Undiscovered Tricks to Create A Mud Makeup Look that Stays

Got that mud makeup look to create that’s fast approaching? But you’re still at a loss as to how to create it so it stays all night long? Well, you are 100%, positively exactly where you are supposed to be. Read on and learn some undiscovered tricks, techniques and materials to create awesome, groundbreaking (ha!) crackly mud makeup looks that will stay where you put them.

best ways to create a mud makeup look that stays

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In This Episode We Cover:

• the most popular mud product that’s frowned upon nowadays
• accessible alternatives to use to create mud makeup looks
• little-known techniques for super cool mud finishes and so much more!

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Episode 76: Show notes

One of the most joyful aspects of makeup work is experimenting with every range of styles under the blistering sun.
And one of those very styles that pops its head up constantly in the life of us makeup artists, seems to be the look of cracked, scraggly, desiccated mud. That dried-up mud look that always seems to be followed by the words, “We need it to stay on for 8 hours,”  or words to that effect.

So, how exactly do you get something that is supposed to look like it’s teetering on the verge of cracking off the skin, to stay on?

Well, that’s exactly what we are going to explore in this post, and show you some “rock solid” products and techniques that will somehow magically help you create a mud makeup product that look exactly like what it’s supposed to. Crackly, dried mud, but at the same time, stay in place as long as you need it to.

If we go back in time in the world of movie-making, and makeup, a product called Fuller’s Earth was once heavily relied upon for all things mud.

But it’s got a bad wrap and is now banned from the movie set – mainly due to the respiratory issues it can cause, and harmful skin irritations and drying potential. So your safest bet is to steer clear of Fuller’s earth anywhere near the skin’s surface today, and opt for some different materials to form the base of your mud mix.

Kaolin as a Mud Makeup Base

One mineral product worth experimenting with is called Kaolin.

You may already be familiar with the term, as Kaolin is a fine, white clay mineral that is found in a number of skincare products already. It can also be located in makeup products such as foundations and powders, too.

Kaolin has gentle cleansing and exfoliating properties, obviously making it a brilliant candidate in the skincare world.

Most importantly, it is well known to be as gentle as a fluffy cotton ball on the skin, so two thumbs up there.

And, going on with a smooth, fine creamy texture, as it dries, and the moisture evaoprates from it, the result is that cracked, shrinking dry finish on the skin. Perfect for the mud makeup look we are attemtping to create, right?

So far, Kaolin sounds like it’s just the ticket, doesn’t it?

Bentonite as a Mud Mask Option

Another mineral product worth keeping in mind is a product called bentonite.

This is worth considering because it is quite a contrast in it’s properties to kaolin. Just when you thought one mineral powder was just like the other!

Bentonite is notorious for it’s elasticity and ability to stretch, and then crack as it naturally dries out. Sounds like a dream for this type of makeup look doesn’t it? Ding ding ding! I think we have a winner!

It also adheres like some kind of makeup artist’s long-lasting dream to the skin.

Bentonite is also a far thicker, pastier consistency than kaolin, so you could easily create some really cool, thick craggy cracks and effects with bentonite. Sounds like some kind of wonder mud to me.

Exploring Different Mud-Making Techniques

Of course, processes and looks such as this, can only come out of testing – trial and error. So be sure to allow time to experiment, and play with different materials becasue they will give you different outcomes.

I suggest adding a binding material such as an adhesive to your mix, as well as water.

In the past, I have used prosaid in my mix. This helped the mud stay exactly where it was put on the face, and being water-soluble, mixed flawlessly with the mud base as well. Prosaid is a very  well-known, reliable and expert choice of make-up professionals when it comes to adhesives in the makeup field, so using it to help bind your mud mix is going to be a great way to do just that.

It’s also going to give the mix a long-lasting wearability, even though you are essentially making a mixture that will crack and seem like it’s going to flake off the skin, the storng adhesion of the prosaid will prevent it from doing so.

Another variation you could try is using a thinned-down mix of gafquat to your mud base.  I haven’t used this personally, but other artists have, so it’s worth experimenting with also.

