What else works as good as a wine cork for a fake beard?

i cant find a wine cork anywhere in my house, which is weird but my stepdad told me to burn paper than brush it on, but its burning into white ashes, and i need black ashes…

i used a cork last year, and it worked phenominal, NO ONE could tell i was really a girl. aha

so needless to say, im looking for the same effect. but in household items..

or would a place like Acme sell wine corks?
dont need the wine (lol) just the corks.. ha