Tag: bodypaint

How to Choose Body Paint and Makeup for DIY Halloween Costumes

Halloween is the perfect time to try out body painting and character makeup. Whether you’re buying makeup online, going to a store, or using what you already have, below are some product ideas and answers to the common questions I get asked.

This post is intended for beginners and people new to body painting who don’t already have a makeup kit or products. Check out my resources page for links to some of the other specific products I have in my kit.

This post contains affiliate links. That means I receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase after clicking the link.

Jump to the section you need:

Body Paint Product Ideas for Specific Looks:

Collage of Halloween costumes and body paint: Avatar, Ursula, IT clown, Maleficent, She-Hulk, Flying Monkey, Sugar Skull

Please note that these are not the exact products I use when I’m doing my own or someone else’s makeup. These ideas are based on what I think is easiest to apply for a beginner, most cost-effective, or requires the least amount of tools.

Sillyfarm Face and Body Paint Supplies also has some pre-made kits for specific looks. Get 10% off your order with my referral link.

Body Paint Products Based on Your Needs:

What’s the easiest for beginners?

Have sensitive skin?

  • Check out water-based Mehron Paradise AQ Body Paint. This product is infused with skin soothing ingredients including Aloe, Vitamin E, Cucumber, Lemongrass, and Avocado. As with any cosmetic product, do a swatch test on your skin before applying it everywhere. This is one of the brands in my professional kit.
  • Check out water-based Cameleon Face and Body Paint. This is the brand of paint I use when I teach Paint Your Date class and it’s one of the brands in my professional kit.

Do you like working with pressed powder makeup, like eyeshadow?

  • Check out Mehron StarBlends for vibrant colors.
  • Use regular eyeshadow! It’s amazing what you can accomplish with standard eyeshadow you might already have.

Need it water- and/or sweat-resistant?

  • For sweat-resistant, try a cream-based makeup, such as Mehron Clown White, and set with a setting powder to make it smudge-proof, like Mehron ColorSet Powder. There’s a Joker-like clown makeup kit from Mehron that is cream-based. This is the type of paint that Cirque du Soleil performers wear. It’s also often what people find at Halloween pop-up stores. Using a setting powder is KEY for it to be smudge-proof and not greasy. I usually see people use cream-based on their face, not all over their body. (Re. water-resistant: I don’t have as much experience with cream-based and water. My experience is with alcohol-based hybrid airbrush paints).
  • For water-resistant and sweat-resistant, use alcohol-based hybrid paints, such as ProAiir Hybrid Airbrush Body Paint, and apply with a body paint sponge (I usually cut it in half), kabuki brush, or Iwata-Medea Eclipse Airbrush. I typically only apply it with airbrush as it gives the most even application. (Note: ProAiir is lightly scented like green apple)

I want to be metallic gold or silver or bronze.

I need body glitter!Biodegradable Glitter mix in iridescent gold for body painting and face painting and festivals.

I need to glue on fake ears or a nose, what should I use?

  • For a step up from spirit glue, use Pros-aide adhesive and adhesive remover. Apply it with a disposable applicator, such as a cotton swab. This is seriously sticky stuff, so don’t get it in your hair and don’t try to just pull it off at the end of the night! Use Pros-aide remover or 99% alcohol.
    • How to apply Pros-aide: Pros-aide is a contact cement, so you have to put it on both the prosthetic and your skin, then let it dry for best adhesion. Apply the glue to the prosthetic and to the place on your skin and then let it dry! It will be clear when dry. Once it’s dry, attach the prosthetic. Do it carefully because it’s hard to adjust once it’s stuck down. Use a setting powder or translucent powder on any sticky areas that are exposed.

How do I make sure it doesn’t rub off?


Well, it depends on what you’re doing. Keep in mind that friction is the enemy of body paint. So the places where the body paint meets clothing is where you’ll see it rub off first. Here are some things you can do to make it last longer:

  • For water-based:
    • Add Mehron Mixing Liquid to the water you use to activate the paints. I just eyeball it, but it might be approx 1:5 (Ex: 1 part mixing medium to 5 parts water). If it seems sticky on your skin, add more water to the dish.
    • Spray Mehron Barrier Spray on at the end as a final sealant. This acts like hairspray and helps hold the paint in place.
  • For alcohol-based hybrid paint:
  • For cream-based makeup:

Tools and Supplies for Body Painting

How much paint do I need?

