face paints, face paints, face paints ... what is the answer???

[Nettie Belle]

This is for the "seasoned" clowns ... I would like to know what kind of face paints do you use and why? I've been using Mehron Paradise paints, but they are really almost gone and I want to get some new face paints, but I've heard so many DIFFERENT opinions, I would like to see what is the consensus here.

It can be a rather pricey investment and I would like to make a good decision. I've been happy with the ones I have, but if there is something better, I'd like to know.

Thanks for your input.

[Fitzwilly]

Nettie, the best face painters I have talked to and learned from all have one thing in common. Mama Clown, Carmen from Charm and Happy.com, and all the others have a variety of products and brands in their arsenal. Ben Nye Magicakes and Mehron Starblend cakes are great for backgrounds but not usually intense enough for the main event. Paradise is great but it really melts into a goo in hot humid direct sunlight. Snazaroo has a great variety of colors and is fairly inexpensive. Wolf brothers is amazing in the right hands but quite expensive and in hands like mine the difference is not so noticable (except in the pocketbook.)

One thing I would suggest is staying away from the mini pallets from any brand if you do much face painting, unless you want a mini kit that you always have with you but doesn't take up much room. The mini pallets are very nice and I have one of each of the four that Paradise produces. When I was just starting out face painting and didn't have a clue (I now posess 1/3 of a clue and am looking for the rest.) I bought the pallets so I would have a variety of colors with out spending all that money for the bigger containers. So I ended up spending $85 to $100 on an itty bitty amout of a lot of colors I didn't really need. Now granted, I use them but I could have had less colors but a LOT more paint for that $100.

You probably know all about that last part but most newbies won't, I sure never gave it a thought. All I saw was a chance to try all these cool colors.

So If you like the Paradise and are having good luck with it, then I would reccomend staying with it but also trying a "sample color" in another brand from time to time. Some you may not like, some you may fall in love with. Each brand paints differently. Paula Biggio loves Kryolon, not the areosol cans in the hardware store Tim, but I have not mastered that brand's particular needs even though I really like the colors and am amazed at what she can do with it.

Good Luck and please keep us updated on your quest.

[puglady]

hi from pa i use the snazaroo and the stamps i like it so far tell me about your clowning d you do full face i saw someo0ne do a alligator on the side of the face.

[Nettie Belle]

Yes, I do full face. In fact, I kind of like that better than the tiny cheek pictures. I do LOTS of face painting.

Thank you both for your replies.

[saphireSue]

I started with snaz. now use paradise myself, I like the way it paints better than snaz. atleast for me. Snaz. gets gummy here when it's hot. That being said, I'm trying star blends and it does ok for backgrounds, but not the full coveraged I'd like particularly with darker skin types. I've gotten to sample some other but not actually buy them. I want to try wolf bro. I saw some one yesterday who used them only and she had very colorful designs.

[Saxlampouxlas]

I use Kryolan ( Fun faze series, Water-Based ).They are not so bright but you can easily remove the color with water in a few minutes.

[Jitterbug]

I also really like the Paradise paints. I order the bigger cakes for individual colors I run out of quickly, white, red, black, pink. But I love their coverage and the way they smell...yum!
Coconutty baby!
Snazaroo is good also, so as Fitzwilly said, try getting a sample cake of a new color, and change brands each time. You'll settle into one you like best. And YES, Wolf bros. is awesome! but pricey. Good stuff.
Jitterbug

[Fitzwilly]

Jitterbug, I tried getting in touch with you a while back for a gig. Maybe next time. I need to see you in action one of these days.

[SparkyDMFD]

Woo-Hoo...my first post here! I keep forgetting this forum is here!

I originally started with a mini-palette of Snazaroo. Used that without any training (which means I was NOT good) ha!

After a little training, I switched to Kryolan and I'm still pretty impressed with them. 2 years ago I went to FABAIC and purchased a large Paradise kit.

I also really, really like Paradise. I like the coverage and the smell, like others have mentioned. I do think some of their colors are duller than the Kryolans. I've also had problems with a couple of my colors turning gooey....yes, I've tried refrigerating and it doesn't help. I also think I use more paint with Paradise and they may be a little higher than Kryolan. I'm riding the fence yet on the Paradise vs. Kryolan.

Silly Farm did just come out with a full size Kryolan Pallette summer 07 (like the Paradise Kit)...so of course I bought it. I haven't used it yet because I have lots of Paradise yet to use.

Face Painting products just keep getting better and better! They're all good...just depends on your personal preferences.

On the face painting subject.....have you noticed the training videos they've been putting on the Silly Farm site? You can also find them on youtube from Heather and other professional painters. Constantly learning!

[Fitzwilly]

Sparky, glad you made it to the Forum. I enjoyed your lecture at COAI this spring. Just today I was talking to a lady that had just bought a couple of puppets about L.A.F.S. and S.M.I.L.E. (I had overheard her talking to her grandson about Grandpa teaching safety with his new puppet partner.)