Believe it or not, you can’t just pick up your kitchen sink sponge for applying face paint! There are special sponges made to be used to apply paint to the face and body, which help to achieve the best possible look and finish without skin irritation.
What are the best sponges for face painting? The best sponge for face painting will depend on the look and effect you are going for. There are a few face painting sponges to choose from that give different textures and densities. However, it is important to choose a sponge that is made specifically for the purpose of face painting.
In order to achieve the exact look you want, here is how to choose the best sponge for face painting, and our top picks on the market at the moment!
Buyer’s Guide – Sponges for Face Painting
Starting out, it can be difficult choosing a face painting sponge that works best for you, and which helps you create face paint and body art that you want.
There are a few different types of face painting sponges to choose from, all with their own unique qualities, and all of which create different textures and effects.
Here are the three most common types of sponges used in face painting, and what they are best used for (and when you would need them)
Large Pore/Medium-Density Sponges
These are larger sponges that can hold a lot of paint at one time. These are ideal for covering a large area of skin with only one load of paint on the sponge. The large pores absorb a decent amount of paint, but still help to distribute this evenly on the skin.
You can also use this type of sponge to highlight and shade with face paint, which gives dimension. They are versatile and must-have sponges for a basic face painting kit.
Small Pore/Soft Sponges
Small pore sponges with a softer feel are good for applying colors from a split cake. Being smaller, they can be used for a wide range of techniques and can be used for smaller details as well.
These are the most popular type of sponges used for face painting. The one problem with these sponges is that they can easily leak paint onto your fingers if you squeeze the sponge slightly too hard.
Petal Sponges
Petal sponges feel very similar to the small pore sponges, but they have a more specific shape to them. Their shape allows you to easily stamp different shapes, such as flower petals or butterflies. They are a very handy tool to keep for face painting and work well on smaller areas.
The tip of the petal sponge can help create smaller details, while the bulb side can be used to cover bigger areas.
Do I Need Special Face Painting Sponges?
You do need to use special face painting sponges for face painting. You will not be able to get away with kitchen sponges or craft sponges. These are often way too soft or hard and will have the paint dripping onto your fingers, instead of waiting to be applied to the skin.
Using a sponge that is not made for face painting will leave uneven textures on the face and will leave you with a mess all over the place.
Special sponges made for face painting have also been designed to be used on the face and to work with facial features. You also do not want to take the chance of using a sponge that might not be safe for skin, and which could cause irritation.
It is best to stick to sponges made for the purposes of face painting. There are some great options out there, so there is no reason not to!
5 Best Sponges for Face Painting
Here are our top picks for the best sponges for face painting. We have included a few different types of face painting sponges to ensure that you find one that is perfect for whatever you need!
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Happy Shop Face Painting Sponges | 25 pack, circles, soft, odorless |
| 2. | Jest Paint Pro Face Painting Sponges | 6 pack, half-moon shape, |
| 3. | Lemimo Synthetic Artist Sponges | 30 pack, large-pore, medium-density |
| 4. | Ruby Red Paint Inc. Face Paint Petal Sponge | 12 pack, petal shape, safe for sensitive skin |
| 5. | Premium Black Half Moon Face Painting Sponges | 12 pack, half moon shape, for sensitive skin |
1. Happy Shop Face Painting Sponges
While these sponges are marketed as multi-purpose, they are great for face painting. They are the ideal size to hold comfortably in your hand and work well to cover larger areas of skin in paint, without needing to reapply paint to the sponge too often.
The sponges measure 2.8-inches in diameter and have a 1-inch height. They are made from good-quality, strong, water-absorbent material that helps to achieve a beautiful texture when painting. Soft and with no odor, they are great to use on different skin types.
There are 25 sponges included in the pack, so you will get many, many hours of use from them!
2. Jest Paint Pro Face Painting Sponges
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The Jest Paint Face Painting Sponges were specifically designed for face and body painting and allow you to create a multitude of different designs with ease.
The sponges can be easily manipulated with your fingers and can make wide to thin strokes and everything in between.
Designed by professional face painters, the sponges are made with safe materials that are soft and gentle on the skin. The darker color of the sponges also hides away stains and colors, so your sponges always look fresh and clean.
To make traveling with the sponges easy, you can compress them when in storage, and get them back to their normal size by just adding water when you need to use them again.
Safe to use on the skin, and with a half-moon design to help with different effects and textures, these are very handy sponges to keep with your face paints!
3. Lemimo Synthetic Artist Sponges
With this 30 pack of sponges, you have more than enough sponges for endless face painting and body art. These are standard large pore, medium-density sponges that can cover large areas of skin with just one application of paint.
The synthetic material is soft on the skin and will not cause irritation or scratching. Each sponge measures 3.15 x 3.15 x 0.98 inches, so is a great size to hold comfortably, and to work around the features and contours of the body.
These are the perfect sponges to keep in your face painting kit for almost any occasion and will help you achieve even textures and even coverages each time. They can be washed easily and dried quickly before being packed away to be used again.
4. Ruby Red Paint Inc. Face Paint Petal Sponge
These petal sponges are FDA compliant to be used on the face and the body and are safe enough to be used on children. The sponges are soft and not irritating and do not contain harsh chemicals that might cause inflammation to the skin.
The water-based sponges are easy to clean once used and can be used over and over again if cared for properly.
With the pointed tip being used for finer details, and the larger end used to cover bigger areas of skin, these petal sponges can help to create different looks and designs using face paint. They are more suited to adult features as they are slightly large in size.
Overall, they are good quality sponges that will help you make some beautiful painted creations!
5. Premium Black Half Moon Face Painting Sponges
This 6 pack of sponges is ideal for face painting, body art, and makeup. The sponges are soft and smooth, which makes them a great choice for blending and smoothing lines.
They are not scratchy at all, and will be gentle on all skin types, and are even ideal to use for children.
Being black in color, the sponges will not stain or hold onto any colors, meaning you can have fresh-looking, clean sponges in your kit, and not dirty-looking sponges that are covered in paint stains. This makes them perfect for professional face painters!
Easy to use and easy to clean, they are great for any face painting set and will last a long time if cared for properly. The half-moon sponges measure 3-inches in length and 1.5-inches in height and are around 1.25-inches thick. They are comfortable to hold and work well around facial features.
Related Questions
Can You Use Makeup Sponges for Face Painting?
You can use makeup sponges for face painting. A triangular makeup sponge would be the best option and helps when using split cakes. They are firm but still flexible enough to work around the contours of the face, while still applying the face paint evenly throughout.
What Brushes Are Best to Use for Face Painting?
The best brushes for face painting are round brushes, and these are the most popular, however, other brushes could be used for other face painting techniques as well. You just need to find one that works for you the best.
What Face Paints Do Professionals Use?
Most professional face painters use paraffin wax face paints. These are activated using water, and dry quickly while offering good coverage and allowing for fine lines and details. They may also use oil-based paints for long-lasting coverage.
Up Next: 7 Best Paints For Face Painting
