Grease Face Paint

For any kind of clown routine or clown character, clown grease face paint is the way to go for a maximum impact. Unlike water-based face paints, grease-based paints won’t fade away after an hour or two, won’t run under hot lights and won’t smear even if you’ve gotten pretty hot and sweaty from all your running around. But you do have to do a little more preparation than you would with water-based face paints. For the most effective, even professional, look that stays fresh and intact no matter what you do, grease face paints are what you need.

Grease face paint – more typically called grease makeup – requires a completely clean face to start, since any extra oil will give you difficultly painting in the first place. (And for the fellows, a good shave is recommended.) Even more important, you will need to ‘set’ the clown grease face paint or grease makeup with a ‘setting powder.’ The powder can be applied either in stages, as you are painting, or at the end of your whole job, and requires a brush or some kind of duster.

As with all face paints you’ll need applicators, including sponges and brushes, large and small, depending on what design or character you want. Remember that even if you use many colors altogether, there should only be one layer of face paint or makeup on any patch of skin, since a build-up of paint is more likely to dislodge and run. If you need to correct your painting (or remove extra paint), baby oil and Q-Tips are very handy. Unlike water-based face paints, which can be removed with soap and water, grease can only be removed with a cream cleanser. Be sure to have extra paper or regular towels around since it can get a little messy.

If you are going to be really active, or under hot lights, do consider some kind of sweat blocker applied under the makeup for added precaution. Alternatively, some setting powders contain an antiperspirant if you want to skip a step.

And don’t forget the other possible facial effects, including eye-makeup, glitter, tattoos, gels and latex effects. You can create any clown character or effect you want with clown grease face paints and the wide world of makeup.