Kinds of Paints to Use for Face Painting

Face painting is fun. Whether you’re happy to turn it into a hobby or a career, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t try to improve and get better. One way to make that happen is to use the right paints for your sessions. You and your models will have more fun when you have paints that help you make them look their best. Here are a few tips to point you in the right direction.

Explore Available Options

Before you shop for any face painting kits, start by learning the main types of face paint available. Your choices include water-based paint, metallic body paint, alcohol-based paint, latex body paint, and commercial body paint. Learn more about the pros and cons of using each one. Careful study of the different products that you can go for will help you determine which types are right for you.

Consider Organic Alternatives

Choose makeup made from organic materials. Check out the ingredient list before you shop for face paints. Do your homework and find out what ingredients are good and bad for your skin. That information will help you filter through your options when you shop around. Be sure to check if the ingredients are approved by the FDA and if they’re washable or not.

Look for Child-Friendly Options

Lots of kids love face painting sessions. But using face makeup that’s meant for adults may dry up their skin or lead to irritation. Don’t let that happen. If you have kids or you plan on working as a face painter for children’s parties, you need to make sure you look for child-friendly options. Otherwise, they may end up with splotches, inflammation, and itchy skin. That will give them a bad experience with face painting. You’ll also lose clients that way.

Stay Away from Acrylics

Don’t just use any paint with the “non-toxic” label, though. A lot of acrylic craft paints have that label, but they aren’t meant to be used on the skin. Watercolors, too, aren’t a suitable option. Knowing these details ahead of time will help you steer clear of unwise buying decisions.

Determine If You Have Allergies

Some people have an allergic reaction to certain colorants and chemicals. Find out if that applies to your case. Even if you buy makeup or face paint that works for most of everyone else, if you are allergic to one of the ingredients used in the paint, then that won’t go well for you. That’s another reason why it pays to check the ingredient list.

Avoid Any Glitters

Keep your distance from face paints or face products that use glitter. Plastic glitters are the worst. The only safe face glitters are made from polyester and must be about .008 microns in size. If that isn’t the case, then it isn’t safe to be used on your skin. Consider other ways to brighten up client faces during your face painting session instead.

Clean Your Tools

Whatever face paint you use, though, if you forget to clean your brushes and sponges, you’ll still end up giving your clients skin irritation and other problems. Keep that from happening by sanitizing your tools after every use.