One of the great things about silicone is its similarity in look and feel to human skin when it is colored intrinsically with pigment. Human skin is actually translucent. When silicone is colored internally with any number and type of pigments, most notably colored rayon flocking, the silicone color has actual depth, just like skin.
Silicone can also be colored intrinsically with opaque pigments that significantly lessen the sense of depth and translucence; however, if the
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amount is very small, translucency can be maintained. This is something that will require experimentation on your part; there is no formula for coloring silicone. I will tell you this, though: Silicone can be very difficult to paint. Silicone is resistant to acids, bases, solvents, chemicals, oils, and water. Virtually nothing sticks to silicone. . . except other silicone.
If you choose to forego intrinsic coloring and you color your appliance extrinsically, you will need to use a silicone-based coloring system. You can achieve decent results with a creme foundation that is not silicone based, but the moment your actor rubs his nose or accidentally brushes against something or someone, that makeup is going to wipe right off, no matter how much powder or sealer you applied to set the makeup. Fortunately, there are some terrific silicone-based airbrush paints and makeup foundations designed for use on silicone appliances. You can also color with alcohol-activated pigments, such as Premiere Products’ Skin Illustrator® palettes, developed by Kenny Myers, and WM Creations’ Sta-Color palettes, developed by Matthew Mungle.