What tools do I need?

Skin Prep and Paint Removal

How do I prepare my skin?

  • Avoid applying heavy lotions, oils, or creams before applying water-based or alcohol-based makeup. It will make it harder for the paint to stick to your skin.
  • Hydrate the night before by drinking water and moisturizing.

Will it stain my skin?

  • It depends. Everyone’s skin is different. If yours it dry, it might stain but it usually only lasts a day and comes off after a few washings.
  • If you’re concerned about your face being stained, use Marly Skin Prep on your skin before you apply paint.

How do I get the paint off?

For water-based:

For alcohol-based:

  • Makeup wipe or waterproof makeup remover like Garnier Micellar Water for Waterproof Makeup for sensitive area around the eyes and on face. 
  • Rub liquid soap (castile soap, dish soap) all over paint before getting wet. Make it muddy.
  • Then rinse off in shower. Repeat if needed.
  • For stubborn areas of paint, 91% alcohol, baby oil, coconut oil, or waterproof make-up remover.

For cream-based:

  • Makeup wipe or remover
  • Cream-based makeup remover like Pond’s.

Where to Buy Body Paint and SFX Products

screenshot of Breanna Cooke's Amazon storefront

Where can I buy this online?

I’m in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, TX. Where can I buy this stuff?

Is there something I missed? Let me know!

Check out my resources page for even more products I use.

If you live in Dallas, TX, you can also book a Halloween appointment with me.

Book a Halloween Appointment

Photo of Breanna painted as Ursula with text box with blog title "How to choose body paint and makeup for DIY Halloween costumes"

6 Tips to Make Your Body Paint Kit More Eco-Friendly with photos of bio glitter, bamboo paper towels, and reused containers.

6 Tips to Make Your Body Paint Kit More Eco-Friendly

Over the last few years, I’ve been working on small changes to my body paint kit to make my work a little more eco-friendly. I hope to keep improving on this list, so read on to see if some of these ideas are a good fit for you! (For a general list of all my various art, website, and supply resources, visit my Resources page or read this blog post about the paints I use for body painting.)

Quick disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are referral links, and at no additional cost to you, I’ll receive a small commission for referring you. This helps me continue doing what I do! These are all products that I have experience with or use personally. 

#1. Switch to biodegradable glitter

Bio Glitter | Tips to Make Your Body Paint Kit More Eco FriendlyWhile it’s crucial to use cosmetic glitter in body and face painting (don’t use craft glitter on your face because it often has sharp edges or metal!), some cosmetic glitter is still considered a micro-plastic. Micro-plastics have become a huge pollution issue as they make their way into our waterways and oceans and are ingested by fish and other organisms. In order to reduce the number of micro-plastics I send out into the world, I’ve made the switch over to biodegradable glitter. Update 03/10/2021: You can order my custom biodegradable iridescent gold or iridescent silver mixes on Etsy. Or if you need a specific color, I’m a professional partner with Today Glitter, certified vendor of Bio-Glitter.

Biodegradable glitter is made from biodegradable film which is derived from sustainable sources, such as cellulose film made from eucalyptus trees.  It’s completely shelf stable and the degradation process will only begin in soil, waste water or compost where micro-organisms are present. Bio glitter suited for dry, water-based, or oil-based applications. There are  bio glitters available from different vendors and I’m currently trying to use options that are available in the US to reduce the shipping distance for the small quantities I use. I apply the glitter with Got2b Glued Hair Gel or aloe vera gel.

#2. Use paper towels made from bamboo

Paper towels are often necessary to have around in order to keep makeup and body paint application and cleanup sanitary. I’ve switched over to using bamboo paper towels from Who Gives a Crap because bamboo is a much more sustainable resource than using trees. I also like that the rolls from Who Gives a Crap are wrapped in paper, not plastic, plus they also donate 50% of profits to build toilets for those in need. (Speaking of toilets: if you try their toilet paper, I prefer the premium bamboo toilet paper over the recycled paper. It’s a little less…errr…lint-y).

