There are a couple of different ways to make scars for your face or body, and some are more believable and involved than others. One of the simplest ways to get started is to make a mound of fake skin out of a simple flour and water paste that you can stick onto yourself and embellish. If you have access to basic cosmetic products like eyeliner, mascara, and liquid foundation, you may also elect to draw a blemish onto the surface of your skin. The best results usually come from professional scar wax or theatrical makeup. Making fake scars can take a lot of patience and practice, but with time it’s usually pretty easy to get good results.
Flour and Water Paste
Beginners often have the best luck by starting with a fake skin compound made out of flour and water. Slowly add spoonfuls of warm water to a small pile of all-purpose flour until you get a dry dough. Break off a small piece and roll it to form the general outline of the scar you want to produce, then stick it on to your skin. You will probably need a bit of vegetable oil to help seal it around the edges, and covering the blemish with a neutral foundation can help it look more realistic. As it dries, try adding texture with a dull knife or toothpick, then dust a light powder over the top to help things set. Don’t be too discouraged if things seem messy and uneven; up close it might look somewhat sloppy, but this sort of imperfection often looks very believable from a distance.
Using Cosmetics
Another method involves the use of basic cosmetics. You can create the look of a raised scar by smearing foundation a shade or two darker than your normal skin onto the area you want to highlight. Outline the shape of your blemish with an eye or lip pencil, then use liquid eyeliner to add stitch marks or scar tissue. It often helps to pat baby powder on top to seal things, followed bit of mascara to really draw attention to your work; fanning the mascara wand across the surface of the scar can give it a bumpy look and also adds texture.
Scar Wax and Professional Alternatives
Costume suppliers and theater companies typically use special scar wax for actors who need to look wounded, and this type of product is often available to the general public, too. You may have to spend a bit of time researching suppliers in your area or tracking down products online, but in most cases the search is worth it. Scar wax is usually made of a composite of different oils and natural compounds specially formulated to stick really well to the skin. Each brand of wax is a little bit different, but in most cases all you have to do is break off the amount you need, warm it slightly in order to form it, then add the desired textures and colors.
Techniques for Adding Stitches
People who want really realistic fake scars often add fake stitches, too. You can draw stitches with makeup, but you’ll usually get a better look if you actually use string or thread. Fishing wire is also a popular choice. It’s usually easiest to put the stitches on before you attach the scar to your skin, since this lessens the risk of poking yourself in the process.
Lace a bit of your stitching through a blunt needle, then thread it through the top edge of your scar on either the left or right hand side. Make downward stitches, top to bottom, from end to end; tie things off with a knot and consider leaving a few straggling ends hanging. Looking at photos or real-life examples tends to be very helpful and can spur your creativity. If actual stitching just isn't for you, consider using staples to close the wound, though this tends to work best with thick scars that can hold up most if not all of the metal "legs."
Embellishment Ideas
Fake scars often look the most realistic when they’re paired with fake blood and bruising. You can make fake blood by mixing a bit of corn syrup, red and blue food coloring, cornstarch, and cocoa powder. When you are happy with the color of this mixture, brush the “blood” into the cut with a cotton swap, small paintbrush, or the tips of your fingers. Create bruises by patting a bit of dark eye shadow onto the skin right around your scar.
