I recently received an email from a concerned reader who provided the following link to a discussion about the potential problems of using acrylic paints instead of special face paints to paint on children's (or adult's) faces or bodies. Although I had been unaware of these problems since I began painting on faces, probably 30 years or more ago, it is never a good idea to risk the safety of children, or anyone else, when specific products are available which have proven safe for the application.

That said, I will provide the link. But first, I want to make it clear that I am NOT recommending this particular brand of face paints since I have not researched nor used them myself and I do not know whether there is a link between the writer of the email and the paints being mentioned.

The Link: Face Painting warnings.

The email sent to me stated:
"Please edit this article and remove the recommendation of using acrylic paint for face & body painting. There have been several cases of allergic reactions across the country with acrylic paint and children. If you contact the paint companies you mentioned, they will tell you NOT to use their product for face painting. The pigments and bases are not FDA compliant. In fact, some colors contain nickel which as we all know is a common allergy."

I thank this reader for informing us of this potential problem!

The original article, as written:
Kids are probably the biggest single thing in our lives. Kids, grandkids, friend's kids, neighbor kids, kids of all ages, sizes and descriptions. And one of the things kids of all ages enjoy the most is face painting!

They will enjoy being painted at Halloween or just about any occasion! School or church fairs will welcome a face painting artist and lines will form as soon as you sit down.

You might volunteer to make a child's birthday special by painting the kids in his/her class at school for the occasion or for a special study subject. A teacher will often like the offer to have the outside attraction. You can get a small canvas board - maybe about 9' X 12" and put 6 or 8 design choices on them then stand it up so they can choose what they like. It will also serve as a guide to help you paint them. Make sure they are things you can complete in a minute or two and are appropriate to the age of the kids. Subjects might include a heart, spider, spider web, baseball, basketball, football, flower or crown.

Personally, I've painted on just about anything ... whether it moved or held still. From wood to metal, glass and even flesh! My kids (when they were small) and now my grandchildren absolutely LOVE to have their faces painted!

People usually worry about what to use to paint on kids. Often, their skin is sensitive to lots of things. Fortunately, I have never had a reaction to my medium of choice - acrylic paints. I usually use bottled acrylics available at any art or hobby supply store or your local WalMart. If you use a good quality paint such as Folk Art, Decocolor or Americana, you will get one coat coverage, good adhesion and brilliant colors.

The best thing about using acrylics is that they wash off with soap and water. Sometimes some colors may take a little scrubbing, but for the most part, they come off fairly easily.

If you choose to use commercially prepared face paints, be sure to check ingredients, cautions and instructions for application and removal. I just heard today that some were being sold that contain lead!!! Avoid things like that!

If your kids have very sensitive faces, they can still enjoy being painted! Just decorate their arms and, if you like, their legs. They can have a blast pretending!

For ideas about what to paint, you can use simple outlines from coloring books. This is a favorite source of mine. You can also go to Google and click on "images". Put in "outline angel" or "outline pumpkin" or whatever you want. You will get outlines of just about anything you want to paint.

Whole face designs such as a cat, dog or monster can be lots of fun, too. They just take a little more planning. But as soon as you have done one, you will be an expert! Remember to keep the designs simple and free of too many details.

Next, you will need some soft brushes and a volunteer to paint on. Put out a few drops of the colors you will need on a styrofoam plate and have a disposable cup filled with water handy. Begin with a small soft brush and outline your picture with a little paint. A heart or pumpkin on a cheek or hand will delight a little one or even an over-the-hill kid!

You can add initials or holiday greetings, but please don't put a child's name on their face or elsewhere. Safety first!

Keep the shapes simple and as large as space allows. Do not try to outline the shapes. Little ones of all ages tend to wiggle. Allow a couple of minutes for the paint to dry and you are all done!

Happy Painting!
Paula Devore
Painting Editor


For another thing kids love, you might want to check out the Printable Cards and Activities you can order to give them lots of wonderful things to make. You can check it out and order it here"
Fun Printable Cards & Activities