effects in or around the mouth. Each capsule contains blood powder that dissolves with saliva to create a blood-in-mouth effect. No biting required: the saliva does the work.

Superstar Mastix is a water-based skin adhesive. You use Mastix to apply crepe wool beards, moustaches and eyebrows, to attach loose prosthetics, and to fix blood capsules in place on the skin.

Superstar Translucent Setting Powder is essential when you are working with greasepaint. Greasepaint stays soft and tacky on the skin until you powder it. Only after powdering is your work set, mattified and resistant to smudging. The same powder mattifies skin adhesive once it has dried and removes any stickiness.

How do you use these products?

Fake blood: pour a small amount from the bottle into a cup and work from the cup rather than applying directly from the bottle. Apply with a brush, sponge or stipple sponge depending on the effect you want. Be aware that fake blood can permanently stain clothing and fabric.

Superstar Mastix: apply a thin layer of Mastix to clean, dry skin and leave it to dry until tacky to the touch. Then press the crepe wool, prosthetic or blood capsule into place. Working near the eyes or in a small space? Make sure there is good ventilation and ask your model to keep their eyes closed during application.

Superstar Translucent Setting Powder: use a powder puff or powder sponge to press the powder onto the greasepaint. Press, do not rub. Remove any excess afterwards with a clean, soft powder brush.

How do you remove these products?

Fake blood comes off with warm water and a mild soap or baby shampoo. A facecloth or Remover Towel helps with stubborn residue. Go easy, do not scrub, and avoid baby wipes.

Mastix is removed with the matching adhesive remover. Apply the remover to a cotton pad and hold it at the edge of the prosthetic or crepe wool until the adhesive releases. Do not use acetone or undiluted alcohol directly on the skin.

Translucent Setting Powder wipes away with the rest of your makeup using warm water and a mild soap.

Is the skin feeling dry after removal? Apply a gentle moisturising cream.

Storage

Store fake blood, Mastix and setting powder in a cool, dark place. Close all bottles and tubes securely after use and keep them away from direct sunlight.

What do you use these products for?

• Theatre, musicals and school productions with wound or blood scenes
• Film, short films and student productions with SFX work
• Halloween makeup with wounds, cuts and blood effects
• Pantomime and stage shows requiring character makeup with crepe wool beards, moustaches or sideburns
• Attaching and finishing prosthetics such as noses, horns or ready-made wound pieces
• Cosplay and convention looks that require realistic detail

Other Superstar products

Looking specifically for the Superstar fake blood range? Go to Superstar Fake Blood. For the base of your SFX work you will find water-based face paint at Superstar Face Paint and metallic effects at Superstar Metallic Face Paint. The complete Superstar range is on the Superstar brand page. For fine lines and detail work alongside your SFX, take a look at the FBFX makeup brushes.

Working on a Halloween look? The Halloween Makeup category has products and kits for scary looks. For ready-made wounds and scars, visit Halloween SFX Prosthetics and Wounds. For a broader overview of all SFX categories, see Theatrical and Special Effects Makeup.

Learn more about SFX makeup

Just starting out and not sure where to begin? Sign up for the free 4-part makeup mini-series. Over four days you get clear technique explanations, videos, downloadable technique cards, practice sheets and straightforward makeup examples you can work through straight away.