Save $10 on your first order from Who Gives a Crap!

#3. Recycle empty cosmetics at Credo Beauty

I always keep a few makeup staples in my body paint kit like mascara, foundation, or lip gloss. I’ve been testing out a lot of eco-friendly and recyclable replacements, but for some products, I haven’t found the perfect match (yet) of product durability + sustainable packaging. So in the meantime, I recycle the old beauty products at Credo Beauty. They’ll even take products that aren’t from Credo PLUS you get reward points for every full size item you bring in. Credo has partnered with TerraCycle, an environmentally-friendly recycling program, to help keep cosmetics out of our landfills. To recycle your items, bring them to your local Credo store.

#4. Cut cleaning cloths from t-shirts

Not all cleaning tasks require a paper towel. For cleaning the paint off my airbrushes and stencils, I use cleaning cloths that I’ve made from t-shirts. A lot of clothing ends up in landfill despite our best intentions to donate them. I love giving my clothes a second life as a cleaning cloth. I do recommend getting a good pair of fabric shears (I have these Mundial Cushion scissors and only use them on fabric). It makes cutting up clothes go so much faster.

#5. Reuse paint bottles and cases

I like to reuse my empty paint cases first before I recycle them. While recycling is an important component to being eco-friendly, I try to start first with the “Reuse” part of the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” saying. The lids from paint cakes are great for holding loose powder or glitter when I’m powdering it all over a body. When I’ve used up all the paint in a container, I clean them out and use them as a dish for mixing Mehron Metallic Powders and Mehron Mixing Liquid. When my ProAiir hybrid airbrush paint bottles are empty, I rinse them with 91% alcohol and keep them in case I need to mix a custom color or I need to share paint with a colleague.

#6. Use cotton swabs with cardboard sticks

Cotton swabs are another necessary item for sanitary makeup application, especially for glue application or doing a touch-up near someone’s eyes. I look for ones with cardboard sticks so that they eventually biodegrade. If you haven’t seen that heartbreaking image of the seahorse in the ocean holding on to a plastic cotton swab, you can view it here on National Geographic. It definitely made me rethink the need for the single-use plastic in cotton swabs.

Do you have any eco-friendly tips for your kit? Let me know in the comments!

breanna cooke body painting

Paints I Use for Body Painting

Which paints do I use? It depends! I use different paints based on availability and my project’s needs. Below are some products that I use most frequently. For a general list of all my various art, website, and supply resources, visit my Resources page.

Quick disclaimer: I do not speak for all body painters, everyone has their own preferences for various reasons. I’m listing products that I have personal experience with. I am also not representing any of these companies and I also can’t vouch for how any of the products will work for you and your process. That said, some of the links in this post are affiliate links from Amazon and the like, and at no additional cost to you, I’ll receive a small commission for referring you. This helps me continue doing what I do!

Shop Local: While ordering online is often necessary, I also like to support local businesses whenever possible. If you live in Dallas, TX, you can purchase some of these products locally at Camera Ready Cosmetics (order online then pickup in store, too) or Norcostco Theatrical Supply.

Water-Based Body Paints


Cameleon: The eye-popping colors first drew me to Cameleon paints (no, that’s not a typo in Cameleon). I love the opacity and they’re great for line work too. The baseline Cameleon paints are free of any animal origin ingredients, are BSE free, and are not tested on animals. They are glycerin-based and use paraffin wax as a binder. Cameleon Paint is FDA and EU Compliant and is paraben-free, sulfate-free, with no perfumes and no drying agents. I typically use these (and the other cake paints listed below) with a brush and occasionally a sponge. Cameleon paints are not available locally in Dallas but you can find even more colors from their US distributor.

Mehron Paradise AQ: When I first got into body painting, I started with Mehron Paradise cakes. They are lovely for blending and once they’re activated with water they have a creamy consistency. Mehron Paradise AQ is vegan and is not tested on animals and is unscented. If you want to try a lot of colors in small quantities, check out the Mehron Pro Face Paint Palette with 30 colors. Mehron Paradise cakes are available in Dallas at Camera Ready Cosmetics or Norcostco Theatrical Supply.

