Face painting is a buzzword in body art. This is not just drawing on the body and face, but a whole art with which you can express your own emotions, create a festive mood and just have fun with this most interesting activity. Water-based face paints are used by adults (and not only ardent fans) and are simply adored by kids.
Is face painting safe for children, what is it like and how to choose? These and many other questions concern many parents.
Face painting is a mixture of special coloring pigments with water, glycerin, petroleum jelly, natural polymers and anti-spreading components. The presence of natural ingredients and the absence of toxic substances helps prevent irritation of the baby’s skin, clogging of pores, dryness and other undesirable reactions.
Due to the special consistency, the composition perfectly fits on the surface, it does not spread and allows you to create not only rough, but also the finest lines. The face painting for children dries up rather quickly, without forming a dense film and without cracking.
The paint can be applied in one or several layers, creating smooth transitions of tones. It is easily washed off with warm water, as well as washable from the child’s clothes and easily removed from other items. Face painting is used both independently and in combination with other decorative elements – rhinestones or sparkles as a spectacular complement to the image. Suitable face painting for girls and face painting for boys, for adults and kids.
What happens?
Face painting is produced in different compositions, packages and other parameters. It:
- Water and oil based mass. Water mixtures are ideal for babies 3-5 years old, they are applied quickly and are also easy to remove. For older children, you can use an oil timing belt, it lasts longer and looks more spectacular, which is important, for example, for various thematic matinees or other celebrations.
- Dry and liquid formulations that can be used depending on the wishes and age of the child. So, ready-made compositions in the form of crayons and paints on a palette are suitable for a younger age – they do not require long-term mixing. Dry mixes must be diluted first, but their color palette is slightly wider – because you can mix several tones at once.
- Children’s tattoos are intended for children over six years old and are special stickers with all kinds of ready-made designs. They do not require any special skills – they are easily applied in accordance with the instructions and can be easily removed.
Selection rules
Face painting comes into contact with the child’s skin, therefore, only the use of high-quality and harmless compounds that will not pose a health hazard is allowed. Therefore, when buying, it is worth considering:
Release form. For restless kids, crayons are suitable – they are easier and faster to draw, and older children will be interested in paint in cuvettes.
Quality. When buying, it is worth evaluating the smell of the composition, its color and consistency. The correct paints do not have a strong unpleasant odor, the shades are as close as possible to natural natural tones. As for the consistency, it should be homogeneous and free of foreign inclusions.
Age. Water-based make-up for children is suitable even for the smallest, and oil-based kits are more suitable for children over 4 years old.
Composition. Carefully study the list of ingredients, it should contain only natural ingredients, and the presence of artificial flavors and colors in children’s face painting is unacceptable.
Number of colors. The optimal number of colors is at least six, but a larger palette will help create richer images.
Important
For painting on the body and face, it is not recommended to use ordinary paints – gouache, watercolor, oil compositions. In addition to the fact that they do not fit well and stay on the skin for a little time, such formulations can provoke the appearance of dryness, flaking and severe allergic reactions. Use only special face painting paints purchased from a trusted store to avoid annoying situations and not harm the health of your own child.
Shall we draw?
To apply face painting, it is not at all necessary to resort to the help of a professional. You can make a funny face for your child, decorate the body with bright colors or create another masterpiece on your own. To do this, you need a sponge from the kit or another soft sponge, two brushes (thin and wide with a flat bristle) and a little imagination. For this, it is important to know the features of applying face painting:
- It is necessary to remove the hair from the baby’s face (you can even use a scarf for this) and apply a preliminary basic tone with a sponge.
- It is best to apply the paint in a circular motion, rather than in direct strokes, which later will be conspicuous when dry.
- When applying face paint for children, special attention should be paid to folds and raised points (corners of the lips, nose, eyelids, cheekbones).
It is necessary to draw clear lines only on the main tone, which will create a harmonious pattern. A creamy mixture should be used for this so that the paint does not drip from the brush and does not become lumps.
It is best to hold the brush at a right angle.
To reduce the time for such “make-up”, you can use ready-made stencils. This will help in a situation if the baby is restless and has difficulty taking a still position.
By the way, when applying face painting, babies can be funny or ticklish, so the child’s facial expressions can affect the final result. To avoid this, you can distract him with an interesting story.
Conclusions
Face painting – functional water-based formulations that allow you to create amazingly beautiful patterns both on the body and on the baby’s face. They have a variety of release forms, but are equally harmless to sensitive baby skin. The variety of colors and shades makes it possible to develop the imagination and embody the most extraordinary ideas of the child. Face painting is suitable for self-study, as well as for fun parties for children and adults. At the same time, it is imperative to choose only harmless formulations based on natural ingredients, use soft sponges and brushes for “creativity” and not be afraid to show imagination.