I use paradise mostly with some snazaroo.

But when I first started I use wal-mart face paints, they're not ideal but they are safe and intended for the face.

I use Snazaroo. A friend has switched to Paradise but I looked on the maker's website and they say you need to clean the brushes between customers. It's hard to be fast that way. I'm down to a 4 minute full face (using sponges and brushes). It would take at least two minutes to clean everything between people. Snazaroo has an antibacterial built in and anyone using their paints is covered under their guarantee / warranty / whatever-you-call-it provided you only use their products. I do wish their metalics were as good as mehron's silver but I haven't tried them in a while either. Maybe it's time I try them again.

I use Paradise and Wolfe Brothers.

GiGi :D

Wolfe brothers? I never heard of that one. Please, tell me about it.

Wolfe Brothers was made by 2 brothers from Florida that do alot of special effects type stuff. It is highly pigmented and a little thicker than most face paints. I mostly use their black and white as it is awesome for line work. You don't have to dip back in the paint very often. They have wonderful neon colors that glow in a black light (Great for night time events) and their metallics really show up well. Here is their web address. www.heretoserveyou.com/Wolfefx/ They are a little pricey but a little goes a long way. It lasts alot longer than most face paints.

GiGi :D

Right now, I really can't justify spending a lot of money on paints, especially since my face painting gigs are sporadic.

I've been using a trick that fellow Red Cross crony of mine uses. I mix a bit of acrylic paint with a good-quality body lotion. I think this time I used Neutrogena. Since the paint is non-toxic anyway, it's safe for most folks and the lotion will help keep the skin from drying out and/or staining.

There are two nice things about using this kind of paint. One, acrylic paints are extremely cheap. The brand I get is only 44 cents a bottle. And two, I can get whatever colors I want. No having to mix up colors while I'm there. I just get an extra container, mix the color with the lotion and I'm golden.

It is pretty messy, though, because I'm using pill bottles. I'm on the lookout for a better solution for storage and carrying.

I use Snazaroo it works very well for me but did melt some when i was in the hot sun face painteing at my last gig

I belong to a face painting forum as well and they are very against using acrylics. They said it is very dangerous. I guess there have been people that have very adverse reactions to the paint. I'm not sure why that is but you could check it out at the Snazaroo web site. I'm not trying to be a busy body, just wanted to let you know what I've read.

GiGi :D

a cheep alternative is Palmers Face paints, our local walmart has started carrying the large sizes which are film canistar size. I use them to practice and it's what I started out with. About $3.oo a set [6 colors I think] the smaller set has more choices.], they're in the craft section around the cloth. and sewing, not near toys.

I have to agree with Gigi on this one. Although acrylics are non-toxic they are not hypo-allergenic. Face paints are regulated like cosmetics and acrylics just aren't approved by the FDA for use on skin.

Plus, after a day of crafting, I sometimes have to scrub hard to get acrylics off my fingers. I cringe at the thought of it on my face!

You are smart to mix lotion in it, but I'd still recommend face paint over acrylics.

Never use acrylics on the face. They are not intended for the face and childred have been scared from them. Please spend the money and get snaz or paradise. It is well worth it.
Loulou

I'll add my name to the list of those who oppose the use of artist's acrylics as face and body paints. The stuff is liquid plastic that hardens, sealing the pores of the skin, preventing it from breathing. It may also cause allergic reactions that will create a negative memory for the parents whenever they are at another party where face painting is featured. I've actually had moms tell their kids "No!" when they ask to get painted. They tell me the last time the kid had it done, their skin turned red and it was very tough to get the paint off.

Snazaroo, Kryolan, Mehron, Wolfe Bros. and Paradise are actually tinted makeup and not paint at all. The parents like to hear that the stuff I'm decorating their children with is hypoallergenic and FDA approved for use on human skin.

I'm still trying to save up to get some good face paint, but I've never ever heard of it hardening on the face and causing soreness. Just how long did they leave it on the child?! Didn't they mix it with anything? I never put straight acrylic paint on faces.

I mix mine with a lot of lotion. In fact, it's probably 65% lotion, 35% paint. I had some really good lotion (Neutrogena), so I used that, knowing it would be the most gentle on skin.

It's not what I'd like to use, but for now it works. And, (knock on wood) I've had no complaints yet.

Another thing to consider...People with wool allergies are sometimes also allergic to the lanolin in lotion. I keep wet wipes with me and try to find the brands without lanolin, in case I need to wipe someone's face.

(It still amazes me when parents sit their kids down for face painting and the kids mouth is covered with ketchup or chocolate, etc. What are they thinking?!?!?!?!?!)

