Homemade Face Paint

We're well into County Fair and Halloween season now, so I dug up some recipes for paint that can be used on skin. There are lots of recipes floating around, but this is the one that seems to work best for me. I'm not a fan of the recipes with corn syrup (too tempting for the kids to eat) and shortening (greasy and hard to wash off). The one I use contains neither.

All you do is mix together about one part cold cream to two parts cornstarch or baby powder. Add a little water until you get the consistency you want. Divide into small containers (film canisters, baby food containers, etc.) and add food coloring to each. Don't forget to leave one portion white; in fact, you may want to make some extra white since you may need a lot of it. Optionally, check your Dollar Store for cheap eye shadows and blushes that can be crushed and mixed into the paint for a shimmery effect. Body glitter would also be a fun addition.

You can apply this paint with brushes or Q-tips. Try using stencils to get cool designs. For instructions on various designs, check out Face Painting Designs, Halloween Face Painting, and Community Playthings. For sheer inspiration, take a look at this incredible collection.

You already know it, but I'm going to say it anyway: be sure to check for any allergies before doing a project like this. This recipe uses very safe ingredients, but you never know.

Photo courtesy of Jenn (via Flickr).