Mortuary Makeup Guide

Un-embalmed tissue often softens too much for proper makeup. Embalmer Jamie Reed, also known as "Embalming Queen" says embalming makes skin firmer. This gives a better surface for applying makeup, plus it builds a better physical base for makeup application.Embalming also adds color back to the deceased's face. This helps mortuary makeup artists (or embalmers) find the right foundation shade to cover the waxy sheen.This helps mortuary makeup artists (or embalmers) who struggle with finding the perfect foundation shade for that waxy sheen.

Embalmer Jamie Reed states the goal of embalming is toreplace a person's blood with embalming fluid.This process firms up the skin and smooths it. This prepares the body for makeup, the final step in preparing a deceased person for a funeral.

A licensed embalmerDaniella MarcantoniDaniella Marcantoni describes the fluids used in embalming to better prepare the skin for makeup. These steps happen before makeup but are key to the process.

"Or you want what we call a 'hot fluid.' This is a strong fluid used to dehydrate someone who is very swollen. Then you deal with people who are dehydrated. There are many fluid types to fix these issues."

One Reddit user namedformalinaDaniella Marcantoni does makeup at a funeral home and says, "Dehydration looks dark and tough, 'mummified.' That is not good!"

Daniella Marcantonisays makeup application is not required in embalming school at least in California. "I don't recall them teaching us makeup in school. Maybe there was an optional workshop," she says. "Where I trained, I did everything, which gave me a full experience."

Embalming a body with chemicals for preservation uses different skills than applying makeup to the skin. However, makeup is usually the final job for embalmers, so most must learn it themselves. But know this: anyone who sees an overdone corpse at a funeral sees something grim. Makeup requires training and practice.

Larger mortuaries today often have separate staff for embalming and makeup application. RememberNeon Demon? The makeup artist in that movie was not an embalmer, yet she painted faces in the morgue.

This is called "orange juice" in the business.Daniella Marcantonidescribes it as "a tinted liquid with some moisturizing properties." The product is Glow Tint; it makes dead skin look less dead. Embalmers have many makeup optionsto use when making up the deadincluding a product to help counteract jaundicefor bodies affected by liver diseasefor bodies affected by liver disease.

Morticians sometimes get requests to fix grandma's teeth. However, they cannot perform mutilation, such as removing teeth or skin tags. Embalmers cannot cut the deceased's hair unless explicit written instructions exist.Explicit written instructions are required for cutting the deceased's hair.Morticians can only remove pacemakers from the body. Everything else is irreversible and forbidden. Embalmer Jamie Beck states, "You're basically cooking up a recipe based upon whatever you know about that person" when discussing which formulas to use.

Foundation often looks cakey and fake on embalmed skin because it is hard and dehydrated. Some embalmers like the effect Beautyblenders have on embalmed skin.BeautyblendersMost people find airbrushing the most effective, natural way to apply foundation on embalmed skin. Jamie Beck explains why.

"I have used regular cosmetics for embalmed bodies, but the skin is so firm, there’s no way to work in your foundation."They use an airbrush.gives you streak-free, nice coverage.

Lip-plumping products.Injections fail on lifeless cells. So, how do morticians fill and smooth things out? Some Reddit users share answers.Reddit.One Reddit user, who is also a cosmetologist for the dead, recommends lip wax. She advises, "Place a bit of lip wax onto a gloved hand and mix it around to make it warm and 'workable.'"

"Use a small spatula to work the wax over the natural lips, creating a smooth, full surface. Brush the wax with an acetone-based product (we use 'dry wash') to make it look natural."

Embalmer uses an airbrush-contouring technique to make recently departed clients look natural. She uses 'hot chocolate,' a dark-brown powder that matches its name, to add shadows. She shadows crevices around the nostril, upper lip, nose, and chin. This creates natural shadows. Families can see their loved one looking real in the casket.Jamie Reed uses an airbrush-contouring technique to make clients look natural. She says, "I use something called hot chocolate—it’s a dark-brown powder that looks just like its name suggests, and you use it to add shadows." She shadows crevices around the nostril, upper lip, nose, and chin—all spots where natural shadows occur. Thanks to Beck's shadows, families see their loved one looking almost real in the casket.Embalmer uses an airbrush-contouring technique to make recently departed clients look natural. She uses 'hot chocolate,' a dark-brown powder that matches its name, to add shadows. She shadows crevices around the nostril, upper lip, nose, and chin. This creates natural shadows. Families can see their loved one looking real in the casket.

Mortuary makeup covers hands and knuckles, too. Usually, hands get airbrushed or foundation applied to match the corpse's face makeup.this Reddit mortician takes it further by dusting the knuckles of the hands with blush to make them look more alive. These small details make the biggest difference!Dusting knuckles with blush makes hands look more alive. These small things make the biggest difference!

Accounts differ from mortuary makeup artists. However, the agreement is thateyeliner and makeup are rarely used on the dead.Warm tones and blush cover cheekbones and forehead. Eyeshadow might fill brows or add contour to a pale face.

Before the body enters the casket, embalmers complete their work and finish with makeup.Embalmers do their makeup on the embalming table and finish with makeup.Makeup goes straight on the embalming table. This lets the body be ready before moving it into the casket. Makeup on the deceased is a sterile, scientific process, unlike makeup for film or fun. This keeps the makeup contained. If a mortuary hires special makeup artists, they usually work at the same station where the body was embalmed.

Funeral home cosmetologists all mention "the bucket." This is a stash of beauty products donated to the funeral home by families of the recently deceased. MorticianJamie Beck.Jamie Beck confirms, "Every funeral home has random makeup. We have that bucket. It’s usually things families bring in that we cannot return."

Even if a family...asks for the makeup back,the funeral home cannot comply legally: "We have a policy that makeup used on the deceased generally cannot be returned (especially if the person isn't embalmed)," says thisThat is a Reddit user.That makes sense. Using the makeup of the dead feels a little unsettling.

Many funeral homes and embalming companies apply makeup themselves. However, some places have their own desairologists. According toUS Legal definitions., desairology means "caring for the hair, skin, and nails of the deceased in a funeral home preparation room."

There aretwo paths makeup artists can take to become a desairologist.First, they can make deals with current clients, arranging for hair, makeup, and nails for their passing. If a makeup artist seeks steady income, they can build working relationships with funeral directors.