Most manufacturers offer a slick spray for latex once it is dry to take away the stickiness allowing the movement of the model's limbs. Alternatively, shimmer powders can be dusted over dried liquid latex to create metallic effects. One advantage to the tackiness of liquid latex is that it can act as an adhesive to attach things to the paint, such as zippers.Latex is a natural ingredient that come
s from rubber trees in the form of a milky liquid. There are thousands of species of plants that produce different types of latex, including the Chicle tree that yields the raw material for producing the rubbery material in chewing gum. Unlike some rubber compounds, rubber tree latex is non-toxic in both its liquid and solid states, and because of this it can be found in many products such as surgical gloves, condoms and body paint. Liquid latex is naturally clear and then dries into a translucent amber color. Manufacturers add pigments to the product to provide opaque paint choices of multiple colors. The color of the paint in the jar may initially look chalky, but as it dries it develops into a rich color (grey becomes black for example). Additional acrylic paints can be mixed with the liquid latex solution for custom colors but may not be suitable for use a cosmetic application.
