Kerrin | Special FX Makeup Artist and Educator

Your prosthetic application is only as good as your removal.

I was removing a prosthetic appliance yesterday and it hit me: removal is the part we all want sweep under the rug.

We don’t really talk about it much, we all internally groan when we know it’s coming (even though it’s the end of the day and home is so close! 😆)

It’s treated as the bit you rush so everyone can get and make their turnaround.
But the truth is, removal is part of the makeup.

Of course, your application gets the applause and rightly so - but removal is what your actor’s skin remembers.

A few things I never skip:

💥 Try to start high so gravity helps the remover soak downwards

💥Brush across the edge of the appliance and not into it

💥Never stab the bristles of your brush into the skin - it hurts!

💥Light but confident pressure and lots of patience

💥Use the right remover for the right adhesive - and skin type

Your actor has to come back tomorrow so it’s part of your job to make sure their skin does too

Save this for your next removal and comment PROSTHETIC for my free prosthetic application guide! 🤗

And thank you - as always @rbfxstudio for the best foam latex appliances on earth
@wasnerkevin for applying with me and a bit of art directing @vincentvandykefx for always inspiring and encouraging creativity in-house @thehalloweendirk for bringing life and deliciousness to this otherworldly fella @monstermaniafx for your sculptural genius @filmfxclay molds with seamless edges @ekoostudio finger extension sculptures that felt eerily real while I was painting them! @sonofpumpkinhead exceptional mold work for these beautiful foam pieces!