Thursday 14 August 2014

Never Use Craft Paint For Face Painting!

At most fairs and festivals there are face painters like myself and Aryn who provide face painting for these fun filled events.

However, just like not everyone with a brush and some paints is a real face painter, not every 'official' looking face painting station is the real deal either. Most events get volunteers who perhaps have some artistic background but not much else, to provide the face painting (most of the time it's just some teenagers). Sadly it happens often, that events will unknowingly hire people who use poster paints instead of real face paint, or will provide the poster paints for volunteers who have no idea that what they are doing could be harmful to the public.

When this happens you get stories like this:
Parents' panic after kids left 'branded' by FACE PAINT at family fun day.

Of course any professional face painter knows that what was used in this incident was not real 'Face Paint', but more then likely poster paint of some kind.

Defenders of poster paint will tell you that the label says 'non toxic' but they are misinformed as to what they think 'non-toxic' means. Non Toxic does not mean that it's automatically safe for use on skin, all it means is you can ingest it and not die as a result.

Poster Paints Are NOT:
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Cosmetic
  • FDA Approved or compliant
  • Safe for skin
Using poster paint instead of face paint can lead to:
  • Allergic reactions to the chemicals in the paint
  • Rashes
  • Staining and discoloration of the skin
  • Scratched corneas if contact with the eyes is made
  • Permanently stained clothes (and furniture!)
  • Permanent Branding or Scaring
Here is a nasty rash caused by using poster paint on the face


Here is a case of scaring from a chemical burn/allergic reaction to poster paint.


Remember to choose SAFE face paints for your family!


Please read this helpful article on

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