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For kids, birthday parties and special events become much more exciting when arts and crafts are involved. And one of the best and most photogenic among them is face painting. With just a couple of colors and a brush, you can decorate a child's forehead and cheeks with imaginative designs like butterflies, flowers, and animals.
If you want to give this project a shot, but don't know where to start, then rest easy. We've collected an array of face paint ideas that are sure to ignite your imagination as well as your child's. Some of these designs are inspired by nature, such as cat whiskers and tiger face paintings, while others delve more into fantasy and storybook characters, like princess tiaras, pirates, and zombies. In addition to a range of genres, you will also come across designs that are easier to recreate with brushes or sponges, and others that require a bit more practice.
Scroll down to see 18 face paint ideas for kids and the five best face paints.
Face Painting Ideas for Kids
Butterfly Wings Eye Mask
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Zombie Face
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Ladybug Mask
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Pirate Face
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Bunny Face
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Flower Crown
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Cat Face (Tiger, Lion, Leopard)
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Dragon Claws
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Caterpillar Eye Mask
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Princess Tiara
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Bee Mask
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Spiderman
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Flowers on the Forehead
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Soccer Ball
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Owl
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Goldfish on the Cheek
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Fairy Design on the Forehead
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Robot Half-Mask
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Best Face Paint
Faber Castell Face Painting Kit
Faber-Castell | $14.99
Whether you want to add a simple design on the cheek or a full face painting, this kit has everything you need to start creating. The Faber-Castell kit includes seven water-based opaque face paints, two shimmer paints, self-adhesive stencils, face decals, a mini fine tip brush, a large broad tip brush, a stamping sponge, a blending sponge, and three fine point face paint crayons.
Snazaroo Face Paint Starter Set
Snazaroo | $57.28
For those that want to ensure they have supplies to spare, there's Snazaroo's starter set. Inside the plastic blue container are six 18 ml face paints in white, black, bright red, bright yellow, sky blue, and grass green; two high-density sponges; three brushes; one 12 ml glitter gel; and a step-by-step face painting guide.
Blue Squid PRO Face Paint Palette (Set of 12)
Blue Squid PRO | $26.99
Modeled in the style of a watercolor palette, this face paint set by Blue Squid PRO features 12 pans of vibrant water-based colors that can be used both on the face and body. It also includes two brushes, so you are ready to start creating unique designs upon opening.
Kwik Face Stix (Set of 3)
Kwik Stix | $4.99
This mini face paint kit by Kwik Stix comes with the essentials, which is just enough to get you started. It includes three face painting sticks in red, white, and, blue, which are easy to use for both children and adults. Though this color palette may be limited, it will surely inspire comic book heroes, clowns, and more.
Crafty Dab Jumbo Crayon Face Paint
Crafty Dab | $4.50
Craft Dab‘s face paint kit covers six essential colors in a crayon form. With this set of yellow, blue, white, orange, red, and green, you will be inspired to draw designs ranging from clowns to zombies to puppy dogs. And when it's time to clean up, you will have an easy time washing your artwork off.
Need some help painting your designs? Then try using some of these stencils!
Face Paint Stencils Kit
Fainne | $15.99
If you want a little help creating your designs then this set of stencils and stickers by Fainne will give you a leg-up in your painting. It includes 48 face painting stencils, 10 stickers, and 10 paint brushes, so you'll be prepared to render a range of ideas—from Halloween face paint ideas to carnival masks and beyond.
Face Painting Tutorials
Easy Cat Face
Puppy Dog Face
Minnie Mouse
This article has been edited and updated.
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