Face painting: is it clean? I feel like so many people want to ask, but may not know how because they’re afraid of offending someone. I totally understand why cleanliness is an important factor when deciding whether to allow your child to have their face painted. So, I’m here to give you a glimpse into the techniques I use to keep my supplies safe and sanitary!
General Practices
For starters, here are some things you should know about my paints and my policies:
- The paints I use contain antimicrobial ingredients, are FDA approved, and are designed to be used safely on multiple faces.
- I do not paint over wounds, broken skin, or dirty faces (I keep face wipes on hand to clean up those messy little faces when necessary).
- I don’t paint children with contagious illnesses. I’ll give them a sticker or a temporary tattoo to take with them instead.
- Likewise, I will not work when I am contagious. If I become ill when I’m scheduled to face paint, I’ll do my best to arrange a substitute face painter.
On-the-Job
While I’m painting a group of kids, I use the following techniques to keep things sanitary:
- Clean water, stored in a spray bottle, is used to activate the paints. This means I’m not dipping brushes in dirty water, then back into the paints again, to moisten them.
- A clean sponge is used for each child, then the whole batch is double-washed after the event (more on that later).
- The rinse water contains a hypoallergenic solution to sanitize brushes. I bring lots of clean water with me, and change the rinse water frequently.
- I sanitize my hands regularly on-the-job.
After Hours
The wagon is all loaded up and the party is over, but there’s a lot that goes on behind-the-scenes after each job I do, including:
- EVERYTHING gets cleaned- brushes, sponges (a preliminary hand-washing, following by machine washing), stencils, and all containers are washed with soap and water.
- All linens, including table cloths, are washed after every use.
- Even the surfaces of the paints themselves are wiped clean.
- I’m careful to only use hypoallergenic, fragrance-free cleaners to avoid any skin irritants.
The entire process of cleaning all my supplies and laundering the linens can take several hours. There’s a lot of work that goes into making sure everything looks pristine when I set up my face painting station at events.
I’ve noticed people seem to really take an interest in face painting. I’ve even considered setting up more chairs since I often have a small “audience” watching me work. It’s fascinating stuff! So I hope you enjoyed this insider view of how we keep our things tidy.
With love,
Your Friendly, Neighborhood Face Painter!
A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A BabyLit Fairies Primer
Good Night Fairies
Fairy Friends
Child of Faerie, Child of Earth
Backyard Fairies 
The Fairiest Fairy
The Foggy, Foggy Forest
A Fairy Went a-Marketing
Pinkalicious Fairy House
Tooth Fairy’s Night
Rainbow Magic Fairies
Fablehaven
Artemis Fowl
The Darkest Part of the Forest
Among Others
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Bedtime for Chickies by Janee Trasler – Cheep along with the chickies while they resist bedtime, as little ones are known to do. I’ve had great experiences with this one, in busy childcare centers and during quiet moments at home with my own little chick.
Don’t Push the Button by Bill Cotter – Comical and interactive, this book allows children to be part of the story. It shows that when you don’t follow the rules, things can get a little out of hand.
Hooray for Hat by Brian Won – An early introduction to good and bad moods, and how friends can help brighten your day. It also models good sharing.
Making Faces: A First Book of Emotions from Abrams Appleseed books – Facial expressions and body language are the focal point in this book, which is illustrated with real photos of cute kids. There’s even a mirror on the last page so babies can practice their own facial expressions!
Crash Boom: A Math Tale by Robie H. Harris – This brief story uses building blocks to illustrate basic math concepts such as counting and comparisons. Little ones love it when the tower goes Crash BOOM!
The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin – A sweet story that encourages young children to find their place in the world. I love reading this one to my son because of the reassurance that, no matter who he becomes, he is special and loved.
Breathe by Scott Magoon – The calming effect this book has on young children is astonishing! The illustrations are gorgeous, and the simple text is a great way to teach little ones how to pause for a deep breath.
Did You Eat the Parakeet? by Mark Iacolina – Read this one in a sneaky, suspicious voice for added giggles! Your child will love helping you solve the mystery of where the parakeet might have gone.
That’s Not My Puppy by Fiona Watt – Perfect for curious little hands, this series by Usborne Books is a staple in many households. Each page contains a different texture for baby to explore. We also love That’s Not My Bee, but there are many similar titles to choose from.
Little Owl’s Night by Divya Srinivasan – A beautifully worded story featuring a young owl and other forest animals. Read it in a soft voice when your little one is in a snuggly mood.
Time for a Hug By Phillis Gershator – While the concept of time is difficult for this age group, this book breaks it down like a counting game. Make sure to give a good squeeze every time the phrase “Time for a hug!” is repeated.
All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon – This is one of those feel-good books that will appeal to the grown-ups, too. It’s a summary of what life is all about; the good days, the bad days, and the love that ties us all together.
Where’s the Hen by Nosy Crow books – There are tons of great lift-the-flap books on the market, but these include durable felt flaps that won’t get crumpled and torn with use. There are over a dozen books in this series, featuring different animals and themes.
Duck and Goose Find a Pumpkin by Tad Hills – Turn this book into a guessing game, and you’re almost guaranteed to have an enthralled audience. Be prepared to read it again, and again, and again…
Thank You Bees by Toni Yuly – Teach your child the basics of the natural world, combined with an important lesson in gratitude. This one is great for participation since every other page provides an opportunity to say a heartfelt “Thank You!”
Wonderworks 