FOAMED GELATIN KITS BY MICHAEL DAVY'S MAKEUP SUPPLY
(INDEPENDENT REVIEW)

This is another independent review of recent purchases that I have made for testing purposes. For the last couple of years we've all been hearing about the foamed gelatin formulations that were in use but that were being kept "secret" by those who supposedly developed it. And I know many people have begun using the regular gelatin formulations for alternatives to foam latex for prosthetic appliances. Without doubt, the gelatin is quite a bit easier to use, so much cheaper and renders a reasonably good end product overall. And it continues to improve as more people use it and come up with more stable, stronger, lighter, more translucent and easier methods. Granted, it still takes quite a bit of skill in mold making as the techniques are the same as for foam latex molds. But the ease of use, the availability of the products - with the exception of Sorbitol (which always seems difficult to find) coupled with the quickness with which decent looking appliances can be made, makes the product more attractive all the time.

So having made the decision to purchase some of the recent offerings of Michael Davy's Makeup Supply with regard to his current formula for foamed gelatin, I thought I would pass along some of what I think with regard to this product. Please understand that this is my opinion. Others may have different opinions but I wanted to pass this along as a superb alternative still, to both foam latex and the regular gelatin materials.

I know there are many formulas floating around out there right now. I personally have three, which I've not tried yet. But having recently gotten Michael Davy's kits, I realize that it's not necessary to go to the trouble to develop my own when someone else who is far more qualified, has already done that. The "kits" that Michael sells are great. Everything is premade for you, prepackaged in the correct amounts for a "one batch", and all the required items to mix and make this are included in the kits. As Michael has reiterated to me numerous times already, this packaging is a "convenience" item, with it all being prepackaged for you. He also sells the components in bulk as well so if you have the disposables lying around (which you should) you can buy components to make the foam gelatin as you need it and forego the stir sticks or the containers it's made in. But if you still don't want to go to that trouble, then he certainly has taken care of that for the buyer.

With regard to the product itself, you get approximately 6 ounces of the gelatin base (already prepared and sealed for shelf life, you get the foaming crystals, a small mixing cup to mix the foaming crystals to ready it for use, a large quart size plastic cup in which to foam the gelatin, and two stir sticks - along with complete instructions with photos. The prepackaged "kit" retails for $15.00 plus postage. Michael's site requires a $50.00 minimum retail purchase since he is mainly a manufacturer and sells largely to distributors, though he still does retail business himself online. If in doubt, check the web site or give him a call.

I ordered 5 one batch kits because I wanted to be sure I had enough for this current project I'm involved with and I wanted to try this product for those prosthetics. I placed the order and mentioned to him that I needed it as soon as I could get it and it arrived at my door priority mail in three days - very fast shipping and well packed. So I began the testing on the product. I have to say, this is the quickest, easiest thing I've done in a long time. Basically what you do, is to first mix the foaming crystals in the small cup till they are completely dissolved. Once that is done, you then remove the gelatin base from it's container, put it in the larger container and in a microwave, you allow the gelatin base to liquify again (it's gelatin after all and when it comes it's in a gelatinous state). Once it has dissolved, it's allowed to cool for a short time and then the foaming crytals - now in solution - are added to the gelatin base while stirring. And lo and behold, it begins to rise on it's own. Stirring is stopped at this point. This product rises almost to the top of the quart container. When the foaming stops you refine it by stirring it again till it's almost to a meringue consistency. It's then spatulated into a warmed negative mold, the positive mold placed into the negative, then either stand on the mold or clamp it, and immediately put it into a freezer to set up. Anywhere from a half hour to an hour later, it's ready to demold.

The thing that impressed me the most with this product is how little I had to do and how quickly it got done. Heaven knows, I like quick and convenient - as I'm sure most of us do. And with the quality of the product you get out of this, it's a valuable alternative. There were some things Michael told me to do that help to render a little bit better end product that aren't in the instruction sheet. He mentioned that once the gelatin has foamed in the quart container, to place that in the freezer, allow it to set, remove it once it has, then reheat for a very short time - about 10 seconds at a time until it's workable again - and then load the molds. He says it seems to render a little better product with a better cell structure and better skinning properties (which is also aided by using a warm negative mold). Also, the instructions say that after it rises the first time, if you want to, you can reheat it slightly (about 10 seconds) and it rises even further, though I think the foam then becomes a little thinner and can result in some cell degradation. But the method of putting it in the freezer to gel after the first rise, then reheating it to a workable state, is the better alternative.

