Check out these 20 Special Effects Makeup (SFX Makeup) videos. They’re informative, interesting, and perfect for anyone curious about the craft.
You’ll find everything from tips and tricks to full breakdowns of how prosthetics are made, how makeup gets applied, and what you can do with just your kit and a little creativity.
Plus, there are behind-the-scenes looks at makeup application, how artists work on a film set, and exclusive interviews with industry pros.
11 Levels of Prosthetic Makeup: Easy to Complex | WIRED
Ever wonder how special effects makeup goes from a simple stick-on tattoo to a full prosthetic face? Meg Wilbur, a pro prosthetic makeup artist, breaks it all down in 11 levels of difficulty, from easy to seriously complex.
Since SFX makeup covers a ton of ground, Meg defines complexity by how much flourish, texture, and detail goes into each look. She walks you through everything: temporary tattoos, prosthetic face applications, dry-brushing techniques, and plenty in between.
How Makeup Artists and Hair Stylists Work
Hair and makeup for film rarely get the spotlight they deserve, but this video changes that. It breaks down everything you need to know about how makeup artists and hairstylists work their magic on set, from subtle beauty looks to full-on character transformations.
Viewers are calling it an audiovisual encyclopedia, and one of the most underrated aspects of filmmaking.
How Prosthetics Are Made For Movies
As seen with the Oscar-winning film The Darkest Hour, makeup and prosthetics give actors the ability to fully look the part of the role they’re playing.
Makeup casters use a process called lifecasting. They’ll cover the actor in ‘goop’ to create an exact replica, which they then use to build prosthetics that the actor wears. A lot of movies rely on CGI to bring things to life, but when prosthetics can be used, they truly do enhance the realism of a film.
How Stranger Things’ SFX Artists Created Vecna
Stranger Things makeup designer and visual effects artist Barrie Gower breaks down the extensive work that went into bringing the show’s gruesome villain Vecna to the screen.
He details the intricate process of creating the practical prosthetics, including sculpting, molding, and applying the 25-piece silicone suit.
The team also discusses achieving the character’s glossy appearance and designing the specialized mechanical hand for the villain’s signature look.
How The Prosthetics From ‘Game Of Thrones’ Are Made
Ever wonder how the Night King and his army of White Walkers actually came to life? Emmy-winning prosthetics designer Barrie Gower took us inside his workshop BGFX just outside of London, where the team worked on seasons 4 through 8 of Game of Thrones. They walk us through how the Night King’s makeup is made, plus the wights and White Walkers you see on screen.
Fair warning: you might never look at a silicone face the same way again.
Viewers have called it unbelievable, traumatizing (in a good way), and a reminder that practical effects deserve way more respect.
Video won’t play? Click here: How The Prosthetics From ‘Game Of Thrones’ Are Made
How Its Made: Special Effects Makeup
On How It’s Made, they usually show you how products are manufactured – but this time, it’s all about special effects makeup. In this case, they show you how it’s made and how it’s applied.
Watch as a special effects artist transforms a 28-year-old woman into a senior citizen. From gluing on a bald cap with spirit gum to sculpting wrinkles out of plasticine, this is a month-long process that costs up to $10,000.
How Actors Transform Into 95-Year-Olds For Movies And TV
Sometimes an actor needs to play a character decades older than they really are. For that, you call someone like special effects makeup artist Kevin Yagher.
In this video, he breaks down how he turned Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter into 95-year-old versions of themselves for Bill & Ted Face the Music. First, he took lifecasts of their faces to see where wrinkles and droopage were naturally starting. Then he sculpted deep wrinkles, airbrushed tiny pores, and meticulously painted on broken capillaries and liver spots. He even added cataract contact lenses for Winter and fake eyebags for Reeves.
How The ‘Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark’ Monsters Were Created
The chilling illustrations from the classic children’s book Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark have haunted readers for years – so when Guillermo del Toro brought the stories to the big screen, the monsters had to be just right.
That job went to practical-effects company Spectral Motion. INSIDER visited their team in Los Angeles to see how they brought creatures like the Pale Lady and the Jangly Man to life using suits, prosthetics, and barely any CGI.
How Fake Burn Wounds Are Made For Movies & TV
Ever watch a movie and wonder how they pull off those gnarly burn wounds without actually hurting anyone?
Ben Bornstein is a special makeup effects artist who’s worked on shows like Gotham and Blindspot, and in this video he breaks down exactly how it’s done. From simple stick-on tattoos to burnt-up sheets of plastic to full prosthetic pieces that take up to four hours to apply, he shows a range of techniques—no CGI required.
One viewer summed it up perfectly: ‘The amount of effort and focus put into their work is really inspiring to see.’ Just don’t watch this while eating pizza.
Special effects makeup artist
Ever wonder what it’s actually like to work as a special effects makeup artist? In this episode of Career Trek, Viviana visits Joel Echallier at his studio in Coquitlam to see the creative process up close.
Joel explains that SFX makeup is all about using special tools and techniques to transform someone into a monster, a creature, or someone else entirely – anything regular makeup can’t do. He walks us through a typical 12-hour day in the workshop, from sculpting and moulding to injecting chemicals.
