The Lazy Parent’s Guide To Kids’ Face Paint This Halloween 2023

There's no getting away from it, this year the Halloween hype is real and when it comes to Halloween costumes and face paint, kids mean business. With celebrities and their little ones setting the bar high - who can forget Chrissy Teigen's daughter Esti dressed up as Wednesday Addams? Or the time Kourtney Kardashian shared photos of son Reign dressed as Pennywise the Clown from the 2017 horror movie IT? - the pressure is on to go all out. Easier said than done when you're juggling office hours and the school run.

Never fear though, when it comes to dressing your kids up for Halloween, there are some face painting hacks out there that look pretty effective and more importantly, don't require the skill of a seasoned make-up artist to apply. Keen to know more? Read on...

Face paint is always pretty integral to junior Halloween costumes, whether it's the finishing touch to an otherwise elaborate outfit, or the feature that transforms a black top and trousers into Batman, a cat or a spider. Daunting though the prospect of precision daubing paint on your child's face may be, there are a few manageable ways to get the job done and impress them come the big reveal in the mirror when you're done.

What face paints are best to use on kids?

Selecting the right kind of face paint and make-up is key, especially when it comes to painting children's faces as their skin can be far more sensitive than ours. Ensure the face paints you pick are non-toxic, hypoallergenic, paraben-free, billed as kind-to-skin and easily removed with water. This should all be made evident on the label or in the product blurb if you're ordering online. There will also be a variety of face paint textures to choose from:

Cream paint - these are the most commonly used and can be painted on straight from the pan, without being mixed with water.

Grease paints - you can find these in most craft shops at an affordable price. The pigment pay-off tends to be pretty great.

Water paints - this type of paint needs to be activated with water and once dry they will set firm meaning they won't transfer. They can look a little on the insipid side so make sure you build up those layers for a block colour.

Each of the above can be easily removed cold cream, soap or water. Now that you're familar with the paints themselves, let's get to some inspiration.

Expert tips on how to apply kids face paint

As a rule of thumb, experts like celebrity make-up artist Hila Karmand, advises keeping things simple. 'Some popular and hassle-free options include classic designs. Many parents prefer not to paint their children's whole faces, especially if they have sensitive skin. In such cases, partial face painting can be a great choice. Think about designs like Spiderman masks, fairy wings, or even fake stitches.'

She adds, 'when choosing face paint for kids, it's essential to prioritise products that are gentle on the skin. Look for brands that are hypoallergenic and specifically designed for children. Some trusted options include Snazaroo, Mehron, and Wolfe FX. Always ensure that the paints are water-based and easily washable to prevent skin irritation.'

As for make-up products that can be used on children, Hilla recommends CTZN Cosmetic’s Lipstroke in Zeven, £12.91, as a perfect dark red to mimic fake blood.

Easy Halloween Face Paint Ideas For Kids

The 5-Minute Spider's Web

Renowned make-up artist Amy Conway says, 'if time isn't on your side this year, one of the easiest looks you can create using items in your own make-up bag is a spider's web. Start by drawing straight black lines that fan out from one central spot, then connect them with slightly curved horizontal lines in between to create the web shape. You can even add a spider hanging down from your web if you're feeling extra creative. Finally press a silvery shimmer powder over the top to add a sheen.' This look takes the pressure off painting on a full face of face paint and means you won't have to factor in a mad dash to the shops for kit as long as you have a soft kohl pencil or a decent liquid liner to hand. As these items are made for use close to the eye they tend to be sensitive-skin friendly. You can also place your web anywhere on the face and go as big as you like.

The Harry Potter Hack

'Another of my favourite Halloween face paint looks for kids is the Harry Potter look,' says Conway, 'it requires barely any face paint, all you have to do is draw on that famous thunderbolt-shaped scar with your black liner, and outline it again with a little red lipstick. If you don't have any costume glasses to hand, you can draw on his famous round-shaped glasses with your eyeliner too. Throw a cape over their school uniform, improvise a wand and you're good to go!'

The Cheat's Guide To Clown Face Paint For Kids

You don't have to go all out like Kourtney Kardashian to lock down a scary clown face paint look for your kids this Halloween. 'A clown is a classic Halloween look,' says Conway, 'use your black eyeliner or some face paint and draw a vertical line down over each eye, finishing just above the cheek. Go to town with your red lipstick over your child's nose and mouth, outlining with your liquid liner if you're up to adding a bit of detail.'

The Speedy Spiderman Look

'If your child is obsessed with Spiderman like my boy is, take red face paint or a red lipstick over their forehead, and use a soft or liquid black liner or black face paint to draw on the web,' advises Conway, 'no other products needed.'

The Fuss-Free Cat Look

'It's a Halloween mainstay and kids generally love to be animals on Halloween,' says Conway, 'which is convenient as it's super easy to achieve at home. Grab a soft kohl or liquid eye liner or some black face paint and start with a round black nose, add whiskers across the cheeks and shape out the mouth by colouring in their top lip only - you'll be surprised how effective this speedy face paint look is.'

The Make-up Pro's Do's And Don'ts For Painting Children's Faces This Halloween

'Never paint too close to their eyes,' says Conway, 'the aim, above all, is to swerve any form of irritation. I prefer water-based products when it comes to face paint, or items from my own make-up bag that I'm used to wearing myself and that I know are kind to skin - steer clear of long-wearing products though, as these make removal difficult. Speaking of removal, use an oily make-up remover to take their chosen look off to gently melt the product away and swerve scrubbing and making their skin feel sore.'

Shop: The Best Kids Face Paints For Halloween