What's your choice in paints?

[LouLou]

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

[LazyDave51]

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.

[Sassafras]

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.

[stitches]

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?!?!?!?!?!)

[Sassafras]

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.

[Fast Eddie]

Originally Posted by stitches

(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

Dartel

[Scruffy]

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:

[Jubilee]

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

[Scruffy]

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

[saphireSue]

Hey Jubilee nice to see ya back