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Homemade Face and Body Paint

Feb 14, 201357,950 views
Messy Play
Homemade easy face paint recipe Save
facepaint ideas Save
facepainting ideas for kids Save
facepainting ideas for kids (2) Save
home made face paint on paper Save
homemade facepaint Save

by TurkeyMom in Messy Play

Ages2–6 yrs
Prep15 min
Activity30 min
Leveleasy
MessHigh
Works for1:1 · Small group

Mix cornstarch, lotion, water and food color into a creamy paint that kids can brush or finger-paint onto their hands, arms and faces, or onto paper. One small batch makes one color.

⚠️ Safety first

  • Do a patch test on a small area of skin before painting bigger areas.
  • Food color can stain skin. Gel colors stained a bit for the author, and one reader says the stain stayed on for days. Store-brand liquid food color stains less.
  • The paint contains lotion, so it is not for licking or eating. Watch mouthing toddlers closely and keep the paint out of mouths.
  • Use a hypo-allergenic, baby-safe lotion, as the author did.
  • Keep the paint away from eyes, and supervise at all times.
  • Food color can stain clothes and surfaces too, so dress kids in play clothes.

Before the kids arrive

  • Do a small skin patch test with the paint and the lotion you plan to use.
  • Set up in an easy-to-clean spot and dress kids in clothes that can get stained.

Steps

  1. Put 2 tsp cornstarch, 1 tsp lotion and 1 tsp water in a small container.

  2. Mix until creamy with no lumps. Add a little more water if needed.

  3. Add the food color and stir it in.

  4. Repeat in a new container for each color you want.

  5. Test a small spot of skin first.

  6. Paint hands, arms and faces with brushes or fingers. Take turns being the body paint designer and the customer.

  7. Paint on paper too, if you like.

  8. Give kids a bath and a scrub right after play to wash off the paint and most of any stain.

Tips

  • If you DON'T want any staining whatsoever, use store brand liquid food color.from the author
  • High quality gel food color stains the skin a bit. A bath and a scrub right after play takes care of most of it, and the very mild stain left was gone the very next day.from the author
  • We used baby lotion just to play it safe. Next time I'd use lotions of different fragrances. Vibrant, soft paint that smells great too is triple sensory play for the kiddos.from the author
  • We took turns playing the body paint "designer" and the customer. My preschooler loved creating designs on my forearm and legs.from the author
  • Ironically, when I set out this new paint, quite a bit of the art ended up on the paper.from the author
  • One reader warns that food coloring stained and stayed on for days. Patch test first and pick your food color carefully.from readers

Make it your own

  • Use lotions in different fragrances for scented paint.
  • Play "body paint designer": kids paint designs on a grown-up's arms and legs.
  • Use the paint on paper for open-ended art.
  • Make a blue "monster" hand.

Questions readers asked

Can I use it with babies under 1 year old?

The author advises caution. Babies under 1 tend to mouth things, and the paint contains lotion, so a lick is not ok. With careful supervision that keeps it out of the mouth, there's no harm trying. Use a hypo-allergenic, baby-safe lotion.

Does it stain?

It depends on the food color. Gel color stained the author's kids a bit, but most came off in the bath and the rest was gone the next day. Liquid store-brand colors stain less. Do a skin test on a small area first.

The story behind it

By TurkeyMom · February 2013
Homemade easy face paint recipe
Any painting activity with the kids becomes a full body experience, right? So when I came across this homemade face paint recipe from a family friend, I HAD to try it.
1 / 7

Homemade Face and Body Paint: the original post

Any painting activitywith the kids become a full body experience right? Kids paint their faces, arms and legs and what not? So when I came across this homemade face paint recipe from a family friend I HAD to try it. We enjoy creating our own play recipes for sensory activities and art activities. Today’s post falls in both categories! Here is the homemade face paint recipe

  • 2 TSP corn starch
  • 1 tsp body lotion/cream
  • 1 tsp water.
  • Food color

The above measurements will be good for 1 face paint color. Mix all the ingredients except the food color and put them in separate containers. Add more water if need be and make sure to mix until a creamy mixture forms without any lumps. Then add the desired food color. Note: If you DON’T want any amount of staining whatsoever please use store brand liquid food color. Then there will be no staining. Just to be sure, test a small portion of the skin before proceeding to paint. I used high quality gel food color and it does stain the skin a bit. However a bath and a scrub right after play takes care of most of the stain leaving a very mild stain which was gone the very next day. We made six colors of this simple face paint and used baby lotion just to play it safe. But next time I’d use lotions of different fragrances for that added sensory input. Imagine vibrant, soft homemade face paint which smells great too? That’s triple sensory play for the kiddos. Here is our homemade face paint line up!

homemade facepaint

face paint recipe

This was a wonderful open ended play for both the kids which encouraged them to be as creative as possible.

