Jan D. writes: “At 72 years of age I suddenly find 4 (soon 5) great-grandkids in my life. The oldest is 2 yrs 2 mos. I believe they would really like to have their faces/hands painted. What would you recommend as far as safe paints, brushes, and also a pattern book – one with insects, balloons, flowers, etc. – the EASY stuff! Thank you so much!”
I found a homemade face paint recipe on Recipezaar.com. What is more safe than homemade?!
Ingredients:
-3 tablespoons cornstarch
-1 tablespoon flour
-3/4 cup Karo light corn syrup
-1/4 cup water
-food coloring, liquid or gel
Directions:
1. Mix cornstarch and flour together in a bowl.
2. Gradually stir in Karo syrup and water until smooth.
3. Divide mixture into individual containers as needed (Mix and store in baby food jars or discarded film canisters – or Glad plastic ware cups/lids — see pictures).
4. Color each one with the food coloring of your choice until you reach your desired color (I like mine darker — they seem to show up on the skin much better).
Leave one batch untinted.
5. NOTE: I felt the mixture was thin so I added another tsp or so of cornstarch. The recipe didn’t say to do this, but the face paint still worked.
6. NOTE: If using the gel food coloring (I find the colors are more vibrant), you will want to mix with your spoon first and then put the lid on the container and shake, shake, shake to mix it all up. Otherwise, your paint will be speckled with “pieces” of the gel food coloring.
-From Recipezaar.com
Here is a face painting stencil set:
Face Painting Stencil Set: $3.98
Here are some books that teach you how to face paint with kids:
Gymboree Face Painting Book & Paint: $10.35
Face Painting Book & Paint: $16.47
If you don’t feel like making your own face paint here is some safe face paint options found on Smarter.com:
Snazaroo Face Painting Sticks: $3.95
-Easy to use. No need for paint brushes. Washes off with soap & water.
Crafty Dab Face Paint Jumbo Crayon Set: $2.94
Palmer Face Paint: $1.29 for 2 oz bottle
About evette
Hi
I noticed you recommended Palmer Face Paints. Have a look at my page http://www.face-painting-fun.com/palmer-face-paint.html that looks at whether these paints are actually safe. Many of the Pro face painters do not like this paint.
For a page listing most of the main brands of face paint have a look at: http://www.face-painting-fun.com/face-painting-supplies.html
Regards
Andrew
One other thing to consider is that with “Home Made” recipies one of the ingredients is Food Coloring. Although these are safe to eat some people feel they are not designed for skin and will not wash off easily and may even cause alergic reactions for some kids. The safer route is to go with the professional tried and tested face and body paints.
Again for a page listing most of the main brands of face paints have a look at: http://www.face-painting-fun.com/face-painting-supplies.html There are some “pro” paints that are reasonably priced and offer good colours and are tested as safe.
Regards
Andrew
As a professional I suggest you look at the Klutz book – It contains quality paints from Wolfe Face Art and FX with good staying power – something you’ll want with little busy children. It has nice pictures too,
Sweet Loretta
I found that a lot of families with children who have nut allergies steer away from profressional paints because the paints contain almond oil. It causes allergic reactions. When trying to ensure you steer away from these allergies- homemade is better….
Hi,
When it comes to face painting makeup, you want to make certain you get the highest quality. This is very important because you want to get the makeup that will create the best look as well as one that will be easy to put on as well as take off.
Thanks
i am a face painter in durban south africa, i only use snazaroo and diamond FX PAINTS.i HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS AND THEY COME OFF VERY NICELY WITH A WET WIPE.
Have you checked the ingredients on the Palmer face paints. They contain plastic under another name, I believe it to be polyethalene acetate, and skin cannot breathe through plastic. The skin actually absorbs the plastic compounds and may eventually create an allergy to latex and other medical plastics which in ture could become life threatening to children.
Palmer face paint should not be used on skin! The name is very misleading! Look at the ingredients, you’ll see Polyvinly acetate there and that is an ingredient used in craft paint as well. What is it you may ask? It’s liquid plastic. Yeah… the same stuff that craft paint is. All Palmer brand face paint is, is craft paint in disguise. I am a professional award winning face painter of 8 years, and I wouldn’t be caught dead using that stuff and think very lowly of anyone who uses it.