That's a good point about wool allergies. Thankfully, most of the kids I've worked on have relatively few allergies. The moms are pretty good about directing kids with allergies to other activities.

I've had a number of kids with broken-out faces plop down in my chair, waiting for cheek art. I gently tell them I will not paint their faces, but I'll gladly paint on their arm or hand. One girl had a bunch of spots on her face that were reactions to mosquito bites. I explained to her mom the no-no's of painting on irritated skin and put the design on her hand. It was sure to get rubbed off faster, but I wasn't about to put paint on her broken skin.

(It still amazes me when parents sit their kids down for face painting and the kids mouth is covered with ketchup or chocolate, etc. What are they thinking?!?!?!?!?!)

Thats when you paint a hotdog or hamburger on their face with a ketchup spill to blend into the real ketchup :pie:

Dartel

I'll make sureSassy see this when she gets back home. How about painting a dalmatian dog on their cheek and using the dirt spots for the dogs spots :lol:

Hey, Sassafrass and everyone.

The main reason that acrylics are a bad idea is that if you are doing a gig and someone has a reaction, they could sue you! The paints may be cheap now, but all you would need is one parent sueing you and a lot more money would go out the window. I don't know about other companies, but I do know that Snazzaroo stands behind their paints 100% and said that if any parent or other person that thinks they've had a reaction calls the office, they will help track down the problem. It's usually what the person uses to try and remove the paint that is the trouble. I don't think Snazz has ever had to pay a claim on their paints.

Their website is a great resource for facepainters. I've learned alot.

Jubilee

thanks jubilee, I'll metion tha to her. Sassafras AKA Sassy is Mrs Scruffy.

Hey Jubilee nice to see ya back

I've only ever tried Snazzaroo, and find it a little unwieldy (maybe it's my decrepit brushes or the fidgety theatre students I'm experimenting on, you never know) but I'd love to try Wolfe Brothers. I drool over their examples every time I get on their website.

I've used Snazaroo before, but they're just too much work. I've just gotten into Mehron, and they are fantastic paints! A little more for the buck, but WELL worth it. Also, have heard fantastic things about Wolfe Bros. , but just haven't purchased any from them yet--they're next on my list! :D I know that they really have staying power and do not come off in heat. Excellent product. GREAT website. Check it out. Gigi it correct about the acrylics. Be careful...not FDA approved means make sure you have a disclaimer stating that you are not responsible for allergic reactions. Better safe than sorry.

Every face-painter needs wolfe brothers white in their kit- (if you can find it because it's always in short supply) I would not use their black though because it is hard work getting it off someones face and does not wash easily out of clothes- so stick with paradise (mehron) black.

Paradise has some great colors and holds up better in hot and cold weather than snazaroo. Except snazaroo sparkle colors are great for darker skin tones.

Try adding some shimmer powders and a poof bottle of white glitter as well.

Happy painting!

Cracker
www.childlikeproductions.com

I found that Johnson's baby shampoo removes the Wolfe Black quite well.

GiGi :D

I prefer Palmer brand of face paints. They are hypo-allergenic and I have not had any problems with them.

I will not matter what ask parents if the child is alergic to red food coloring as most paints use red food coloring.

If they are I stick to black, white, blue, green, yellow and gray.

I only pay about $2.00 a small bottle but they last a long time.

I mostly use Kryolan face paints and they work well for me. Paradise also works very well. I dream of getting my hands on Wolfe Bros....

well I got a sample of the starblend powder to try, but haven't tried it yet, any one of you use it.

I like the powders alot. You have to get a smoothie blender to apply it though. Sponges don't really work out. I don't really like doing large areas (like the red in Spiderman) but to do something like a rainbow butterfly it's great. It takes a bit of playing with it to see how much pressure to apply to get it to show up really well.

GiGi

I have had good luck with dry star blend (Powder and sponges on large surfaces it is my choice if it is really hot!
you can use them wet but once you use them wet you will always use them wet... There are several differtent kinds of face painting sponges there are reg make up sponges snaz sponges Mehron sponges which you can buy in 3 packs at Michales crafts painting section.
Star blend makes a nice face foundation too!!! If you are working as yourself... and just wand a nice foundation. I think I like fair lady the best. Since this is theatrical make up it holds up well.
I use a reg make up powder puff to apply to my face, but have used sponges face painting. I like some things about all that I have tried I love the smell of paradice!!! Wolf bros. does stain my skin. I got 3 sample colors that stained and have not tried the white... maybe next time, I go through white fast.
Thanks for the tip! do you like it because it covers smoother, faster, what is it you like?
Jewls

