AquaCake makeup is a solid pigment that is activated with water. Usually it is applied with paint brushes, finger tips, or makeup sponges. I've only ever found it in palette form. AquaCake, especially Ben Nye AquaCake, is by far my favorite Larp makeup. Another good brand is Mefron Paradise Moist Cake. The most important thing to remember about AquaCake is that it must be sealed and treated with some amount of care (No chucking it into your bags. This will cause cracks in the cake and the makeup to fall out in crumbles.) One cool thing I have heard of people doing is crushing the cake into powder, putting it into a jar with a lid, and adding water. This can make some of the colors that don't apply as opaque as others to do so. Tip - adding too much water will make the makeup too watery and run down your face and too little water won't allow your brush to pick up enough pigment.
AquaCake Pros -
- Brushes used with application can be cheap Walmart economy brushes (just make sure they are synthetic bristles and not natural)
- Easy application
- Fairly easy care and maintenance
- Wide variety of colors
- Relavitively cheap
- Doesn't "melt" as easily so less transfer
- Can be crushes and put into jars with water
AquaCake Cons -
- Need clean water unless pre-crushed and jarred
- Losing the palette lid is a death sentence to the remaining makeup
- Requires decent brush skills
- Some colors are more opaque than others (IE - Ben Nye's Tropical Green vs Split Pea Green. The Split Pea is much more opaque than the Tropical Green. You can get the Tropical Green to be opaque but it requires more applications and time.)
- Needs a setting spray to help keep it looking right longer
Cream makeup is basically makeup that can go straight from the palette or tube to your face. It has a "creamy" consistency (Imagine that) and can be found in just about any Halloween, costume, or party store. It comes in a regular variety and a non-smudge edition. Great for Halloween costumes, not to great for Larping. Now, I'm not saying I hate all cream makeup; I still use it occasionally on my wolf wilder. What I am saying is that it is my second choice and I really only ever use it in a pinch. My biggest beef with it is that the non-smudge variety dries too quickly so you can't blend it at all and the regular version melts onto everything. The non-smudge also has a tendency to crackle and flake.
Cream Pros -
- Available in tubes and palettes
- No water required
- Applies with fingers or sponges
- Non-smudge varieties
- Available almost anywhere
- Cream Cons-
- Feels thicker on your skin than AquaCake
- Non-smudge dries too quickly for blending
- If not correctly put away (IE - with the lid tightly on), can squirt out and get over everything
- Non-smudge dries in slightly constricting manner than flake off
- Needs powder to set instead or/ in addition to setting spray
Grease makeup is most often used by clowns and carnivals. It has a very thick and slimy feeling. It is my least favorite makeup and I go out of my way not to use it. Sure, if you have kids and are looking to do Halloween makeup, grease works. Afterall, when it melts all over their $10 vampire costume, who cares. When it melts all over my Larp costume, your Larp costume, and everyone's foam swords, people care a lot.
Grease Pros -
- Available at nearly every costume, Halloween, or party store
- Cheap
- Acts much like cream makeup
Grease Cons -
- Thick, oily feeling on skin
- Gets on EVERYTHING
- Penetrates deep into pours
- Leaves a residue even when removed
- Blends too well
- Can spoil and when it does... rancid is the only word...