What should you do for good hygiene?

Do you need to use a special solution (i.e. alcohol, hydrogen peroxide) to clean brushes in between faces? Also, I've read some threads where you use different sponges for each face. How many sponges do you bring to one show, or are there ways of cleaning them and using them over at the same show. Hope this is not a silly question. (I love these faces icons -- too cute!)

Some people may use solutions, but I use good old bar soap to clean my brushes. I have one didicated on my kitchen sink and everyone knows this is its ONLY use. I swipe the brushes back an forth on the soap until you can see no more paint coming out of the ferrel. I don't think the solutions will get down into the barrel of the brush. This also helps condition the brushes. I am still using sables from over two years ago.

There is a heafty debate on the using a new sponge for each child vs. using a sponge per color. I hasn't been scientifically tested, but I sam common sense is king. If you use a child on a sponge and there is ANY question that he might have germs, toss it out. I go back and forth on the sponge thing. Trying to use a sponge per color has you chasing sponges all day if it is windy, but you can really utilize all of the paint in the sponges as a sponge per child can create waste. In the end, find what works best for you. I would say ask the organizer how many children are expected and plan for one each. If it is expected to be a huge event, I will bring supplies to wash sponges in the bathroon during one of my breaks. It is rare, maybe once.

Hope this helps!

I use clean brushes and sponges for EACH face. I add water to my paints from a squeeze bottle, I never dip my brush in water.

I follow local health regulations for application of cosmetics.

As instructed by a health inspector, after I have cleaned my brushes with a little soap (I use a bar of Ivory and just stroke the brush accross it) and then agitate in the water container to get all the paint out, rinse twice (I have a water tub with three compartments) in clean water, then, immerse in a container of 70% isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol).

The health inspector explained that you have to use 70% as it stays wet longer therefore allowing the alcohol content more time to work. I have to make sure the whole loofe of the brush (the hair) is saturated. Then, I have to let the brush air dry completely before I can reuse it. Luckily that doesn't take too long really, particularly if it is windy.

As for sponges, they do not take up all that much room in my kit - and they do compress too if you put them in a ziplic bag and roll the air out!

I carry around 150 separate sponges with me and I have NEVER run out... that's half sponges so about 75 whole rounds, which if you pack neatly in ziploc bags can be packed easily in pretty much any size kit.

I use ice cream buckets to hold my clean and my used sponges - fill up one with clean, the add a little water to the other bucket where I toss the used ones. Keeping them wet helps to stop staining.

Thanks those are great ways to keep things clean! I'll need to get a few more brushes to bring with me. I've tried using regular foam cosmetic sponges. I'm not sure I like the way they pick up paint. It looks like there is a different kind of sponge I should be using from your picture Shannon. I'm assuming that they are less dense than the white foam cosmetic ones I've tried. Do you add a lot of water to the cakes when you're using them?

Check out my blog... I have a post on there that goes into much detail about sponges (posted May 17th)

Regular cosmetic wedges are not really suitable. They are meant for applying foundation which is oil based - the soak up water way too fast.

I only add a drop or two of water at a time as I need to, to the paint.