Do you know what's in the face paint often used for Halloween costumes, school carnivals, and other events? If you're worried about smearing bright paints onto your child's face, it may be worth doing some research, says the Naples News.
Unlike food and medications, cosmetics such as children's face paint are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The ingredient list on such products, if there is one, often reads like a science project. Do you know how safe chemicals like Diazolidinyl urea, Propylparaben, and Titanium dioxide are?
At best, face paint sold for use on children contains a short list of ingredients with unpronounceable names that are essentially harmless. At worst, however, your child's Halloween makeup could contain heavy metals and chemicals that haven't been tested for this purpose. A 2009 study that examined 10 brands of face paint found that all contained trace levels of lead, and 6 of the ten contained skin allergens, such as chromium, cobalt, and nickel.
Unfortunately, it's hard to know what's safe and what's not. Face paint may even contain food allergens. Some cheaper face paints use peanut oil, which can cause a dangerous reaction in people with peanut allergies.
How can you avoid the potential dangers of face paint? First, avoid acrylics or tempera paint. They aren't meant for use on skin, and can cause irritation and rashes, along with staining your child's skin. Instead, use professional grade face paint, which this time of year can be found in Halloween stores. Always try the paint on your child's arm first to check for an allergic reaction before coating their face in it. You can also opt for homemade face paint, or forgo the face paint entirely.
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