Since my make-up video, I have been searching for cheap and creative ways to make a great cosplay for less money. I try to keep the costs down, but sometimes that’s not entirely possible. With convention season upon us, any tips or tricks will do. Thanks to Pinterest*, I’ve been able to find some cool hacks to make the process easier.

*Note: Though I found these tutorials through Pinterest at first, I have provided the original website sources for all of them, so that their creators can get some credit.

Pantyhose & Kool-Aid/Food Dye

I saw this a while back on Pinterest, and I was so excited to see it. Tights are everything in cosplay, depending on the character. Don’t want to risk body paint? Wear tights. Self-conscious about your legs? Wear tights. In other words, tights are extremely versatile. I would be interested to see how a pair of white tights would look like dyed.

Found here

Cardboard Armor

This one is the most intriguing to me; it almost seems too easy. I have lists of links on how to create armor out of craft foam or L200, but cardboard? I would love to try this one out!

Found here

But what about other makeup hacks? Well, never fear!

Two-Ingredient Crayon Lipgloss

I’ve seen this one all over Pinterest, but this particular blogger gives a great step-by-step guide. And if you’re worried about the fact that you’re putting crayon wax onto your lips, don’t fret. Lipstick and chapstick’s primary ingredients are wax, and crayons (especially Crayola) are guaranteed to be non-toxic.

Found here

Fishnet Stocking Scales

I actually did this makeup trick four years ago for Halloween. I was a swamp monster, and I found the complete costume and makeup guide in a Martha Stewart magazine. So, please believe me when I say it: this actually works. Though, I will say, a full-faced scaley look is cooler than the half-face look. But hey, who am I to judge half-face looks?

Found here

Colored Eyebrows

For real, guys, white eyeliner is a blessing in disguise (no pun intended). This miracle item is what’s used in this makeup tutorial, and I don’t know why I haven’t thought about it before! It’s so simple, yet so ingenious. Kudos to this blogger.

Found here

Having trouble deciding on a costume? Check out these awesome resources!

“100 Cosplay Outfits You Can Make Overnight” (video), and “23 Couples Costumes inspired by Cartoons” (BuzzFeed article).

And remember, cosplay is all about trial-and-error, so play around, have some fun, and get creative!

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