I can't tell you how helpful these posts are! We have been using acrylics and desperately need to find an alternative because, well, they're terrible. Maybe we will try mixing them with lotion at first, but I think we're going to go with some of the pro makeup that we won't get sued for using. :cry:

Good choice, get away from acrylics. Heather at Silly Farm (I have no affiliation so this is just a customer recommendation) can totally hook you up - Silly Farm Supplies Inc. - face and body paints and face and body painting (http://www.sillyfarm.com) . I use mostly Snazaroo with Kryolan UV and Mehron Detailz, but I think they're all good products. I'm definitely wanting to try Starblend and Paradise (both by Mehron). I've heard a lot of bad things about Wolfe staining, but it's white also is supposed to have amazing coverage, something others don't.

Acrylics are bad and hard to use and itch the skin and many have allergies. Just stop now :)

P.S. I checked out your website. You have some facts wrong on your sound page. Normal conversational levels are around 70dB, not 60. 3dB is double or half the pressure, not 10. 10 is actually an almost 10 fold increase in pressure! Concert levels are usually PEAKING around 110 where the audience is (not counting right in front of the stage). It's stage and mosh pit levels that hit 120 and those are peaks, not sustained levels so the damage in a minute isn't true (that figure is for sustained 120dB - like a loud machine). Still, you'll get way more than a minute of exposure to those peaks during the concert :)

Just thought you might like to know some cool facts :) The 3dB doubling makes it way worse than the 10 you put on your site. 3 won't SOUND twice as loud because the human ear doesn't have a linear response curve, but 3dB IS twice as loud!

I work with a sound engineer who has an electrical engineering background and was a system designer for QSC audio, a major sound system manufacturer, so I trust what I've learned from him :) Hopefully it'll help you out :)

You are right about the db.An increase of 3 dbs means that doubles the physical quantity.I am an undergraduate student in Electrical engineering and I know it.

Let's get to the point:

I use these Mehron's grease paints ( cream make up palette ) for my clown face.----->Clown Make-Up 5 Colour Set Lowest price Free Shipping (http://www.magicnevin.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Clown%5FMake%2DUp%5FSet&cat=110) I am also looking for pencils ( or other stuff ) to make the outlines.

What do you think of them?Can they cause allergic reactions or other health problems?I think that this is one of the most used palettes in clowning.

Thanks.

KG, you are asking about clown makeup (grease-paint) and not the water based face painting paints that the rest of this thread is concerned with. Your paints were designed exactly for what you are using them for, so you don't have anything to be concerned about (unless you decide to eat them.)

Yup, like Fitzwilly said, this thread is about water-based makeup that we use on kids' faces for face painting. Few clowns use it for their own makeup (right now, I do but I'm just a very amateur playing with clowning at church and want to be able to wash my makeup off quick). Primarily because without a barrier spray it doesn't last that well, and with a barrier spray it's just as hard to wash off as grease makeup :)

Markie, you may be new to the makeup wearing end of clowning but it sounds like you have been painting and entertaining for quite awhile. Please post some of the pics you have done, I'd like the inspiration (if you don't mind.)

Guys, my partner uses Kryolan's water - based colors only, cause it is very easy to apply them with a brush.Grease paints are much more difficult to be applied but cover better the face.

Anyway,I had the impression that all well known face painting brands are ok for the kids' face.We have been using Kryolan's water based colors for over 4 years and never had a complain for allergic reactions or anything else.

Some months ago a lady in a party asked me if the colors I used were hypoallergic and completely safe for kids colors.Then to prove her that they are ok for children I ate a little bit of white!!! :) :) :)


But it seems that nothing happened to me...



eg:Maybe this is helpful : Face Painting Techniques (http://bodyart.lifetips.com/cat/8080/face-painting-techniques/index.html)

I don't take pictures of the kids Fitzwilly, I just do stuff at church. If you go to youtube.com/markuhde you can find my latest video for my kids church class and I have my face painted at the beginning (Kryolan UV-DG pink and orange and Snaz black and white). It's blacklight which is hard to video tho...

I'll post some more piccies as I take them. I just bought a mini digital cam yesterday so I might take more snaps around church and stuff where I'm not having to drag my SLR around!

Kleanthis, the only concern is going to be some of the special effects colors, like Kryolan and Wolfe's UV-DG aren't actually cosmetic approved. Regardless, their manufacturers assert their safety.

So when I get some more snaps I'll post them Fitzwilly, prolly to my new website at comicexpressions.com - that's the website I haven't yet built for my entertainment stuff :) Right now it's nothing but bookmark the link and check back in a couple weeks :)