| FACE PAINTING YOUR LITTLE GOBLIN FOR | | | | reactions, tempra isn’t FDA approved for use on |
| HALLOWEEN | | | | the face. Of course our concerns are justifiably |
| Boo! Did I scare you? Well I think it's scary that it’s | | | | heightened when we’re dealing with children who |
| almost that time of year when all our little ghosts, | | | | are more sensitive to toxins than adults. |
| goblins and princesses will be roaming the streets. As | | | | Food ColoringOther ‘recipes’ available on the |
| parents of young children we may be making choices | | | | internet include a variety using food coloring. Web sites |
| for our kids about Halloween and trick-or-treating. One | | | | promote using food coloring mixed with glycerin, flour, |
| thing that remains constant from year to year is the | | | | corn syrup or cold cream. And while most of these |
| wonderment and joy of dressing up in costume! A | | | | ingredients are ‘food safe’ there is no escaping |
| growing trend nationwide along with homemade | | | | the fact that you are applying food coloring to your |
| costumes is the use of face paint to complete a | | | | child’s face -- and possibly clothes, bedding and |
| costume. In fact some costumes can’t be done | | | | furniture. Any mother who’s made a birthday cake |
| any other way. So what kind do you use? With all the | | | | or two can attest to the staining power of food |
| recalls dealing with paint and increasedcases of | | | | coloring! |
| allergies, which paint is really safe to use?’ | | | | While food coloring is perhaps the least toxic of this |
| Unfortunately the answer isn’t completely black | | | | short list of coloring agents, if you suspect a rash has |
| and white. We humans have a varying level of | | | | been caused by a substance you painted on your |
| sensitivity to cosmetics and chemicals; we see this in | | | | child, immediately wash the area with cool water and |
| the mom who can’t wear certain moisturizers, | | | | gentle soap. Be careful -- occasionally harsh detergent |
| children who can’t use bubble bath and entire | | | | soaps or even baby wipes can exacerbate the |
| offices that ban fragrances because of severe | | | | problem. Then try an over-the-counter Benadryl lotion. |
| allergies. | | | | If the problem persists, consult your doctor right away. |
| Craft PaintToo often well intentioned volunteers will | | | | If any reaction to a product occurs it will probably |
| face paint at local holiday carnivals or fairs with craft | | | | happen within the first fifteen minutes. This goes for |
| paint they have in the supply closet, duly noting that it is | | | | hypersensitive children who react to industry standard |
| ‘non-toxic’. However, there seems to be a | | | | cosmetic-grade make up, as well as kids who have |
| misunderstanding of the term “non-toxic.” | | | | been painted with craft paint. |
| Non-toxic only means that something will not kill you if | | | | As a mom and a body artist I would never paint my |
| you ingest it. (At least not right away.) This does not | | | | child, or any child, with anything less than top quality |
| mean it is approved for us on the face or body. Think | | | | professional paints you can buy from reputable online |
| of it this way a jalapeno is non-toxic but you | | | | merchants or at select costume shops. A quality list |
| wouldn’t want to rub it on your face. Likewise a | | | | of professional water based face suppliers include: |
| craft or acrylic paint may contain toxic chemicals such | | | | Snazaroo, Wolfe Bros., Graftobian, Fantasy World |
| as polymers and potential carcinogens. When | | | | Wide, Paradise, Kryolan, Ben Nye and Fardel. |
| reactions occur they most often include painful raised | | | | Snazaroo is so confident of their product they stand |
| blisters and itchy rashes, on rare occasions the use of | | | | behind it with a two million dollar product liability policy |
| craft paintcan scar some skin types and cause | | | | and an entire web site of useful FDA information. So |
| serious anaphylactic allergies resulting in inflammation of | | | | pick a costume, design a face to go with it, then give |
| the airways. | | | | your child that special extra touch that makes him or |
| Tempra PaintAnother dubious material sometimes | | | | her stand out from the rest of the trick-or-treating |
| recommended is tempra paint mixed with face lotion. | | | | crowd and be confident that you know what |
| And even though our children may have painted | | | | you’re putting on your angel is attractive AND safe! |
| themselves once or twice at home without adverse | | | | |