The best part of his day? Watching a nine-foot creature walk through the parking lot and seeing his whole team smile.
The Man Behind Hollywood’s Monsters
Jordu Schell is the man behind some of Hollywood’s most unforgettable monsters. He designs creatures for movies, TV shows, and video games – and chances are, you’ve seen his work without even knowing it.
In this video from WIRED, Jordu takes us around his studio and walks through his entire mask-making process, from rough pencil sketches to water-based clay sculpting to detailed latex painting. He’s funny, humble, and insanely talented.
As one viewer put it: ‘Not only is he a pleasant person, but such an incredibly gifted artist. Protect him at all costs.
Working the Yellowstone: Special Effects Makeup
From burns to scars and everything in between, the special effects makeup on Yellowstone tells a deeper story. In this behind-the-scenes look, Abigail Steele and her team walk us through some of the show’s most intricate details – like Beth Dutton’s facial scars and how they gradually healed over time.
One viewer summed it up perfectly: ‘The special effects makeup is amazing, she does a fantastic job.’ Another added: ‘SPFX makeup on this show has been insane. The level of continuity and proper placement is Emmy award-winning.’
How Bleeding Prosthetics Are Created For Movies And TV
Creating Hollywood’s bloodiest scenes takes equal parts art and science. We visited Brett Schmidt and Greg Pikulski at SPFX Studio – a prosthetic makeup and practical effects shop that’s worked on everything from The Irishman and Ray Donovan to New Amsterdam and The Dead Don’t Die.
They break down how to create effects like a cut artery, an abdomen slash, and even a gunshot to the head using materials ranging from a garden sprayer to a blood cannon.
One viewer summed it up perfectly: ‘This is so disgustingly cool. I am extremely disgusted at the viscosity of some types of blood… but fascinated by the hard work and effort.’
How Masks Are Made For Hollywood
Immortal Masks and Immortal FX is a studio in Hollywood that specializes in custom masks, creature suits, body armor, and prop fabrication.
They use silicone to create hyperrealistic masks for theme parks, haunted attractions, music videos, films, and TV shows—from creepy smiley faces to full creature suits.
How Prosthetics On ‘Westworld’ Are Made
Aside from its brilliant storyline, Westworld is also known for its jarring, realistic special effects. And surprisingly, what you see on screen is 100% real – thanks to prosthetics.
Insider visited Fractured FX, the special effects company behind some of Westworld‘s most iconic moments, to see how they pull it off.
From sliced-open scalps to exposed spines, it’s disturbing, impressive, and totally practical.
How Hollywood Ages Actors With Makeup
Mike Spatola, a makeup artist and instructor at Cinema Makeup School, transforms Insider’s Caroline into an older version of herself – without using any prosthetics.
His secret? A technique called stretch and stipple using liquid latex. First, he paints on broken capillaries, pigmentation, dark circles, and veins. Then he applies the latex in small sections, stretching and stippling the skin to create realistic wrinkles. The whole process takes about 90 minutes and can age an actor 20 to 30 years.
This method has been used in classics like The Godfather and The Exorcist.
Special Effects Makeup: How Movie Monsters Are Made
Special effects makeup artist Howard Berger – whose work includes The Chronicles of Narnia, Inglourious Basterds, and The Green Mile – takes us inside K&B Effects Group to show how movie monsters are actually made.
From clay sculpture to molding, casting, and final prosthetic application, he walks through the entire transformation process.
One viewer summed it up perfectly: ‘Please let this kind of art continue. I dread the day when digital FX takes over altogether and this art is lost. Practical effects should be used when possible… it keeps the art alive.’
Video won’t play? Click here: How Monsters are Created for Movies
How A Hollywood Makeup Artist Turns Actors Into Zombies
RBFX is Hollywood’s go-to shop for foam-latex prosthetics, with work appearing in movies like Mrs. Doubtfire, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and The Ring.
In this video, FX artist Sidney Cumbie demonstrates a full zombie makeup transformation from start to finish
Video won’t play? Click here: How A Hollywood Makeup Artist Turns Actors Into Zombies
The art of Hollywood special effects makeup
Academy Award-winner Matthew Mungle is one of the greatest special effects makeup artists in movie history.
He got his start as a kid growing up on a dairy farm in Oklahoma, staying up late to watch old monster movies like Frankenstein and Dracula. At 15, he made himself up to look like a character from Planet of the Apes – and yes, he borrowed his mom’s old mascara to do it.
CBS Sunday Morning follows him as he goes through the process of creating bodies for an episode of CSI, from lifecasting to painting and finishing.
Video won’t play? Click here: The Art of Hollywood Special Effects Makeup
SFX Makeup Artist Reviews SFX Makeup in Film
Makeup artist Howard Berger explains how different techniques in conjunction with SFX makeup have been used in various blockbusters.
Including examples from The Exorcist, The Godfather, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, The Wizard of Oz, Kill Bill, An American Werewolf in London and Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
Video won’t play? Click here: SFX Makeup Artist Reviews SFX Makeup in Film
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Featured cover image: Screenshot taken from ’11 Levels of Prosthetic Makeup: Easy to Complex’ by WIRED via YouTube
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