I am sure that I cannot be alone in this problem. I seem to have developed an allergy to heavy clown makeup. My skin is constantly blotchy... it has been like this for a while now. It looks as though i have been sponged with red paint.

I have 3 options.

The first is to give up clowning. Not really an option as I need some cash to get my car doors fixed

Second option: find an allergy-free makeup. I have tried everything from standard stage makeup to egg-white and paint. The egg-white caused me to be attacked by errant gulls. I welcome suggestions.

Third option: Make a feature of my blotchy skin. The red blotches can be emphasised by taking a hot bath and then wearing makeup overnight. My dog won't come near me when I am blotchy but I am prepared to lose the dog if I can get my career back on target. If I take this option I will change my name to Blotchy.

Suggestions please.

Love Bananas.

Hello Bananas,

Have you been doing anything different lately? Either with your make-up or with the removal process? What type of make-up do you normally use? Not all the different things you have used lately but what you have been using that used to work. Do you do anything to your skin before putting on your make-up? Have you been doing anything to your skin after you take off your make-up?

Have you tried the light make-up and there is one listed as hyper-allergic- Kryolan [sorry not sure of correct spelling] and go with possibly a lite or Euro Clown face which min. the make up. It's prob. a reaction to something you're using, but if you can't figure out what's causing it, I'd suggest seeking medical advice. Because there are some medical conditions that could cause blotchy type skin as well.

try some cortozone cream

Would that be instead of clown white or auguste? :pie: ..... :splatter: Splat!

Would that be instead of clown white or auguste? :pie: ..... :splatter: Splat!

No, no...on the dry spots.

Another thing, always moisturize following any gig.

Many thanks all..... I am taking a vacation to let my blotchiness subside but I will try your suggestions on my return.

Cuba here I come.

How are you taking the stuff off? Nothing different there either? I used some generic baby shampoo once that irritated my baby face.

well bananas have you tried after taking your make up off to use clarifying lotion(basicly acetone)? If your skin is blotchy this should help. My brothers girlfriend is a clinique rep. so she gives skin care advise all the time! try it and let me know how things go!

OKAY___I too have always had a problem with the sensitive skin thing. SO--what I did was I kept using the grease paint (Ben Nye) and the REMOVAL was the problem for moi. So, I went to Clown Antics.com and got the proface sensitive skin liquid remover. I pour it over a box of aloe baby wipes, and it's the BEST!! Really works great. remember...PROFACE. Bump a nose!
Jitterbug

I know this sounds really wierd, but I have used olive oil to remove my make-up. What I do is smear olive oil all over my face to dissolve/liquify the powdered makeup, then wipe off what you can with baby wipes. I then finish off with facial cleanser. It does a really nice job and doesn't seem to irritate my skin, and the olive oil definately doesn't dry out the skin!

Have you tried the Jim Howle makeup? It's so light and creamy, it's like putting on cold cream. My skin isn't sensitive, but I LOVE the Jim Howle makeup.

Another suggestion would be to add the egg whites and make a mixture of flour and sugar and dust your egg whites with the flour and sugar mixture over your eggwhite coated face ... and change your name to COOKIE. :splatter:

I know this sounds really wierd, but I have used olive oil to remove my make-up. What I do is smear olive oil all over my face to dissolve/liquify the powdered makeup, then wipe off what you can with baby wipes. I then finish off with facial cleanser. It does a really nice job and doesn't seem to irritate my skin, and the olive oil definately doesn't dry out the skin! I have heard of others using either olive or vegetable oil. I believe that was what Ringling used to recommend at the clown college was olive oil.

Personally, I don't think I could handle listening to her whiney voice while she was removing my makeup....:p

Vegetable oils work well. I often forget to add this to my gig kit, so tend to use whatever I have in the cabinets at my house. Olive Oil, Corn Oil, etc - all of them have worked for me without a hitch.

Here is a link to "Lite" versions of clown white. The application is thinner than normal white; normally a substitute for warmer weather but it may be an option.

http://www.larocksmagic.com/makeup/makeup.htm

Ben Nye and Mehron links on the right both have Lite versions.

Also on that same page are some options for "soothing" make-up removers for sensitive skin.

Here is my 2 cents worth:

Find out what chemical(s) you are allergic to and avoid products that have those chemicals in them. I have sensitive skin as well and it is better to avoid products that you are allergic to.

Darrell