“Dangers of Cheap Face Paint”
By Erika Cataldi
Last year, I started a business where I provide children’s birthday parties and special events with cartoon mascot characters. Having little artistic ability, but a great idea of adding face painting as an option, I began studying the art of face painting. I went to a local craft store store, picked up the cheapest face paint and thought I could practice on my 3 year old daughter.
My first time ever doing this, my daughter wanted to be a kitty cat. I added some whiskers, gave her a cute pink nose…she tells me her stomach is hurting her. I just figure she is getting fidgety and go to add some brow lines. All of a sudden, she collapses forward onto me shaking. I pick her up and her eyes were rolled up into her head. Terrified, I hold her to me thinking I did something wrong. Her episode finally stops and I rush her to the doctor. They inform me that she probably had a seizure triggered by the smell of the paint.
Of course I never wanted to face paint again. I completely gave it up. Several months later, we went on a beach vacation, and there were face painters there. My daughter wouldn’t stop begging for us to let her get a work of art on her face. We caved in and I stood in fear expecting the worse. Well, nothing happened! She was just a happy little girl with spongebob on her cheek.
Upon returning home, I went online and found Philadelphia Tivoli. I read her suggestions on the type of paint to use and her beautiful designs, and I decided to give it another try. My daughter was excited to get butterfly eyes. I again was nervous. However, she came through like a champ! She is now my practice board and we have not had any incidents since.
Moral of the story is, please do not buy cheap paints. I do not know for sure if that is truly what caused my daughters one and only seizure, but it still scares me. I never should have put her in danger by using cheap paints. It’s worth every penny to get the good stuff.
I am now a good (not great) face painter, and I thank Philadelphia for giving me the information I needed to gain the courage I needed to try again.
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Thank you for sending this in Erika! I would be so scared if that happened to a loved one, I’m so glad you’ve been able to solve the problem though!
Please leave a comment if you want to ask questions, or just want to offer encouragement!
Happy Face Painting,
Philadelphia Tivoli
www.FacePaintingTips.com
“Helping You Paint with Your Favorite Face Paints!”
Buy Face Paints for your Face Painting Kit Right Here!
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Erika,
As a mom with a recently turned 6 year old (with sensitive skin and sensitive fume tendencies like his mommy) who is just learning face painting, I am so glad to read your story so I am aware of the dangers…wow! I am very thankful it all turned out okay with your daughter too.
Philadelphia’s site is one of the first ones I came across when I was searching for ideas this month (newly started with face painting) and I am so appreciative for her guidance.
Thanks for sharing your story luv! It helps to have good information and makes our lives much less complicated!
Hugs, Tina
Hey there Erika,
I am glad that everything is going great with your daughter. One of my daughter’s has not started preschool yet, so she and my son are home with me. She is my practice person and I am so happy that she loves to be painted. She does have her days though, but the health and well being for not only our children, but the ones that we paint are on the line too.
Thank you for your article on your personal experience with “cheap paints”.
Wishing you and your family well…
A fellow Painter and Mommy,
Julie Agcaoili
Being an ED nurse and a new to-face paint artist, I am so glad everything worked out and YES, when it comes to applying stuff to your skin (or anyone elses) be safe-use hypoallergenci paint, sanitize your brushes, q tips for mouths, etc.
Snazaroo has a great addendum that you should download-the 10 commandments of face painting– Download it, print it and use it.
In the ED–we see many with reactions to all sorts of products-my daughter was allergic to peroxide! You never know. If unsure, test first
Good luck!
Wow!! That was really a scary experience! But I’m glad your daughter is ok and that it was a one time happening. It’s so important to buy excellent products when it comes to face painting. Cheapos just don’t work as well as the good stuff and it shows!
I am trying to get in touch with Erica regarding her mascot business. The e-mail address and website I had for her no longer work. This is all I can find with her name when I google her, please help!!!
Dear, I believe it absolutely was the face paint. Thank you for your post. Your daughter was only 3 that is why she was so vulnerable. I had my daughter painted on Royal Carribean Cruise, they used cheap paints, some come from china etc. this particular brand gave her horrible swelling with rash, scar like tissue all over her face, it was horrible, she was in pain and had high fever, Royal Caribbean paid for all medical expenses for us, she needed to be treated immediately with strong steroids and antibiotics. DO NOT EVER EVER EVER BUY CHEAP PAINT!!! ps. you could contact an attorney and start filing a suit against tne brand name, the royal carribean painter had many brands and “forgot” which one she used on Julia. (it seems she ran of orange and used something else…:( p.s. everywhere where that orange was, the stripes black were fine, and the body was all raissed lumps, imagine with all the stripes (for the black) how my daughter looked like-like scars on face!:(( I am a face painter and only use paridise and snazaroo paints.