Nerd HQ's Top Tips For Skin-Friendly Face Painting
The big day has arrived! The costumes are ready, the sweets are by the door - you're sorted! All that's left is to apply the face paint... well, here are some important tips to follow to ensure you and your minis' skin aren't in the horrors!
1 - Only Use Face-safe Face Paint
Everyone is a special effects makeup artist these days... however, some people don't want to pay special effects makeup prices to complete their look. Non-toxic does not equal skin-friendly and PVA glue should NEVER be applied to the face.
Why? The colourants, dyes and other ingredients found in non-skin products have not been tested on skin, so you are more likely to react to the wide array of ingredients... nobody wants to be left with blemishes in real life because they were creating a blemish illusion!
Make sure to only use brands that you have researched or heard of, like Snazaroo, to avoid any nasty ingredients.
While on this note, do not use craft glitter in lieu of face glitter! The difference is that if craft glitter can get into your eye, it can scratch your cornea and leave you in serious pain... Look for glitter marked as "cosmetic glitter".
2 - Be Careful When It Comes to Bacteria
Sharing is caring, right? Not necessarily... When it comes to face paint, you are much more likely to spread bacteria from face to face due to the application method. Unless you disinfect the face paint pan after every swipe, your face paint becomes a petri dish in no time!
For the acne-prone, this could spell absolute disaster. Stick to tubes when buying face paint as it is the most hygienic option, as there is no "double-dipping"!
Most reputable face paint brands contain antibacterial ingredients in the product to stop the spread of bacteria anyway but it is always good to be on the safe side.
3 - Wash it off PROPERLY!
Skin-friendly face paint should not cause any irritation to the skin but it is hard to tell which brands clog pores and which don't! We here at Nerd HQ find that after using face paint our skin is definitely more congested than before...
However, considering Halloween is only one night, the possibility of clogging is something that can be overlooked but you should definitely be ensuring it is completely and absolutely removed before you hit the hay.
The Cleanse Off Mitt removes face paint gently and fully on its own but you should follow up with your regular cleanser to make sure that not even a smudge of it is left on yourself.... with the added bonus of avoiding long-lasting pillow stains!
If the face paint being used is particularly stubborn, add a little bit of coconut oil to avoid any rubbing on delicate young skin.
4 - Remove Liquid Latex With Care
Liquid latex is essential to pulling off a semi-realistic wound, but you can end up pulling off more than just a fabulous costume!
Liquid latex is a cosmetic adhesive - its entire purpose is to stick to the skin. Unfortunately, because of this, it also sticks to the vellus hair (AKA the fine, thin "peach fuzz" that is found all over the body).
Your vellus hair helps to protect the skin against extrinsic stressors like harsh weather so it is important to keep it intact. Remove liquid latex using warm water and a cleanser to loosen the bond between the latex and your skin and its vellus hair.
5 - Look After Your Skin Post-Party
Face paint can really take it out of the skin! Even if it it skin safe, it can be very drying and leave the skin looking dull and even a bit flakey.
Bring it back to life with a product formulated for sensitive skin like Declaré's Gentle Cleansing Powder, which can be used on both adults and children. If your skin is in need of hydration, reach for the hyaluronic acid!
At the end of the day, as long as you are using brands that are well-known and committed to skin safety, your skin will survive the night! Happy Halloween from everyone at Nerd HQ!