So, you finally decided on the perfect costume or SFX idea, but how exactly do you achieve your dream look? Specific costumes may require body paint, creams, or grease paints, but how do you know where to start?
What are the best products to achieve that perfect Violet Beauregard blue-purple nose, cartoonish eyes for Jessica Rabbit, black cat whiskers, or whatever other iconic details you may need for your costume? At Camera Ready Cosmetics, we have a wide variety of high-quality body paints and products available for you to turn your body paint ideas into wow-worthy characters. You may even win your next costume contest!
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What is Body Paint?
Body paints are typically what most people think of when they imagine painting their faces for a Halloween costume. These vivid liquid products produce eye-catching looks with minimal effort and allow for fine details with smaller brushes and applicators.
What are the Different Types of Body Paint?
First, it’s essential to identify the differences between all the possible body paints and creams available for purchase. Each product has its own benefits and application techniques. But ultimately, selecting which product is best for you depends on things like skin sensitivity, longevity preferences, and your costume’s specifications. Check out some of our most popular body paint products here:
Endura Autopsy by Bruce S. Fuller by European Body Art
MagiCake Aqua Paint Palettes by Ben Nye
Aquacolor Liquid by Kryolan Professional Make-UP
Liquid Makeup for Face, Body, and Hair by Mehron
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Endura Autopsy by Bruce S. Fuller
 This high-quality 10-pack of alcohol-based body paints by European Body Art is ideal for any body paint idea you have for the holiday season. Their precise formulation prevents cracks and smearing, even after hours of wear. The paints are incredibly versatile, from being airbrushed on to direct application with a sponge or brush. In addition, the formulation is FDA-approved and safe for sensitive skin.
MagiCake Aqua Paint Palettes
These affordable body and face paint palettes by Ben Nye are a staple for any dramatic makeup look. These vibrant body paints are activated with a few drops of water before application with a sponge or makeup brush. While the base palette contains six colors, makeup artists can easily mix them for various color combinations, and larger palettes offering even more colors are available, too!
If you’re seeking only a few colors or need to refill your palette, you can buy singles also are available. In addition, once the water-activated body paints dry on the skin, they’re notoriously smudge-proof and sweat-resistant.
Aquacolor Liquid
These 30mL bottles of easy-to-apply liquid body paint by Kryolan Professional Make-Up are perfect for painting your face or even your entire body. The thin emulsion formula comes in seven colors, each providing a seamless, smear-free finish with bright color intensity. Simply shake the bottle before use, apply the product to a damp sponge, and then apply to your face and body to make all your body paint ideas come to life. If diluted with water, these body paints are also usable with an airbrush for even more delicate application.Â
Liquid Makeup for Face, Body, and Hair
This versatile liquid makeup by Mehron is perfect not just for your face and body but also is safe for your hair. These long-lasting products come in a wide range of colors and sizes, with the smallest 1oz size including a specific applicator to help with easy makeup application. In addition, these water-based body paints are resistant to sweat and heat, making them perfect for outdoor activities. However, take note that they’re not intended for use around the eye area.
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Benefits of Cream Makeup Body Paints
Unlike regular body paint, cream makeup products typically have a thick, creamy consistency, perfect for heavy makeup looks or layering multiple products. Cream makeups are also ideal for setting with a translucent powder for further longevity.
To inspire your cream makeup body paint ideas, check out some of Camera Ready’s top suggestions:Â
Fantasy FX Makeup by Mehron
Evo Undead Palette by European Body Art
Professional FX Wheel by Ben Nye
CreamBlend Stick by Mehron
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Fantasy FX MakeupÂ
These affordable face paints come in a wide range of colors, each with a smooth and stunning finish. These water-based cream paints have the best of both worlds when it comes to cream and liquid makeup, conveniently packaged in a squeeze tube for easy and sanitary application. The convenient 1oz size makes these body paints perfect for travel or packing several different colors in your makeup kit.Â
Evo Undead Palette
If you’re looking to take your makeup kit and body paint ideas to the next level, this haunting and pigmented body paint palette by European Body Art can do just that. The deep, jewel-toned colors are perfect for a zombie, vampire, or any creepy character you can think of for this spooky season. The paints’ quick drying time and easy application make them great for beginners and pros alike - and individual color pans can be purchased for refills if you run out.
