Using make-up, modeling wax, and prosthetic silicone, make-up artists can make characters look younger or older to viewers. Simulate old age with gray and black make-up pencils, drawing crow's feet around the eyes and age lines across the forehead and mouth. Skull caps sparsely integrated with fake hair simulate hair loss for older characters. Modeling wax can add length to noses and ears, and even enhance certain facial features or appendages.
Conversely, blush, foundation and lipstick can help create a young look for characters. Choose colors to match the actor's skin tone to enhance youthful qualities. Adding hair with a hair weave and choosing trendy or form-fitting outfits also lend a fresh look.
Making a monster out of a human gets easier with add-ons to give characters a "real" look. Add false teeth, lips, eyebrows and hair to create a monster. With silicone prosthesis, elvish ears, goblin feet, or a complete face re-structuring can turn a human into another creature. After molding and applying the prosthetic to the actor, you can then apply make-up to create veins, eyelashes, skin color and more to complete the character.
Turn a woman into a man and the other way around with special effects make-up. Add a longer haired wig, trim eyebrows and apply mascara, blush and lipstick to highlight the feminine qualities in a man. Prosthetic breasts in a bra with a shapely dress help complete a female character.
Male characters are created with shorter hair wigs, sparse make-up, and gray or dark brown make-up to simulate beard stubble. An actual beard can attach to the actor with silicone prosthetic or with make-up glue and false hair.