Face paints

[harverina]

Hi, dd is allergic to milk, eggs and nuts. She asked today to have her face painted in McDonald's. The face painter only had the individual tubs of paints and no ingredient list, so I didn't let her - is this neurotic of me? Is there is a risk of there being allergens in something like face paint? Things like nut oils always worry me in cosmetics, though I have not found anything like this in other face paints so far, but I didn't like to take the risk.

My dd had a really bad reaction to face paint from a school fete. Raised red rash in the shape of a princess crown across her forhead for at least a week. Pharmacist sent us straight to the doc to get a steroid cream. I don't know if it was the paint, brushes or whatever, but I do not let either of mine have it done now.

I don't think you're being neurotic - it's not worth the risk. Even if the paints were safe (and there's no way of telling), there is always the risk of cross-contamination from brushes which have been used on a child who has just eaten a cheeseburger.

Having said that, DS (also allergic to milk, eggs and nuts) had a brief Incredible Hulk obsession a few weeks ago, and demanded to "be green". I bought Snazaroo face/body paint from Hobbycraft, tested it on his arm and face, waited half an hour and ended up painting him sickly olive green from head to toe. He had no reaction, and was very happy - although it did take AGES in the shower to get it off again!

Thanks

Dd has had her face painted before at a nursery fete but the box was there and I could check the ingredients and I knew the person painting so I felt fairly confident that time.

I'm not sure how likely it would to have nut oils in a face paint but I wasn't willing to risk it and of course the risk of cross contamination would have been high too

For her birthday I will get face paints and she can go wild!

snazaroo paints are universally known to be good

surprisede the mcd painters didn't have details

I never let DS have his face painted due to his eczema but if he didn't have eczema I would probably still worry about his allergies so I totally understand where you are coming from x

Dd is allergic to snazaroo face paints which being a dancer has been a problem in the past.

She now uses a specialist stage brand called Grimas.

As an MCD worker who has facepainted there a lot, you are completely reasonable in your concerns.

Really it is on us to provide an allergen sheet and I always ask parents first if their child is allergic before accepting payment to double check. I use Snazaroo and from what I can tell it is pretty safe for most allergens but it's always best to check and not assume. My process with all customer service generally is if I don't have 100% certainty myself that it is safe, I won't recommend it. No face painter should take it personally if they are questioned about the allergens and will be at the most only slightly bummed if you decide not to get face paint in the end. There was one shift where I didn't have the allergen card on me and so many parents declined on that basis. It was a slight let down that could have been fixed easily but at the end of the day parents just want to look out for their children and your response, like many parents I see when painting, is reasonable.

However, also consider cross contamination. I am always shocked when other employees do not disinfect their pallets after each child. MCD is a food place after all and the brushes touch the face where traces may be, transfer to pallete and spread if not cleaned between children. General hygiene aside, if your child has particularly sensitive allergies or you just want to be on the safe side, request a pallete disinfectant. All it takes is a antibacterial wipe that removes the top layer of paint and germs off the pallets and fresh cleaning water and most painter will be happy to oblige.