Eco Child’s Play

Whether your child wants tiger stripes or just a few drops of vampire blood, the best Halloween costumes often come with a painted face. That’s a good thing in the eyes of safety experts who caution against masks, which can restrict breathing and obstruct vision, but not such a good thing when you think about what’s inside many face paint formulas.

Like many color cosmetics, face paints can contain parabens, phthalates, synthetic colors, fragrances and other potential toxins or allergens — even lead — and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t have the power to regulate them.

Earlier this year 43 Girl Scouts at an event in Ohio were left with red, bumpy rashes after using Shanghai Color Art Stationery Co. Ltd. face paint. This Halloween the FDA is cautioning parents. “Most of these products are completely safe, but there have been reports of adverse events and allergic reactions,” Linda Katz, director of the FDA’s Office of Cosmetics and Color told USA Today.

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So what can you do if your child needs a fabulous face to top off their costume? Start by looking for eco-friendly paints. Many that are labeled non-toxic still have ingredients that aren’t considered natural, but Artemis Natural Plant-Based Body Paints pass the green test. You’ll get a set of seven hues that are colored from plant, mineral and earth dyes and infused with sweet almond oil. They’re easy to remove with water, too.

If you can’t go natural, look for face paint labeled non-toxic, even better, look for the Art & Creative Materials Institute (ACMI) certification seal, which promise the product is non-toxic according to their standards. When in doubt, double check to see that the color ingredients are on the FDA’s list of safe color additives. Stay away from fluorescent, neon or glow-in-the-dark colors. They should not be used near the eyes and probably aren’t the best for anywhere on the skin. With any paints, natural or not, always do a patch test before you cover the whole face and don’t go to close to the eyes. Also, always be sure to remove the paint before your child crashes from her sugar high — you should never leave face paint on all night until the morning.

Image by felly1000 via Stock.xchng.com.

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