Sometimes your fancy dress costume will require face paints to complete the look. Can you think what a Smurf costume would look like if you did not have a blue face, or Princess Fiona looking very pale? These costumes just do not work unless you apply some fancy dress face paint.

Follow these simple face painting tips…

1. Always use make up that complies to the latest UK safety legislation, and has a ‘child toy safety’ rating – Props & Frocks stocks Snazaroo face paint,which complies to both of these.
2. Never use face paint on sensitive, broken (or any other problem) skin. Never paint a face if they have a cold, or a cold sore, due to the risk of infection. Use another part of the body, such as a hand, or foot
3. The face paint we stock is non toxic, water based paint. It is highly tested, however if in doubt, do a skin test on the inside of the wrist and wait 60minutes to see if the skin re-acts.
4. Use a band, or clips to keep hair away from the face.
5. Make sure the are where you are applying the paint is clean
6. Wash your hands between each person (if applicable)
7. If you need a large are covered, as a base colour, always use a sponge.
8. When using a make up sponge, always use clean water and squeeze as much water out as possible so the sponge is only slightly damp. This will help to get an even coverage.
9. apply 2 thin coats, rather than 1 thick one. Wait for each coat to dry before continuing.
10. Use enough water on your brush to allow for a nice flow of paint. Use brushes to show the details of the face design. Keep one brush per colour.
11. If mixing colours to create a non standard colour. Make sure you mix enough to complete the face design as it will be impossible to re-create exactly the same colour.
12. Cut make up sponges up to form smaller sponges, keep one sponge for each colour you are going to be using.
13. Work using light colours first, working towards darker ones
14. Wash brushes, and sponges, between each person (if applicable).
15. A dusting of flour (keep eyes closed) gives a ghostly effect
16. A dusting of glitter (keep eyes closed) gives a fairytale effect
17. Face paint will act like glue. Use it to stick puffed rice (to form a witches walt) – just cover the puffed rice with tissue, and paint over.
18. Always wash brushes, and sponges, in hot, soapy water after use and make sure that they are dry before storing away.
19. Wipe excess moisture from paint and replace lid after use.
20. Discard all face paints after 18 months of opening

From time to time in these blogs we mention some aspects of our business which some might consider of minority interest or limited appeal. For instance, a casual reference to body painting probably evokes thoughts of something between exotic and erotic. However, rather like the more general acceptance of tattoos these days thanks to the ‘celeb’ culture, one aspect of body painting –the spray tan—is becoming very much the norm. When it comes to the Red Carpet, it’s apparently not enough to know what designer dress and jewellery is being worn by a star – we are also being told who provided the tan. The downside to this is that, unlike a hard-won natural tan, these instant paint jobs are apparently causing havoc with sheets and towels, and much of the designer-wear is being irepairably tainted with tan-tint. There are even new stain-solving products to deal with this new problem. At least here at Props & Frocks we have long been used to having to cope with the effects of make-up, body paint (and far worse) so to us the problem is not a new one, just one that has become more mainstream. Where we lead others follow