How to Make Textured Glow-in-the-Dark Face Paint

Glow-in-the-dark face paint can add an extra flare to your costume.

Glow-in-the-dark face paint can add to many types of costumes and you can even wear it by itself just for fun. Most craft stores offer a selection of face paint but the glowing variety is harder to find and slightly more expensive. If you're looking to add a little extra flare to your costume, make your own textured glow-in-the-dark face paint at home.

Things You'll Need

• Fine-bristled paintbrushes
• White nontoxic paint
• Clear nontoxic paint
• Black nontoxic paint
• Sand
• Small bowl
• Paint stick
• Glow-in-the-dark powder mix

Instructions

1. 

   How much powder you use will determine the brightness and visibility of the paint.

   Mix your glow-in-the-dark paint. In a small bowl, add your clear paint and your powder mix. Using your paint stick, stir the solution until it is free of clumps. The more powder you use in your solution, the brighter your paint will be, so consider this when calculating your mix-to-paint proportions.

2. 

   Add a small amount of sand to give your paint texture.

   Add texture to your paint. To add some definition in your paint or to give it a rougher, coarser look, add a handful of sand to your glow-in-the-dark paint and blend the mix again until the sand is distributed evenly throughout. If your skin is easily irritated, refrain from using the sand.

3. 

   Use white paint as a base to make your paint stand out.

   Prime the face for maximum glow power. Use an artists' style fine-bristled paintbrush to coat the entire face with a thick, even layer of white paint. Using white as a primer will make your glow-in-the-dark paint stand out when you apply it to the skin. Allow approximately 20 minutes for the paint to dry before applying any more paint.

4. 

   Use your new paint to create tons of great Halloween looks.

   Create your look. Use your paintbrushes to apply your glow-in-the-dark textured paint on top of your white primer. Use this paint to cover the whole face or draw designs on the skin. As a variation, use black paint to create outlines on the face and fill them in with your glow-in-the-dark paint.

Tips & Warnings

• Use artists' quality fine-bristled brushes rather than regular paintbrushes, which are coarse and can irritate and damage the skin.

• Use a facial specific or nontoxic medium for mixing your glow-in-the-dark face paint to avoid skin irritation or poisoning.

References

• Face Painting Fun: Info on UV Face Paint