Escape and Evade: Camouflage Face Paint to Keep Your Heroine Alive - Info for Writers

Today on ThrillWriting, we're going

to learn about camouflage face paint to keep your heroine safe on her mission. 

My guest today, Elizabeth Kump, joins me to teach writers some of the whys, wherefores, and how-tos of using camo-face. Liz also shares a few ways to twist your plot line.

For this article I used army-issue face camouflage. Mine (pictured below) is in modern use, but Liz was also using a compact which included grey that came from the Korean War. 

My experience as the model - 

* The paint had a distinct mineral oil odor to it.

* It felt heavy sitting on my skin so that I was aware of it, unlike my

   typical foundation.

* Application felt like pulling and stretching on my skin

* It was hot under the face paint.

* It didn't itch the way I thought it might, but it remained moist so

   hair or things floating nearby could adhere. It felt like if I used

   some dust/dirt or translucent powder to "set" the face paint, that

   would have been helpful. Powder would be a bad idea, unless it 

   was mineral powder, because the scent can give away your 

   heroine's location.

* Completely removing the face paint between scenarios was a

   labor-intensive, great-big-fat mess. 

   `Soap worked only somewhat. 

   `Cold cream worked best. 

   `Using disposal paper towels was best 

   `Washcloths worked worst, and the face paint did not come out in

     the wash. So guard your heroine's clothes - or don't - maybe

     someone needs to find some paint smeared on her collar or on

     her arm and ask your heroine some difficult to answer questions.

* It's easy to miss cleaning paint from areas difficult to see in the

   mirror like under the chin and the ears.

In Camouflage Face Paint to Keep Your Heroine Alive - Part 1 an Overview, Liz reviews the kind of makeup that is used for camouflage face painting and some ways that you could twist your plot line.

 In any given region, it is important to 
* Consider the colors and the textures of the surrounding area
* Cover all exposed skin, including hands, ears, and neck
* Use dark shades at high points such as cheekbones and noses
* Use lighter colors on recessed areas such as under the chin and
   eyes
* Add elements from the natural area to clothing and equipment
* Reduce glare as much as possible

Camouflage Face Paint to Keep Your Heroine Alive

Part 2 - Arctic Mission 

Camouflage Face Paint to Keep Your Heroine Alive

 Part 3 - Woodland Mission 

Camouflage Face Paint to Keep Your Heroine Alive  

Part 4 - Jungle Mission 

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In this article I used Army Study Guide as my resource LINK