Professional FX Wheel
If you’re primarily interested in getting a few body paints in a specific color or for a particular body paint idea, like aging someone up or adding scary fake wounds and bruises, these creamy color wheels from Ben Nye are for you. These versatile products blend easily onto either skin or latex, making them ideal for application over prosthetic pieces. In addition, the colors are buildable. Apply some alcohol for a thinner coat, or leave it as is for a thick and creamy finish.Â
CreamBlend Stick
While applying body paint with a sponge or makeup brush is common, these full-coverage cream paint sticks by Mehron provide a convenient method of application. There are tons of color options available to choose from, each with high-quality packaging providing quick and convenient makeup looks for all your body paint ideas without dirtying up your brushes.
Why Use Grease-Based Body Paint?
Though they may sound intimidating, grease paints are actually ideal for makeup newbies. Their smooth and easy application is perfect for covering minor blemishes, intensifying a gory wound, fixing prosthetic pieces, and more. However, note that grease body paint doesn’t set on the skin like traditional body paints and creams, making it essential to use a translucent powder to set your body paint ideas and a cold cream for makeup removal. Our top picks include:
RMG Appliance Wheel by Graftobian
Cream Color Circle UV – Dayglow by Kryolan Professional Make-Up
Rubber Mask Grease (RMG) by Graftobian
Appliance Make Up Kit by Graftobian
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RMG Appliance Wheel
An award-winning makeup artist designed this versatile grease paint makeup wheel by Graftobian with fellow artists’ needs in mind. The body paint color wheel specifically includes the most common colors used for covering and touching up prosthetic latex pieces and smoothing out unrealistic edges. In addition, the formulation is infused with castor oil, which mimics the natural oils produced by your skin, making people with sensitive skin less likely to break out from clogged pores.Â
Cream Color Circle UV – DayglowÂ
The eye-catching colors in Kryolan Professional Make-Up’s grease paint kit are not only vibrant but provide a slight glow under natural and UV light. If you’re headed to a haunted house or another dimly lit holiday event, these body paints light up and reveal stellar designs. The colors can be easily applied with a makeup brush or sponge and set with a finishing spray. If you want to extend the wear time, mist with a setting spray like Skindinavia’s Original Makeup Finishing Spray. For other Halloween looks and body paint ideas, Kryolan has several other Cream Color Circles, including Zombie, Burn & Injury, Bruise, and more for SFX.
Rubber Mask Grease (RMG)
If you’re looking for an affordable grease paint option for your body paint ideas, look no further than Graftobian’s individual grease paints with tons of pigmented color options. These castor oil-based products provide intense colors with a natural finish and are perfect for blending in prosthetic pieces or SFX makeup details. In addition, their convenient half-oz size makes them ideal for popping in a makeup kit on the go or picking a few different colors for your specific look.
Appliance Make Up Kit
Many people don’t have the products in their makeup kit necessary for correct grease paint and prosthetic application. So if you’re looking to build up your inventory, start with Graftobian’s Appliance Makeup Kit, which includes everything you could need for basic and SFX makeup looks. In addition to their high-quality grease body paints, this kit comes with liquids designed for applying and removing prosthetic pieces, blood gel, various sponges, setting powder, brushes, and a lining pencil for tiny details.
Which Body Paint Product is Right for You?
While there are endless body paints and creams out there to choose from, you want to select a long-lasting product with quality ingredients within your budget. Body paints are fantastic for makeup artists and enthusiasts alike, while cream and grease paints are forgivingly blendable, making them ideal for beginners. Check out Camera Ready’s expansive inventory of high-quality body paints to blow your next body paint ideas out of the water.
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Feeling Inspired? Visit Our YouTube Channel to Watch Our Halloween Makeup Tutorials:
How to Apply Prosthetics with Brittany Lessard
Dog Makeup Look by Kristen B Artistry
Alcohol vs Water Activated Paint with Nsomniaksdream
La Llorona by The Official Lola Rose
Glam Skulltress by PaigeMarieMakeup
Beetlejuice + Miss Argentina by The Official Lola Rose
Comic Book Pop Art by Kelly Tull
CATS with a Twist by Andie Piazza
Glam-Gore Witch by Rachel Quattlebaum
Butterfly Face Paint by Angie Lum
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About Camera Ready CosmeticsÂ
Camera Ready Cosmetics was founded in 2003 by Makeup Artist Mary Erickson. She dreamed of having a pro makeup showroom where artists could play with professional-grade products without the typical makeup store attitude.
Today, our team of beauty industry veterans works together to curate the best quality products on the market. We partner with brands who respect the industry and formulate products for true working artists. You won’t find CRC in high-end malls, and we don't wear matching brush belts.
 If you want to play with products for a few hours and buy nothing, that's okay ... come in and play! Our store is your playground.Â
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