Should I paint my face with acrylic because I want to...

...make an informational poster about the dangers and problems of it? Partially as an experiment since I've never painted myself in acrylic, I only know what I've read from others. I saw a chat log of conversations but not yet a clear simple format that is quick and easy to understand. I'm probably missing a lot of information, which is why I'm posting here in the forum about it.

I plan to paint one side of my face in a design with my professional TAG/Snaz paints, and the other side in acrylic. When I'm done with it I plan to take a picture (or pictures depending on the results) layer text over it, the pros of professional paint on the pro paint side, the cons under the photo side with acrylic. Then anyone who wants to throw it in at the end of their book, put it on their sign, or put it on their site can use it. I didn't know about this before I started face painting professionally, and maybe it will help get the word out better, especially for parents with kids. Last thing any of us want is kids hurt by someone who doesn't know better, then become afraid of something that should be safe and fun! I've also got a few Halloween forums I want to post it on, I'll bet a lot of people paint themselves not knowing better.

I haven't decided which design yet, probably rainbow tiger since that has a lot of colors and has greater potential for finding problems. I'll be at home so if things go horribly wrong I can wash it off right away- though most people I imagine would be out somewhere public and not have that option.

This should be an interesting experiment. My biggest worry is getting it matted in my eyebrows and losing some- any tips if I foul myself up there? Also, any suggestions on what I should include on the poster? Should be 8x11 when I'm done, so not too big or text heavy, I just want to find a few key points to hit on, not write a wall of text. (I have a bad habit of that unless I'm specifically trying to avoid that)

Right now I'm thinking

Pros:
Non-Toxic, Hypo-Allergenic, FDA Compliant
Easily Washes Off
Breaths with Skin
Bright Colors

Cons:
Non-Toxic but not Hypo-Allergenic or FDA Compliant. (Shellac is non-toxic, but you wouldn't Shellac your kid, would you?)
Most manufacturers recommend to NOT paint skin with their product.
ASTM approval is NOT the same as "FDA compliant"; It is simply a testing method to see if a product is used AS INTENDED, is it safe- which for these paints does not include use on skin.

-experiment will help me figure out contrast between colors/brightness/skin breath-ability and how difficult it is to wash off

Then suggest brands like Snazaroo, Tag, & Wolfe and to generally stay away from liquid brands. (There is one I heard of that is safe and used on hospital kids, but the general public won't memorize a list, so the quick easy way is to avoid liquid brands I think.) And at the very end a link to http://www.snazaroo.us/safety.htm if they want more information.

Edit: Part of my inspiration to do this was seeing this Zeebra http://www.flickr.com/photos/like_shipwrecks/2455435512/ YOWCH that looks painful D:

I would add something in the cons area that our skin is the largest organ in the human body and anything/everything applied to the skin is absorbed into our system! Maybe not that wordy though lol

someone on here did it last year and I think said that we could use the pictures she took?? do a search, you might find it... it was a really long thread I think

I would apply some heavy duty moisturizer to my skin and eyebrows before applying the acrylic, to limit the hair-pulling and limit the exposure to the toxins in the acrylics.

Am I the only one who thinks this is a bad idea?
I wouldn't eat something dangerous just to show that it isn't safe.
I wouldn't jump off a bridge, dive into the shallow end of the pool, hop into a bull pen, or tease an angry dog just to make a point.

But I tend toward the conservative...

rthling......i'm with you

I believe rthling is right, too!

I agree with rthling.

I am not sure I would do this to make a point, it kind of says it is not that bad if you would do it to yourself. There are plenty of pictures of acrylic paints on people that you could do this same thing side by side. Get a picture of the good paint next to the bad...and one of a kids face after it comes off. There is another thread with some of those too. I like your points though, and it would be just as effective to use pictures of the people who have already been victims than to take a chance that you could harm yourself!

If there are existing pictures I can get permission to use that'd be great. A picture is worth a thousand words, which is the whole point- but I don't want to do picture theft. I've been going through the threads on my way to work, haven't run across the other one mentioned before yet, but if anyone HAS pictures or knows someone who can give me their permission to use it, that'd be great.

Has anyone ever seen the documentary "Supersize me"? Maybe I could just do some on one hand and compare it to the other- then it's not on my face, near my eyebrows or eyes or mouth, and people would still get the idea.

there has been permission to use these...

Oh my, I never truly realised untill I saw these pictures that you actually mean ACRYLIC paint when you talk about acrylic paint ( I know it does not make sense). I somehow translated that in my head to waterbased gouache.
But this is truly shocking!! I would most definitely not paint anyone with those, not even to prove a point.
I would rather make a poster just with pictures of things like a can of spray paint, a permanent marker, a big can of laquer and a dripping brush...and say, "would you make your face up using these?" then make sure no one touches the face of a child with acrylic paints.. and use the pictures above!

I applaud your willingness to do this. I would suggest that you do a patch test before doing it though to make sure your not one of the percentage of the populace who are violently sensitive the acrylics. I could never do this because I an VERY allergic and even when tole painting, my hands start to itch with prolong direct skin exposure. I think what you're planning, if done well, could be very impactful and if you share it with the community, it could elliviate the need for anyone else to "Take one for the team".

