How bad is Walmart "face paint"

I wrote a letter to the organization that does cops n kids day every year about the acrylics they were using for face paint. This year, I saw that they had bought "face paint" from Walmart. I know it's gross to work with, but how dangerous is it?

I think it depends on what brand of fp it is. A bunch of folks pick up the Wolf brand stuff WalMart carries for Halloween, because it's good quality. On the other hand, during the rest of the year, my local WalMart only carries Palmers, which I've heard bad things about.

I have never seen Wolf bros stuff at Walmart or Snaz for that matter! I guess they don't carry it in Canada - boo!

The WalMart closest to me used to carry a kit with
"24 colors".
It was in almost the exact same packaging as the acrylic paint wtih
"24 colors".

Palmer's paint is greasy with colored blumps in it and it makes me break out in tiny red bumps that blister.

Snaz is at Curry's.

I get a lot of parents tell me that their child broke out in a rash last time they were painted...Then they proceed to say that the previous "artist's" paint looked nothing like mine, it was gloopy and not very bright.

I will not lie, I purchased Walmart paint when I first started, I had no idea. I tried to paint myself with it and found I had to layer it on and it felt awful!

I've heard there are traces of lead in them, but I don't know for sure.

Christina,

It was a Halloween novelty brand labelled "Wolf"--I would check and see in the Halloween markdowns(- $75%) right away. They are minute (9gms.) but a 90 gm pot added up only costs $5!!

Oh this was definitely the Palmer's look-a-like stuff not the Wolfe stuff.

I would think that if there were really traces of lead in any paint from China then we would be hearing about children becoming gravely ill. I am betting that lead in the paint wouldn't cause skin irritation or rashes but rather extreme sickness, chronic conditions or even brain death...

There seems to be some confusion about the "Wolf" paint -- I thought someone said it was the same formula, or made in the same factory, or something, as the Wolfe paint. I can tell you that the white seems very similar to Wolfe white in that it is opaque and makes nice lines. I haven't used the other colors.

As far as toxic chemicals in fp, I found this:
http://www.annarbor.com/news/halloween-face-paint-tainted-with-heavy-metals/

It specifically excluded Palmer paints, but I'd love to know what the other brands were.

The sponge daubers included were marked "Wolfe", and it's urt & April on the packaging howbeit very old photos).

I just got an early Christmas present from my parents. It was the 24 count face paint pots. I will be using it on paper, not on kids. The other reviews I found said that it was too transparent.

friend_soscho wrote:I just got an early Christmas present from my parents. It was the 24 count face paint pots. I will be using it on paper, not on kids. The other reviews I found said that it was too transparent.

Walmart has a really good return policy. I get everything BUT paint from them-- brushes, gems, baby wipes, sponges, body glitter and eyelash glue. I even got my kit case there -- it's a rolling Stanley, but not a Fatmax.

I don't buy or take note of the face paints at Walmart, but yes at Halloween Wolfe Novelties aka Wolfe Face Art & FX aka Wolfe FX does have a contract to supply face paints and face and body art supplies to Walmart.

Your confusion is in how the brands Diamond FX and TAG came to be and where the makeup was first manufactured. Bottom line now is formulas and factory locations can and may vary brand to brand. Wolfe clearly can not be confused with the variety store cream or liquid makeups most often sold at Halloween. As far as Palmers is not makeup worth a darn for professional or large event use but I've never read anything that would validate the citings that the makeup brand is unsafe. Sometimes preferences and marketing tactics tends to become truth when repeated enough.

I ended up using it for crafts - NOT on the face. I maybe a face painting hobbiest...and hopefully a future professional face painter, but I know where to get the good stuff. And unless it is a known brand, I will not be using it on children's faces.

I couldn't return it, because as I was looking, one of the safety seals wasn't on - it had already been opened.

So, on paper it went. One of my students (I teach preschool) used it to paint her hand, then to do a hand print. The hot pink STAINED her skin. I noticed that it had separated, and some of the liquid got on me. My fingers are stained too.

Michael's craft store carries Snaz paints now - in both the mini multi colored packs and the 18ml pots.

I would NEVER buy anything from Walmart. Just my opinion, though. I get my brushes from Michael's, too. Glitter and what not I buy online from either Snazaroo, Chit Chat or Silly Farm