When in Doubt, Mold It

Another competely different approach would be to create flat verions of crackly mud looks, and then, simply make molds of them.

This way, you have more flexibility with your makeup application, as you can essentially make prosthetic appliances out of your new flat molds. And in turn, your makeup application becomes more like a traditional prosthetic makeup application.

I have also been involved with makeups applied this way.

Another process could be to use a combination of the two as well – so you could have your appliances for the larger areas you are covering. And then use mud over and edges, around the eyes and mouth, and into the hairline, for example.

The real beauty of going down this route is it allows you a certain amount of control over the texture and finish of your natural makeup look. It allows for a sense of continuity, of you film over many days or weeks and have to create the same look each time, and can help you be more organized as you can pre-make the appliances before the day.
The material you cast your pieces out of is entirely up to you – latex, silicon, or even prosaid transfers are ideas you can consider.

So many options to test.

Go Old School

It’s never too late to go old school, either.

The old staple tissue and latex combo will always have place, and is definitly worth considering to add some variation in your work as well.

You can even pull apart the ply of a tissue and use a single ply for extra fine paperiness too.

The Convenience of Ultra Mud

If you don’t have the luxury of time up your rolled sleeve for your mud makeup gig, and experimentation is simply not an option then I have the product in mind for you.

​But as with everything in life, you pay for the convenience.

Ultra Mud is the perfect mud makeup solution in a jar. Ready made, and ready to go straight onto the skin. This may just be the perfect answer for you, so keep it in mind if you’re got next to no prep time on your project.

Get Creative

Remember, your makeup doesn’t end with simply slapping on your mud mixes.


And you don’t need to feel painted into a corner with the color of the mud as it comes in mineral form.

You can tint your mix any color you like. Again, that crucial word – test – comes into it.

Because how a color looks in the mix is not how it will dry on the skin, and depending on the natural look you are aiming to achieve, the intensity of color you add might be very minimal. So be sure to experiment with small amounts and measure everything, so you get your final mix exactly how you want it.

And remember to use pigments and tints that mix well with water-soluble mixes.

Tempera paints, pure skin-friendly pigments, even makeup products will do the trick and you can have some fun creating authentic, mud mix colors, too. I once had to create an ochre yellow mud mix that was really fun coming up with the color.

Remember that you can also finish the makeup look off with fine painted lines to enhance your cracking, carry the makeup look over to any bare skin that remains revealed on your performer, and also enhance the dried mud in areas as well.

A good sealer or setting spray will help reassure you as that final layer of reinforcement.

Removal and the Fun Parts

You didn’t think we’d leave out the best part, did you?

If you’ve created a bullet-proof mud mix that has lasted all day long, filming on set while your performer bounced about in their flawless application, you’ll no doubt have quite a task on your hands removing it all.

I suggest you prepare for the removal with plenty of hot towels, warm water, and some of your favorite prosthetic makeup removal products as well. Slow and steady and gently work to re-wet the dried clay mask material down, and then you can work in a gentl circular motion to help lift the material off the skin with your plentiful towel supply. Patience is the best way with this technique and if you can get help with the removal, the more hands, the better and more effective way to remove the makeup quickly and easily.

Now what you end up using in your mud mix will dictate the next removals for the process, and as with every step in this process, do test this on yourself beforehand.

Talk to your actor if they have any particular skin sensitivities, and make any adjustments accordingly.

It may even be the best approach to simply put them in a hot shower once they are finished work for the day, and then once they come out, you can help remove the remaining, more stubborn areas?
It all depends on the materials you use, so make your decisions based on those.

Then finally, it’s worth giving them a good moisturizing once the mud makeup is removed. Remember these minerals absorbed moisture from the skin, so pay attention to this, and be sure replenish the skin with a good bulk moisturizer with hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid to hydrate.


I hope you’ve enjoyed these insider tips, and this gives you plenty of inspiration and jumping-off points to get creating your mud makeup look. There’s nothing worse than not knowing where to start, and this can be a challenge and lead to frustrating guesswork of you don’t have a solid plan in place from the get go.

Just remember to test everything and have fun!

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