Face paint is one of those universal, versatile art supplies that pays to keep on hand no matter the occasion. Whether it’s getting ready for a night out as a tiger on Halloween, getting all geared up for a sports event or simply playing around with self-expression and art projects, face paint is the perfect medium.
The best face-painting kit will fit you and/or your family’s party plans, special-occasion theme or art experiment. For instance, if you want a versatile, all-in-one kit for your next face-painting extravaganza, the Bo Buggles Professional Face Paint Kit would be an ideal choice for you.
What to know before you buy a face-painting kit
Amount of colors in a face-paint palette
Many face-painting kits will come with at least six colors, if not more — some go up to 20. The more colors you have on hand, the more options you’ll have for experimenting with what you can paint; if you have a specific look in mind, it would be a good idea to decide on some basic colors you’d need a face-painting kit to have in order to make it a smart purchase.
Water-activated face paint
Almost all face-painting kits use paint that is water-activated, meaning you can dip your brush in a small glass of water, gather a bit of paint on the end and paint away. This also means they wash off of the face simply with water and soap, making clean up at the end of the day easy.
Face paint for sensitive skin
While most face paints are formulated to not bother skin, some are specifically designed with sensitive skin or acne-prone skin in mind so as to not clog your pores or cause an allergic reaction. Be sure to check to see if the face paints you’re considering are hypoallergenic; on the other hand, if you know you’re allergic to a particular chemical or ingredient, be sure to comb through the ingredients list to double-check if it is part of the paint’s formula.
Most face-painting kits come with brushes
Often, face-painting kits will come with at least one, if not a few, brushes so that you can dive right into painting. If, however, you already have brushes, you may opt for a kit that only includes a paint palette.
Face-painting kit features
Face-paint kits with glitter
Many face-painting kits will come with a few glitter pots, which can either be used on their own or mixed with other colors to create glittery, colorful shine.
Metallic colors in face-painting kits
In addition to glitter, some paints will come with metallic colors; however, unlike glitter, these normally are already mixed with the paints, so as to make colors such as silver or gold.
Blendability of face paint
Higher quality face-painting kits will likely be lauded for their paint’s blendability, which will help you mix colors, blend paints onto the face and overall be more creative with the sort of colors you can create with your look.
Face-painting kits with stencils
Some kits will come with stencils, which are essentially pre-cut illustrations that make painting easier by having ready-made shapes to paint onto. They allow you to paint clear lines with crisp edges and figures that would otherwise be quite difficult to draw by hand.
Face-painting kit cost
Based on how many paint colors, glitter pots or brushes are in the kit, a face-painting kit can cost anywhere in the range of $5-$100.
Face-painting kit FAQ
At what age can kids use face paint?
A. While it may be hard to believe, kids can start wearing face paint as young as 3 years old! Of course, if your child has sensitive skin, it may be a good idea to wait until they are a bit older before starting with the art experiments.
How do I test if my child will have allergies to face paint?
A. One way of testing out face paint on your child in a controlled way is to take a small patch of skin — perhaps on your child’s hand — and apply a small amount of paint to the area. Leave it on for 15 minutes (unless your child has a negative reaction, of course). If the area isn’t irritated, itchy or red after that time period, you should be good to go.
Which face-painting kit should I get?
Best of the best face-painting kit
Bo Buggles Professional Face Paint Kit: available at Amazon
Our take: This palette of fun, bright paints, glitter pots and brushes has everything you need in a face-paint kit.
What we like: This kit comes with 12 colors of paint and four glitter pots, meaning you have a lot of creative flexibility. Buyers love how vibrant the colors are, how little water you need to apply the paint and how much value you get out of the paints, which last for a long time. It also comes with 50 stencils to help you paint clear shapes.
What we dislike: Some reviews report that some paint colors dye the skin and need soap to be washed off.
Best bang for your buck face-painting kit
Create A Face Face-Painting Kit: available at Amazon
Our take: This small but powerful paint kit will give you the most bang for your buck for a small get-together.
What we like: Customers report that the colors blend well and wash off easily. The set comes with 10 colors, two glitter pots, stencils and brushes, meaning you’ll have everything you need to get the party started.
What we dislike: This set does not have as much paint as others, so it wouldn’t be ideal for a large party.
Honorable mention face-painting kit
Snazaroo Metallic Face Paint: available at Amazon
Our take: This affordable set would be the best pick for a metallic look.
What we like: The paint washes off easily with soap and water and is sensitive enough for delicate skin. This set comes with brushes and an instruction guide for face painting. The kit gets you a discounted price on the paints than when bought individually.
What we dislike: If you’re going for pure, non-metallic primary colors, this kit wouldn’t be a good match for you.
Micayla Mead is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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