While it's never favorable to assume such risks, a lot has been gained on the back of risks that have been taken in history. Human beans (yes...I mean beans) are often visual creatures and seeing the human element in a PSA drives the message home a LOT harder than an arbitray picture of a spray can or Apple Barrel bottle with a line through it. In a society where were always being told this and that are bad for you, sometimes a shock valued visual is necessary. Some people are of the mind that "a little bad won't hurt", but are moved to action when the SEE what that "little bad" looks like. Let's face it, there are some parents out there who are more turned off by the possibility that the paint will crack and look horrendous than they are about trace chemicals in acrylic paints, so seeing a cracked and peeling ugly painting next to a painting that moves with the skin will be enough to get their attention. I agree that we have to be careful about using others photos, especially for a project like this that will be openly shared with an entire community. I also agree that you need a compare and contrast and not just horrific rash pictures to reach some people. You have to reach both the conscientious parent AND the parent who has let their kids be painted with acrylics in the past without issue.

I'd envision something like a tiger where you could have the picture of you in full roar taken. That particular facial expression would begin to crack the acrylic paint while the Tag side would stay beautfully intact. I would then highlight the pros and cons, just few common sense ones that aren't too technical for the laymen and I'd avoid any type of blatent scare tactics.

Acrylic Paint Pros:
Inexpensive material costs
Inexpensive face painting
hundreds of ready mixed colors

Acrylic Paint Cons:
Manufactured for non breathing canvases in a non sterile environment
Cracks, peels and often wears with discomfort
Formulated with substances that aren't good for human consumption (formaldehyde, ect.)
Higher instance of skin irritation and developing chemical sensitivities.


Professional Face Paint Pros:
Vibrant colors that move with the face
Low possibility for allergic reaction
Comfortable wear
Unlimited design possibilities
Manufactured specifically for the skin in a cosmetic steril environment

Professional Face Paint Cons:
Higher Material Costs
Higher costs for face painting
Larger, continuous learning curve as new designs and techniques are explored
The ability to suspend disbelief and BECOME your art...which ineveitable leads to...
Temper tantrums at bathtime.

I sometimes ask a parent if they would paint their child's face with nail polish. That helps to get the point across. We as parents are so careful about what our children eat. It really is unbelievable that at nearly every festival I go to locally, there is someone painting with craft acrylic paints. Most parents don't think to ask what kind of paint is being used.

Thank you Lady Jayde, I think Friday I'm going to do a test on the backside of my hands and see how that goes before anything else. You made a lot of good suggestions that are really going to help.

Thank you for the pictures AFP Mom. GEEZE those look really awful D:

OH good point Flopsie! Nail polish IS cosmetic, non-toxic, yet completely not safe to be used in the way most cosmetics are (i.e. on your face). That's one of the points I want to drive home, non-toxic and otherwise safe products doesn't mean safe outside it's normal use.

I appreciate the concern rthling. You are probably right about it being a bad idea for my own person. I'm a bit influenced by the "Super Size Me" doc- and while that did terrible things to his body, it made a BIG difference in a good way. I wouldn't ask anyone else to do it to themselves though, of course.

Here's the one Shannon was talking about. I forget who did it but she did give everyone permission to share it:

Wow Gina, that just about says it all. Put that next to a picture of a skull painted in face paints, then list the pros and cons. Nobody else has to edure what this person must have to get that junk off.

I don't think that having a side by side of 2 different people would have the same visual impact, but I also agree that nobody should have to have the experience of removing it.

I have been at events where there were parents who were volunteering to face paint (using acrylics) and who were unaware that using those acrylics were potentially unsafe. they welcomed the information i gave them.. i have also come across acrylic face painters, (and festival organizers) who told me to "mind my own business" -- in not so nice terms.

You can cover your eye brown with 3M porous medical tape and then liquid latex on top of that. Alternately, you can cover your eyebrow with multiple thin layers of a school-type glue stick, allowing each layer to dry in-between.

Patch test is a good idea. Most of the reactions that occur in artists are chronic exposure. You can use isopropyl myristate to remove it.

You know, just posting the removal instructions would be effective. While it would be more effective at showing people how much nicer face paint is if it were side by side on the same face...if the first con under a different face were: REMOVE With isopropyl myristate and the pro for face paint was REMOVE with mild soap and water or baby shampoo...that kind of says everything most parents should need to know.

@A face painting mom, IPM is commonly used by both beauty makep artists as well as professional face artists in the special effects community. It's an alcohol combined with a natural fatty acid which is good for taking off stubborn makeup without overly drying one's face. Many people probably have some in their drug cabinet to remove their mascara.

It's used as an emollient in many skin creams. Face painters don't know about it because most don't know anything about the chemistry of makeup or special effects community.

But it sounds so nasty! I know nothing about chemistry,

So does methyl paraben and sodium benzoate, but those are the preservatives in Snazaroo and Wolfe/DFx/TAG products, respectively and we don't try to scare parents with that.....sheesh.

Alrighty. Acrylics look crappy and they aren't safe for the skin. I would never use them on kids. But, good grief, I used to paint myself with my mom's acrylics in high school all the time for the football games. (a cheek art or whatever). That stuff actually comes off a lot easier than real face paint. It basically FLAKES off. A little water, and it rubs right off. Please don't lynch me. I understand the potential dangers, but we're blowing this a little out of proportion. Once again... I would never use it on kids. I don't think you need to go to "extreme" measures to protect your skin.