For a kid's birthday party, you can paint faces yourself for fun – whether just a small flower or spider web on the cheek or a full face tiger mask. Older kids can also use face paint themselves or try paint pencils on each other. Always use water-based paints which clean off easily with mild soap and water. Get paints that display an FDA approval for cosmetics. According to the FDA's website, the law says that color additives have to be approved by FDA for use in cosmetics, including color additives in face paints and theatrical makeup. If an ingredient is in question, look up the color on the FDA's website. Lots of kids have sensitive skin so try your best to get non-toxic product and apply them gently.

You can apply most of these paints with a sponge, brush or your finger. Kits are sometimes sold with brushes but you might want to pick up make-up sponges at Ricky's or your favorite source. Here are some paint ideas to get started. Water-based, easy to use (and remove) NunoOrganic Face Painting Pencils, are lots of fun. They come in a set of six, featuring white, yellow, red, blue, green and black pencils. Other, water-soluble crayons are Ben Nye's Johnny Brown for paint on colors without a brush. For water-based, non-toxic face paints, try Palmer —single pots in a set or individual in 2 oz. and 8 oz. bottles. Graftobian also makes interesting water-based paints as well as brush on glitter.

Reference books are available too: Face Painting by Inc. Klutz and Thomas Heinser The Usborne Book of Face Painting by Chris Caudron Face Painting (Kids Can Do It) by Patricia Silver and many more... If all this fails, remember that KidPartiesNYC.com lists some excellent face painters for hire. Scroll through our list under activities.