If your child plans to wear a costume, put that on before you start face-painting to avoid unwanted smudges

Practice on your arm if you need a confidence-boost

Dab the corner of a make-up sponge or Dab the corner of a make-up sponge or soft-bristled brush in water – and start painting

Enhance the look with non-metallic Enhance the look with non-metallic sparkles (use non-toxic, fabric-based glitter – to apply, dip the opposite end of the paintbrush into water, dry off excess, dip into glitter and roll the glitter onto the face)

Finish the look with fun accessories like Finish the look with fun accessories like matching hair clips, an Alice band with boppers, or animal ears

Have your camera ready to capture your work for the family scrapbook

Painting young faces – 6 tips

Palette of face paints in a variety of colours – try the Chad Valley Face Paints from Argos, which include an easy-to-use stencil

Small round brush and three-quarter inch flat brush – watercolour brushes from an art shop are ideal

Make-up spongeMake-up sponge

Cup of water

Misting spray bottle, to keep sponges and brushes moist

Baby wipes – use to fix mistakes and clean up young faces

What you’ll need

Here are two fun designs to start you off:

Face painting is one of the most fun and popular activities on the children’s party circuit today, but it can also provide entertainment for pre-teens. To get over-excited children to calm down and sit still long enough to be painted, it helps to distract them by telling them a story while you’re painting.story while you’re painting.

Face painting

© Argos Limited 2013. All Rights Reserved. 1