Activities

10 Easy Face Painting Ideas

by Parenting.com Editors

10 Easy Face Painting Ideas

Face painting is a fun way to dress up—no costume required! Get some easy ideas for kids' face painting, plus how-to steps and tips from the pros.

Before you get started, read these tips from the pros:

  1. Start by avoiding oil-based face paints. They tend to smear, are harder to remove and clog pores. We like Snazaroo Face Paint.
  2. Just dab a corner of a makeup sponge or soft-bristled brush in water and start painting.
  3. Finish the look with sparkle! Look for nontoxic glitter. To apply, dip the opposite tip of the brush into water, dry off the excess and dip into glitter. Roll the glitter onto the face.

Clown

1. With a paintbrush, draw a black triangle above and below the left eye.

2. Draw red circles on each cheek.

Mermaid

1. Sponge blue face paint over the eyes and up onto the forehead.

2. With a paintbrush, paint a white shell in the center of the forehead and scales (or "U" shapes) on the blue forehead. Outline in black paint.

3. Draw a black line on the eyelids and two black lines at the corner of each eye. Starfish hairpins (amazon.com )

Tiger

1. Sponge white face paint around the eyes.

2. Sponge orange face paint over the cheekbones, nose and between the brows.

3. Use a paintbrush to draw tiger stripes on the forehead and cheeks. Paint a small black heart shape at the tip of the nose.

4. Outline the white paint with black paint. Lace cat ears (amazon.com )

Dragon

1. Sponge green face paint over the eyes, nose, cheeks and top lip.

2. Paint white horns and fangs on brows, cheeks and mouth.

3. Paint the tip of the nose black and draw scales (or "U" shapes) on cheeks. Add a black line to both sides of nose.

4. Outline "V" shape between the eyes and horns in black.

5. Highlight with white paint.

Hulk

1. Use a sponge to smear green face paint all over the face and body. (Tip: Don't paint palms.)

2. Starting on each cheekbone, use a paintbrush to draw black lines toward each ear. Make vertical shadow lines from the lines on the cheeks.

3. Draw a line from the top of each nostril down to top of the laugh lines and another line under each eye.

4. Make "angry" eyebrows with a black sideways "S." Joe's USA Youth Mesh Basketball Shorts (amazon.com )

Ziggy Stardust

1. With a paintbrush, draw an orange lightning bolt across the face, stretching from the left forehead, over the right eye, and to the right ear.

2. Highlight with purple and blue face paint.

Superhero

1. With a paintbrush, draw a curved blue line on the forehead, making points over each eyebrow.

2. Draw a line down the cheeks and back under the eyes and over the nose. Use a sponge to color in.

3. Draw an outline around the face and eyes in black.

4. Make black "angry" eyebrows with a sideways "S" and add horizontal lines on each side of the nose.

Princess

1. Draw an outline of a pink crown on the forehead with a paintbrush. Use a sponge to fill in the crown with pink paint.

2. Draw a purple teardrop jewel in the center of the crown and three white teardrops between the eyes. Add a pink circle under each eye and a white starburst.

3. Outline crown, jewel, and teardrops in black.Add three black eyelashes beside each eye. Highlight the crown and jewels with touches of white.

Fairy

1. Use a sponge to draw a band over the eyes from ear to ear with silver face paint.

2. Blend pink paint over each lid and toward the temples.

3. Draw a flower under one eye and add two black swirls. Butterfly fairy wings (amazon.com )

Fish

1. Sponge orange face paint over the cheekbones and on each side of the neck.

2. Use a paintbrush to draw black lines to create fin-like designs over the orange paint.

3. Draw orange "scales" (or "U" shapes) on the forehead and chin. Outline with black.

4. Draw an orange heart on the lips and outline in black.

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