Nose & Scar Wax by Ben Nye

Nose and Scar Wax is a synthetic special F/X wax that is adhered to the skin, blended, and formed into old scars - Perfect for fresh cuts, bullet wounds, festering sores, and characters such as Edward Scissorhands. It is perfect for gory F/X or simulated wounds for Moulage. As the name implies, Nose and Scar Wax can be used to alter the appearance of ones nose. You can make it look broken for a Boxer or Accident Victim. One could make the nose larger for a character like Fagan in Oliver, or The Wicked Witch in the Wizard of Oz. Nose and Scar wax is perfect for making an upturned Pixie or Elf nose, or any other sort of Fantasy Creature. Used on other parts of the face you can make all sorts of odd aliens and creepy creatures. Thick brows can be made for Frankenstein’s Monster or a Neanderthal. Some people will also use it for blocking out their eyebrows. There are a couple things Nose and Scar Wax cannot do; it will not fill in or cover existing scars, nor can it remove hair from the nasal cavity, so don’t make that mistake!

While relatively easy to use, Nose and Scar Wax does take a bit of getting used to handling as it is very sticky. To apply Nose and Scar Wax start with clean dry skin as is always recommended for any makeup endeavor. Next apply Barrier Spray again; this is something that is always recommended. This is even more important with Nose and Scar wax as skin oils and sweat will wreak havoc on your creation.

The next step is to prepare your wax and your tools. You will need to scoop some wax from the container. If the wax is cold it will be hard to get out. It just needs to be warmed up a bit. You can simply hold it in your hands for a while, put it on a radiator for a bit or go over it with a hair dryer. Do not microwave it! Nose and Scar Wax is very sticky, it is what makes it work so please heed the following advice for handling it.

Coat your tools and fingers with a small, again small amount of Vaseline, Castor Sealer, or makeup remover such as Bond Off. Add more product as needed if you go too heavy everything gets greasy and the wax will not adhere strongly. This step will help keep the wax from sticking to areas you don’t want it to stick to and firmly in place where you do want it. The tools you will need to be preparing come in many shapes and forms. For the beginner and one off Halloween users they are as simple as popsicle sticks, tongue depressors, or the dull side of a plastic knife. For those wishing to build up a more serious professional makeup kit there are specific tools for the job; these are the Tapered Spatula (#32884), the Stainless Steel Single Blade Spatula from Ben Nye (#13399), and the Wooden Modeling Tool (#13224). These tools can be dual purposed to scoop out cream based makeup and blend them for custom colors. This may all seem overwhelming, but it is not as complex as it may seem in words.

So let’s dive into something simple yet effective like a fresh cut. Decide where you want your injury to be. Nose and Scar wax is flexible to an extent, pick and area that has some movement but not too much. An elbow or knee is not a place to pick but foreheads, fore arms and the face are fine. With and oil coated tool scoop out a small amount of wax. The amount will depend on how big you want your wound to be. Roll it into a small “sausage” shape and set it aside. You will now want to apply Spirit Gum or Prosthetic Adhesive to the area you plan on applying the Nose and Scar Wax to. Cover a wide area as when you blend it you want the thinnest edges to be held down by the adhesive. There is debate on the necessity of using an adhesive. If your design only needs to survive a short amount of time, say less than an hour don’t bother. If you want to do a proper job then use it. If you are putting a lot of time and effort into your look do everything you can to make it last! A scar with Spirit Gum lasts about 8 hours, while a non Spirit Gum scar only lasts about 3 hours.

Stick the wax sausage on to the spirit gum and push down firmly. Using your fingers, start spreading the edges out from the middle of the sausage. You want to thin the whole thing down and blend it into your skin. It will look rough at first, but once you get your basic shape and blend, it is time to detail. Now that you have your basic design and it is well adhered, use one of your tools and a bit more of your lubricant or remover to smooth the wax out. Now it is time to make the cut. Using your spatula or the dull end of a plastic knife (well lubed), make a slice though the thickest part of the Nose and Scar Wax.

The next step again has varying opinions. Some will just powder over the wax and add a little blood. Those wanting professional results will want to use one of two products. Fixative A is specifically made to seal Nose and Scar wax for the application of cream or water based makeups for further blending. The other option is a couple layers of Liquid Latex. The Liquid Latex option is nice because it will give another reinforcement of adhesion. When applying the Liquid Latex put it past the edge of the wax to get that benefit. If you do choose the Liquid Latex route you will need the Castor Sealer before adding any oil based makeups. Please note that neither of these steps are necessary if using Alcohol Activated Makeup. So blend in the wax with the makeup of your choice and then add some blood. This depends on your desired effect and personal preferences. Thick Blood is recommended to avoid the mess of Stage Blood, though the runniness of Stage Blood may be preferred for a photo shoot.

Removal of Nose and Scar Wax is a two part process. First you need to remove the bulk of the Wax. You will want to take a tongue depressor or spatula to scrape it off. The second step is to dissolve and remove the left over residue. Bond Off is a popular remover for adhesives and other sticky substances. With makeup removers of any kind it is important to remember to let the product do the work. Blot a liberal amount on with a cotton round and let it soak in a bit. Keep dabbing at it and gently wiping. Keep adding more remover as needed.  Being stingy with the remover and scrubbing vigorously will only get you irritated skin. Once most of the residue is removed give a wash with soap and water. This will remove any leftover makeup and remover.

There are many online tutorial videos that will show you other uses and techniques for Nose and Scar Wax. It is up to you to experiment with these different ideas and see what works best for you. When trying out any new makeup modality, the most important thing is to do plenty of test runs. An hour before your event is not the time to try out a new product or technique. Have Fun!

Nose and Scar wax is available in two shades Fair/Olive and in brown for mid to deep brown tones. Both shades come in 1 oz, 2 oz, 8 oz, and 16 oz containers.