Now, what I did the first time I used it, was completely dumb. I misread the instructions and as a result, the finished gelatin appliance kept sticking to the negative mold. And believe me, I DID read the instructions several times. I just missed the part about applying a release agent to the negative mold. First, I couldn't imagine why I shouldn't do that, but I just apparently missed that in the instructions. However, it didn't matter. I removed the gelatin from the molds, and reheated it again. That's right!! This is reusable. As a matter of fact, I did the same thing twice until I finally read the instructions yet again and realized I was supposed to be using a release agent on the negative as well as the positive mold. So I did this routine three times and the third time it worked. Third time's the charm, I guess. But regardless, it was with the same original batch of gelatin as I started with. I just reheated it before applying it again. So for me, this stuff was almost fail-safe. However, I found out that overheating, it can also cause the foam to "fall" and what I ended up with was STILL a highly usable product but more like a regular gelatin formulation and NOT the foamed gelatin in its original form. That was my fault as I was apparently heating it too much. You have to reheat it, but in 10 second or less trips to the microwave, until it JUST DOES soften up enough to be workable once again. So if you DO mess it up, at least you haven't wasted the product. Unlike foam latex that gels in the bowl or in the molds before you can close them, this is VERY forgiving. And that has my vote any day. And it STILL WORKED and still gave a good product that was usable.

The finished product (if done correctly) is about 40% lighter than a comparable gelatin (non-foamed version) appliance. It's a little heavier than foam - no doubt about it. But I've read time and time again, that with the "feel" of gelatin on the skin, and the fact that it DOES feel reasonably like real skin, the weight is quickly forgotten with wearing. And that's with the regular gelatin appliances also. So now with a 40% lighter product, it should be even more comfortable than ever. As for the translucency issue, it IS more translucent than foam latex, but it's still not THAT translucent. It's not clear as silicone is, but then it doesn't cost a fortune either. And there is a level of translucency that is present, though not much, and that is a plus. Of course, any artist who can color appliances well, won't have any problem with this product. Proof is in the viewing of Davy's web site and checking out the photos of makeups created using this product. They do look very good.

Suffice it to say, I like this product and plan to use it more. The cost, the convenience of use, the quick turnaround to get appliances out of the molds, the ease of use, the results, will go a long way to creating some really good things that will make foam latex less used by me over time. I don't mind the work with foam latex - and it certainly will out last foamed gelatin, but for convenience and speed this will work well and is a blessing in a pinch where time is an issue. And I can't say enough about the quality of the way Michael Davy's does business. I had several questions before I used it and he was available to answer my questions and offer advice on the product. In addition to this product, you MUST check out his other products. He has many makeup products that even I haven't used but I plan to, that offer some really good uses to us. I can't wait to use some of the soap and water cleanup PAX type makeup he makes as well as the airbrush ready makeup. Check out his whole site. Well worth the long look. And anyone who takes care of the customer as well as he does will always get my business. He really is one of the better ones I've done business with and will again.

The web address to his web site is as follows:

http://www.bitstorm.net/mdftv/

Take the time to check it out. He shows the process from start to finish on the web site and plenty of photos of the finished product and in use.

I tried to figure the cost of this item and how it compares to foam latex. With Mclaughlin's foam in the gallon kit - at $75.00 bucks, you can, perhaps, get a few more one batches out of a kit than you could out of the same amount of money spent for gelatin kits at $15.00 for a one batch kit. But that means 5 one batches - and guess what? The more you buy there is a price break. I bought 5 one batch kits for $50.00 - or $10.00 per one batch kit. And the bulk components are roughly the same I believe. So for $75.00 bucks for foamed gelatin kits, you most likely CAN get the same number of one batches as McLaughlin's foam latex. But again, it's a convenience item and wouldn't be used all the time especially where you would want to keep foam appliances once used (why I don't know). But foam latex does have a longer life than gelatin, once made. Nevertheless, foamed gelatin is still a great product and one that I will use for a long time to come.