If you’ve ever squeezed the Instagram or YouTube accounts of body painting benefits, you’ve probably literally gaped at some of the amazing designs they’ve created. We will admit, even though we are not the world’s best body painters, we are kind of obsessed with the unreal results these artists create.
If you want to take a stab at creating an amazing piece of wearable art yourself, then follow these tips on how to apply paint to face and body.
Prep your skin
Okay, so we’ll admit it, none of us at the French beauty salon are particularly helpful. But we know that when you are painting a furniture item or a wall, it is important to prep and prime the surface before applying the actual paint.
The skin is really not that different. Face and body paints are best applied to skin that is well prepared, exfoliates and moisturizes AKA. For the face, start with a scrub that is soft and designed for facial skin, which is more delicate than the rest of the skin on your body. Then follow up with a light moisturizer. The same basic rules apply to the body.
There is a reason we use light milk instead of moisturizing thick ice. We want any dry spots to which paint may stick, but we do not want the skin to be so smooth and oily that the paint moves around and does not stay put. If the skin on either your face or body feels quite oily, use a foundation primer to even it out.
Come to painting!
When it comes to body painting, once you have the skin puffed open, there is not much left to do outside to work. When we paint at home, we like to work in our bedrooms as moisture can hang in the air in the bathroom.
When working with body art glow, follow the instructions on the package. Using a body art FX makeup, such as European Body Art (EBA), will have a professional finish. Some paints are used as-is, while others need to be mixed with water.
Using brushes with synthetic hair, work slowly and in smooth movements to ensure an even distribution of color. If you’re trying to duplicate something from a manual or photo, do not get frustrated when it’s your first time. The body painters you see online and at industry events have been honing their craft for a very long time.
Body painting is an exciting extension of the makeup world. The more we play around with it, the more we fall in love with it. Have you ever given body and face painting a try?