Paints vs. heat and humidity

[sealmom]

This is my first year of painting and I find that Iowa (contrary to popular opinion) is a SWAMP for paints in the summer!!!  I have done a few outside events and my Wolfe paints are turning to mush.  Is there a better paint to use at summer outdoor events?  I LOVE my Wolfe paints when I'm inside or in air conditioning.  But outside... not so much!  Any insight would be GREATLY appreciated!
Lori

[Sherry]

I've heard that Grimas are good in the humidity, but I haven't tried them yet, because I don't know where you can buy them in the states.

 Have you tried powders?  I break out my Starblend powders when it gets too hot and they help.  Then I just add the linework and tell them not to touch it while they're sweaty... and to get out of the heat and let it dry before they touch it.

[sparklingfaces]

yeah - Same problem, but I dont really like the powder paints... they are just not vibrant enough for me.

but honestly it's better than having runy faces

[Wildcatfin]

Having worked mainly in Hong KongI tested a lot of the brands in high heat & humidity:

Snaz; the worst, sadly; 1st to melt; swapped away all pf mine except my fave sparkle yellow& orange and just tried to work with it when it went like mushy stringy pudding:(

Grimas; about the best, all round - sort of more powdery so didn't go chewy. BUT some Griams do leak a sort of coloured fluid - doesn't affect the paint but be aware they may need a paper towel or whatever under them when stored.
Paradise: OK but yellowy/ green/blues did eventually go stringy- 'chewy' as i call it.
Kryolan Aquacolours: metallics go a bit mushy but OK generally
DFX/ Wolfe/ TAG fine, but I don't use on faces that much.

I tried it all - ice blocks/ spare set in cooler (just makes the paints worse as they get condensation on them when they meet the actual normal air!), fans, you just have to put up with it and always try to be in a/c! Leaving mushy paints open near a dehumidifier eventually restores them a bit, don't try heating or fridging them, doesn't help.

Cat x

[reginanewsum]

Great info Cat. I am going to bookmark this for reference.

[Psalmbook]

In the humid summers I use the Starblend Powders or Ben Nye Lumiere Powders for base work & dfx/wolfe/tag for linework. It works pretty well. None of the designs are what I'd call my best work(not horrible either), but it still looks pretty good.

[reginanewsum]

I just received my first cakes of Starblends! I won them for first place in the WOW FACTOR STUFF Contest last month. I have yellow, pink and blue. Not sure how these are applied? I have never used them before. Dry? With sponge? Seems that these would be great in hot humid weather? Any help would be great.

[Sherry]

I apply dry with a smoothie or a powder puff that you can get in the cosmetic section at the store.

[LillyW]

There are two kinds of smoothies (well, that are used a BUNCH in face painting).  One has a wood handle, and are about $4 each.  The others have a plastic handle, and are about 50 cents each.  The wood ones have a nicer sponge, but not by much.   The don't last long at all.

I use the wood ones for my powders, and the plastics for my paints. Both can be used for either, it is just how I do it.  Here is a photo of my older kit.  You can see the powders on the right, and the paints on the left.  You can barely see the smoothies in that plastic tupperwear box.



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