Recommendations for Clown Make-Up -

So, I went into this bar and there was a lawyer, cowboy, rodeo clown, and a sheep herder....

laugh... I'm kidding!
I'm terrible at jokes.. I can never remember the punch line!!!
I'm giddy from being up all night last night, and today.. please forgive me.




I really did meet a Rodeo Clown this evening. He came over to inspect my make-up (and gave my brushes a look-see as well) .

He's in search of a better clown make -up. I can't remember what he said that he was using.... but, I did tell him this was a *great* place to find such resources. He may show up at some time, I gave him the addy.

Do any of you that have experience with clown make-up have recommendations/sources that I could share with him?

Thank you VERY much in advance!!!

uhm.... I hope that my bent sense of humor doesn't offend anyone.

belatedly realizing that some (many) may not appreciate such humor...

When I was clowning I used Ben Nye Lite Auguste and Mehron Pro Pencils for doing white and red details. Sometimes Ben Nye Clown White too. Very happy with it.

I have to say that I firmly believe that a lot of clowns don't really know HOW to apply cream make-up properly to make it last - a lot of the "tradition" of clown make-up is based on using products that are no longer used...

Anyway... those are the brands I used to look like this.

I use graftobian clown white (it happened to be the only brand sold at the only costume shop in my city when I was buying it and since the container is so big, I'll likely be using it for some time)... the rest of my makeup is Ben Nye. The texture is very different between even these two.... graftobian is very thick and opaque so you don't need much to cover (which is probably good since I try to hide my nasty french eyebrows as much as possible). The Ben Nye is quite thin to apply so I wouldn't say that it covers quite as much, but it feels nice on and they have lots of colours. If I ever switch my white out, I may go with Ben Nye, but there's also Mehron which is nice.

Most of the decent clown make up brands are pretty similar in quality. Each is a little different, but one is mostly just as good as the other. Decent brands are Mehron, Ben Nye and Pro-Face. There is one other good one but it escapes me at the moment. Steins used to be a good one but its crap anymore. Graftobian I always understood to be cheap halloween makeup, but that may have changed since I was teaching.

I have to give the nod to Pro-Face. Only because IMO its the best and most vivid white. More importantly, its staying power is heads above all the others. I wear clown makeup between 3 and 6 times a week and have on occasion worn it from 7am to 11pm, and ProFace white never becomes see-through the way the other ones do. (Pro Face is actually specially produced Mehron with something in it to increase its staying power.)

Of course this assumes you're applying your makeup properly, using the corresponding white and neutral setting powders (please not frigging baby powder) and using a brush to put your lines on.

So ProFace at least for the white. For my colors I just use whatever my supplier has at the moment. Currently I'm using Mehron red and Ben Nye Black. Its all good.

I've worn my clown make-up for 20 hours (long story) and it looked as good at the end of the day as it had to start. And.. I use baby powder to set MY make-up. I prefer it and apply it with a puff and press it into the make-up.

Rodeo clowns are working in hot, dirty conditions so probably he would want something that will wear well, resist sweating as much as possible and stay bright. And be easy to find...

Did he tell you what he was currently using?

baby powder is good enough for every ringling clown I know (and I know quite a few I might add), so it's good enough for me. Just make sure that it does NOT have cornstarch in it or it will absorb your sweat and make your makeup cakey.

Perry, Crazy Painter, and Shannon, thanks for responding.

I didn't get to see him Sat. evening. I got there late, and everyone was VERY busy.

I did copy everything that ya'll have written and am going to take it with me to the next Rodeo to give to him.

Shannon, I'm not certain of the brand that he is currently using.

Yeah, these guys really work up a sweat - mix that with good 'ole TN red clay soil, and you've got a recipe for a mess (face painting) if you don't wear something durable!!

I'm sorry that I'm so slow in responding. I've been one VERY busy face painting woman these last few days! *L* (NOT that I'm complaining, mind you)

I'm hoping that he will come here himself. But, in case he doesn't, I'm going to save a copy of your posts to share with him!

Thanks again!