Wolfe FX: I primarily use the Wolfe FX white and black because they are excellent for bold line work, but sometimes they are hard to find in stock. I’ve used TAG black and TAG white, or Cameleon black and Cameleon white as an alternative. Diamond FX black and Diamond FX white are also good options but I have limited experience with them. Wolfe FX paints are sometimes available locally at Norcostco Theatrical Supply, otherwise I order them online.


Hybrid and Alcohol-Based Body Paints


Hybrid Paints: I like to use ProAiir and FAB hybrid paints because they’re great for vibrant colors and opacity. You can get a lot of coverage very quickly with them. Plus they are water-resistant and sweat-resistant, so they’ll hold up for an underwater photoshoot or an acrobatic performance. Some of my favorite colors are the ProAiir electric blue and cobalt. For some extra staying power, I seal it with ProAiir Prolong Extender. Hybrid paints are made with 100% cosmetic blend alcohol (same alcohol that is used in hair sprays, mouth wash, eyeliner, etc.). The ProAiir paints are made in the USA and are scented (similar to green apple scent). I usually use an Iwata Eclipse CS airbrush to apply ProAiir, however you can also use a sponge or kabuki brush to apply to large areas. When I use my Iwata bottle-feed airbrush, I often use the ProAiir Snorkel Adaptors to connect directly to the bottle of paint. ProAiir is available locally in Dallas at Norcostco.

Alcohol-Based PaintsThe Endura paints from European Body Art (EBA) are my other go-to for long-lasting airbrush paints. These alcohol-based paints are water- and sweat-resistant and work best with an airbrush. I personally tend to use them for more subtle effects or lighter coverage but you can also build them up. I apply these paints with an Iwata Eclipse CS airbrush or an Iwata bottle-feed airbrush. EBA paints are available locally in Dallas at Norcostco.


Glitter and Metallic Body Paint


Glitter: I’ve switched over to biodegradable glitter and feels good to have more environmentally-friendly products in my kit. I’ve ordered bio glitter from Amerikan Body Art in Florida, Body FX in New Zealand (available in the US from Silly Farm) and from Universal Soul in Los Angeles. The Bio Glitter from Body FX is produced from biodegradable film which is derived from sustainable sources and Universal Soul’s glitter is made with cellulose film derived from eucalyptus trees.  It’s completely shelf stable and the degradation process will only begin in soil, waste water or compost where micro-organisms are present. They’re both suited for dry, water-based, or oil-based applications. While it’s crucial to use cosmetic glitter in body painting (don’t use craft glitter on your face!), some cosmetic glitter is still considered a micro-plastic and doesn’t biodegrade once it goes down the drain. It can make its way into our waterways and oceans and get ingested by fish and other organisms. There are quite a few bio glitters available from different vendors and I’m currently trying to use options that are available in the US to reduce the shipping distance for the small quantities I use.

Metallic Effects: The Mehron Metallic Powders are my go-to for a cost-effective full body paint metallic finish. You can find these in gold, silver, rose gold, copper, bronze, and lavender. Be sure to purchase Mehron Mixing Liquid to mix into the powder. Mix small amounts of the Mehron powder with Mehron Mixing liquid and brush it over the body. For a more yellow gold, I’ve brushed on a gold Mehron Paradise cake (the product photo looks a bit like tan, but it is really a more yellow gold) or gold Cameleon cake, then applied a gold shimmer powder from Ben Nye. The Mehron and Ben Nye products are usually available locally in Dallas, TX at Norcostco Theatrical Supply.


Body Paint for Specific Looks


Avatar: For my personal Avatar body paint costumes, I used the Kryolan Aquacolor in baby blue for the base coat. For the stripes, I used the Avatar Rainbow Cake from Silly Farm. It has a dark blue and a light blue side. I use the darker blue for the stripes, then I add a highlight on top of the stripe with the lighter blue. For the white dots, I use Wolfe FX whiteCameleon white, or TAG white.