Gelatins

- Gelatin is a structural protein called collagen that is found in many animals.

- Collagen is a large molecule in our bodies used to makeup the skin, bones and tendons

- To manufacture gelatin, you grind up the bones, hooves and connective tissues of cows, pigs and sometimes horses and treat these parts with either a strong acid or base to break down the cellular structure of the tissues and release the collagen and other proteins.

- After this treatment, the resulting mixture is boiled, during this process the collagen protein is broken down, resulting in the creation of gelatin.

- Gelatin has been used to create makeup effects since the 1920s

- The bloom strength of gelatin is an industrial standard that measures the reactive firmness of the gelatin in a cured state

- Gelatin used in makeup work usually has a bloom factor of 300. However gelatin you can buy from a normal grocer has bloom factor somewhere between 200 and 250.

- Gelatin is more translucent and moves better than some materials an can have a very realistic texture. It also doesn't take much makeup to get good cover on the prosthetic.

- However gelatin breaks down with heat and perspiration, that is it melts and dissolves respectively

- Gelatin is considered to be a hypoallergenic meaning it is allergy free for use on most people.

- Gelatin is also considered hygroscopic, which means that is has a attendance to absorb moisture from the atmosphere - this can be both good and not so good.

- It can be good because it allows the gelatin to be soluble (to liquefy and dissolve)

- It can be bad because the appliances can swell in proportion to humidity changes in the air and shrink over time through evopartion.

Knowing this information about gelatin I am keen to try it as a prosthetic material. It seems easy to use and as my makeup isn't going to be used for a long period of time (just for photographs) the piece don't need to be heat and water resistant. I am aware that some people don' like the use of gelatin in makeup if they are vegetarian/vegan wtc. However I have checked with Kizzy and she is fine with the use of of gelatin on her face so although I think silicone will look more natural gelatin could work well for me.

Debreceni, T (2013) Special Makeup Effects for stage and screen. 2^nd edition. Abingdon. Focal Press