Using primer before face painting

[Catalina]

I have been reading that some painters use regular makeup primer under the face painting. I imagine that would be tough to do on kids (and parents might mind), but for yourself and adults that need to have the art remain longer - has anyone use  primer before?
Any preferences or advices against?

I probably will try it on myself before my first job this Halloween - hopefully my own painting will last longer.

[reginanewsum]

hmmmmm let me know how it works out and what products you use?  I just got a pretty big gig for halloween. A pretty well known band in our area dresses like KISS and I am going to do their faces! I would say that they will have their faces on for about 6 hours or more! Hot sweaty men beating on the drums and guitars! hahahaha 

[Party Picassos Facepainting]

I don't think I have ever used a primer at parties and fests. Takes extra time, that you may not have.
I am impatient, waiting for paints to dry. Try without it. I think you should be happy. If you have a solid initial coat, it will work. I am always thinking of how I can be faster. Face painters usually have more kids than we need. You will become VERY popular.

Also make a board with a small number of samples. Practice those over and over.
You'll get your speed up. Don't take requests. Sometimes I offer so many designs, that
I slow up. "Where do I put that line?" Then you have to think it out before you put the brush on their face.
Takes more time.

Think positive thoughts. You're gonna be great.

[Wildcatfin]

This is another thing either from make-up artists or people using unsafe paint. Makeup artists use primer/ bases, yes, cos they are doing a different thing with different products to us.

I have seen people using bases because they were using acrylic (etc) 'facepaint' which stated on the label that it was not to contact skin! Excuse me but surely if its not safe on skin, putting it over a base won't help much, it can still easily get into eyes/ mouth. Horrible.

Any base thats NOT facepaint generally muddies up your facepaint or can make it harder to get a decent base/ design on the top of it. Think of when you paint an adult already coated in their own makeup, it can go wrong when yours mixes with it!

So no don't bother, especially not on kids. When I'm painting models I do often let them put base where I won't be painting, or even use a skin tone paint myself.

Cat x