How Long Does Face Paint Last?

Question: How long does face paint last?

On skin, professional face paints typically last 6–12 hours, depending on activity, temperature, and whether you use setting spray or powder. For festivals or stage events, these techniques help extend wear.

In storage, unopened paints last 3–5 years, while opened cakes last 12–18 months. Keep them cool, dry, and away from sunlight. Always clean brushes before use to prevent contamination.

Tips: Discard paints that smell off, separate, or show mold. Using FDA-compliant paints, available at JestPaint.com, ensures safety and longevity.

Now the extended version

As far as SHELF LIFE goes, meaning how long the face paint is good for once opened, you have to look at the product label as the manufacturer should indicate in there how many months your face paint is good for once you start using it. That number usually shows up inside a little can with an open lid icon. Most face paints indicate a 12-18 months shelf life, once opened, and they do not have a stated overall life before opening, but we have seen face paints last as long as 5 years before starting to get hard or separating. 

How can you help your face paints stay in good shape while in storage?

1. Keep them away from direct sunlight
2. Keep them in a cool room
3. Always make sure the face paints are completely dry before putting them in storage
4. Keep lids on (once they have dried) to prevent dust from collecting on your makeup
5. You can spray them with a makeup sanitizer after each gig as an extra precaution

Following the above directions will help keep your makeup in top shop until the end of their shelf life.

Extra Tip: if you avoid double dipping your brushes or sponges into your makeup, you will avoid adding bacteria from the faces into your cakes.

In regards to how long it lasts ON SKIN that depends on many factors but the average face paint design can last anywhere between 1 and 12 hours depending on the following conditions:

• Product used: water activated face paints tend to last the least on skin, while alcohol or silicone based face paints tend to last the longest.
• Care: if you avoid exposure to water, sweat and constant friction or rubbing, your face paint will last much longer.
• Sealers: if you apply a skin barrier product like Mehron Skin Prep before you start face painting and then you apply Ben Nye Final Seal once the design is complete, your designs will last a lot longer. You can even apply Ben Nye setting powder on top of the Ben Nye Final Seal to make it more matte and less tacky. And if you want an even longer lasting design, activate your face paints using Mehron Mixing Liquid instead of water.
• Skin Prep: it is important to clean the skin well before applying any face paint if you want longer lasting results. Remove dirt, oils and sunscreen to start with a clean canvas.

Do you have even more questions? Visit our how long face paint lasts FAQ page to learn all about it.