The toddler explored the paint with her fingers, arms and would just slather all over her body. We took turns playing the body paint “designer” and the customer.

facepaint ideas

A blue “monster” hand.

facepainting ideas for kids

My preschooler wanted to paint on me and she loved to play designer and created many designs on my forearm and legs.

facepainting ideas for kids (2)

After a few minutes, the clothes came off and the kids were covered in paint all over. So the pictures are not suitable for public viewing. Now it is your turn to try this fun face paint . Whenever we have a painting session, the kids end up painting themselves. Ironically, when I set out this new homemade face paint, there was quite a bit of art which ended up on the paper.

home made face paint on paper

Thanks for reading

Please take a moment to comment

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What readers say

💬 10 comments ✍️ 2 answered by the author

Answered by the author

“Can I use this face paint with babies under 1 year old?” · Malena

Author Babies under 1 mouth everything, and licking the lotion isn't ok. Only try it with careful supervision so paint stays out of the mouth, and use a hypo-allergenic, baby-safe lotion.

“Won't the food color stain skin badly?” · Gem

Author The stain depends on the color used; the author has seen store brand liquid watercolors not stain much. Always do a skin test on a small area before going big.

🛠️ Troubleshooting

Food coloring can stain for days

One reader warns that the food coloring stained skin and lasted for days. The author suggests liquid color and a small skin test first.

“Do not try food coloring stains and it stays on for days!!!!”
sam, Jun 2014

🛠️ Troubleshooting

Worried about stains? Skin test first

A reader liked the non-toxic recipe but expected heavy staining. The author replied that staining depends on the color used and recommends testing a small skin area.

“I think its a nice none toxic recipe but i bet it stains so badly.”
Gem, Feb 2014

🛠️ Troubleshooting

Using it with babies under one

A parent asked about babies under 1. The author cautions that babies mouth everything and the paint contains lotion, so supervise closely and use baby-safe lotion.

“I mean could you use it with babies? meaning under 1 year old?”
Malena, Feb 2014

🎉 Worked for us

A welcome alternative to acrylics

A reader appreciated having a homemade alternative to acrylic paints for body painting.

“I am glad to see you made an alternative to acrylics.”
Lisa, Jan 2015

Tried it?

Reviewed before it appears. No links, and please no children's names.

Read all 10 comments

  1. Lisa · Jan 2015

    I am glad to see you made an alternative to acrylics.

  2. Marie · Oct 2014

    Can you substitute white flower for corn starch?

  3. sam · Jun 2014

    Do not try food coloring stains and it stays on for days!!!!

  4. Gem · Feb 2014

    I think its a nice none toxic recipe but i bet it stains so badly. best to buy snazaroo i think

  5. TurkeyMomAuthor · Feb 2014 · replying to Gem

    The stain depends on the food color. I have seen store brand liquid watercolors don't stain that much. You can always do a skin test on a small area before going big.. Thanks for reading!

  6. Malena · Feb 2014

    This is so pretty! I really hope somebody can give me a reply here soon because I don't see any and I know this isn't a recent post. Could you tell me at what age could you start with this? I mean could you use it with babies? meaning under 1 year old? Could you use it with maybe babies after 6 months old? I hope you can reply :)

  7. TurkeyMomAuthor · Feb 2014 · replying to Malena

    Hi thanks for reading. Babies under 1 tend to really mouth and put foreign objects in their mouth. The recipe contains lotion so it is quite possible your baby may take a lick and that's not ok. If you can supervise your baby carefully and make sure the face paint doesn't get into her mouth then there is no harm trying it. It just contains cornstarch and lotion. Make sure the lotion you use is hypo-allergenic and baby safe.

  8. Vicky from Mess For Less · Feb 2013

    My kids would love this! Can't wait to try it with them. Just pinned!

  9. JDaniel4's Mom · Feb 2013

    This looks like loads of fun!

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