I look a lot like my father, and now that he is getting older I can’t help but wonder what I will look like when I am his age, or even what I will look like when I am 80 or 90 years old.  I know you’ve never done that, right?  But with the amazing costume accessories and costume makeup that are available these days, it’s easier than ever to see what you might look like as an old man or old woman.

Halloween Costumes can be as simple or as detailed as you like, but a more realistic look will get bigger reactions when it comes to applying costume makeup.  To achieve a realistic old man or old woman look, you can simply start with a latex prosthetic face that is wrinkled and pre-painted to look like old skin.  With a little bit of touch up and some plaid pants you are ready for the Halloween costume party event of the season.

If you are feeling artistic, it’s possible to create the look of aged skin with the use of makeup.  Kits are available with all the colors and tools that you would need to apply wrinkles, age spots, and other features to your skin.  Here are some techniques to try:

• Look at photos of elderly people to see what features you want to incorporate into your look (sagging skin, wrinkles, blemishes, etc.)
• Apply foundation costume makeup that has a cool tone with a little yellow color in it to all exposed skin
• Scrunch your face to see where natural wrinkles occur and trace them with a brown eye-liner pencil, highlight around them, and blend with a makeup sponge to create depth
• Highlight your jawbone and other facial features, then darken the recesses around eyes and cheeks and blend with a sponge
• Use a toothbrush to splatter color spots on your skin for a natural pattern
• Use a beige lip liner to create thin, shallow lips
• Add liver spots, blemishes and broken capillaries with a small brush
• Dust your skin with baby powder to set the makeup and give your skin a dry, ghostly appearance
• Don’t forget to give your exposed hands the same treatment

Now just add some costume accessories to complete the look.  Consider some gray, bushy eyebrows, yellow-stained false teeth, eyeglasses, an old costume hat or shawl, and other age-appropriate clothing.  Remember that your bones are weak, your back is sore and you are shorter than you used to be.  You are now ready for your grand entrance as an old man or old woman!