Educating the public and helping the FP industry

So, I've been thinking that a LOT of parents just assume that if someone is painting on kids' faces, they know what they're doing and are using something safe. There are also a lot of people out there that honestly think it is ok to use craft paint on children's faces. So often, I see organizations (even government - parks and recreation department), schools, churches, non-profits... using craft paint and painting faces for free or a very small amount. Hey, I'm all for raising money for charity/schools/nonprofits, and making kids happy but why can't they use real face paint? Anyway, I think it will help the industry in general and parents and kids if I POST an information sheet, maybe poster size or maybe just a regular letter size paper that's laminated. It would be like a Public Service Announcement

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DON'T ALLOW CRAFT PAINTS ON YOUR CHILD!

Many people believe it is acceptable to use "non-toxic" craft paints for face painting. It is NOT SAFE. I use only face paints that are FDA approved for use on skin and cosmetic grade glitter. "Non-toxic" simply means small amounts can be ingested without harm. Even paints labeled "non-toxic" can cause a reaction if applied to the skin.

[photos of children with contact dermatitis]
These children were painted with craft paints and had a reaction known as contact dermatitis. Don't let this happen to your child!

ALWAYS ASK what kind of paints are being used on your child's face!

...some disclaimer about how anyone can be allergic to anything.

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.....something like that. What do you think? Good idea? Should we get some designed and printed together to save money? Are there any graphic designers here that would like to make it eye catching? Am I the only one who wants one?

Awesome!

Love it!

I've been wanting to post a note on my facebook page along these lines

LOVE I want one!

Maybe something like the big red circle with the slash mark in it indicating NO CRAFT PAINT.

I made a sign it's not as wordy but gets the point across.[b]http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/16/91/61/77/acryli11.jpg

I love this idea. i think its great. ill do some brain storming and have a play around with photoshop

I just had this printed on the back of our guild cards-

Yes! Awesome idea. My daughter had a reaction to some tempura paint that was used on her in kindergarten. It was a very mild reaction but it was on the forefront of my mind when I started face painting later that year. Education is power!

I believe I read a threat on here recently, where someone was sending a letter to their school, informing about craft paints, she had contacted some manufacturers of craft paint and had attached their answers to the letter. If parents read that the manufacturers do not reccomend their paints to be used as facepaint, I would think it would make an even bigger impact.

Geekophile, (sorry, I don't know your real name . . .) Do we have permission to use this image? I think it's nice and succinct. I like the idea of having just enough information to spark a conversation with parents about my products and policies. I think posting this sort of thing is a great idea.

Thanks Melissa! That's what I was going for- just enough information to get peoples' minds moving and start the conversation. I'm really proud of the way it turned out, both the wording and the Logo. The best impact would be to use the phrasing combined with your own logo (which is totally adoreable btw) Then it educates and advertises!

When I'm talking to anyone about this subject I like to give this easily relatable example: Everyone knows a little girl or woman who can't wear cheap earings. Those red puffy earlobes are a very common reaction to a nickle allergy. Nickle is a common allergen, but non-toxic. Because craft paint is not tested for use on skin, Nickle is a common ingredient. Imagine having that same earlobe reaction all over your face. Everyone gets it.

HillbillyDiva1 wrote:I made a sign it's not as wordy but gets the point across.[b]http://i41.servimg.com/u/f41/16/91/61/77/acryli11.jpg

Oh! I want that pic to add to my collection of bad acrylics! Where did you get it so I can get the rights to use it?

I have a photo in my booth w/ the same info & will hopefully be talking a bit about safe face paints when I do my Halloween segment on our local news.

*redStar* wrote:I believe I read a threat on here recently, where someone was sending a letter to their school, informing about craft paints, she had contacted some manufacturers of craft paint and had attached their answers to the letter. If parents read that the manufacturers do not reccomend their paints to be used as facepaint, I would think it would make an even bigger impact.

Ha ha, that was me! I don't want it to be too wordy, but I could add a line about how craft paint manufacturers specifically say not to use them on skin.

OtterGirl wrote:Geekophile, (sorry, I don't know your real name . . .) Do we have permission to use this image? I think it's nice and succinct. I like the idea of having just enough information to spark a conversation with parents about my products and policies. I think posting this sort of thing is a great idea.

I don't know about permission, but I do know where it came from. I think it's from http://www.facebook.com/charmandhappy
The photo is here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150378269125358&set=a.10150278622590358.372286.599445357&type=1

There are more photos here, and she credits where she gets them:
http://jinglesandtricia.blogspot.com/p/why-i-do-not-use-acrylics-for-face.html

Oh! I want that pic to add to my collection of bad acrylics! Where did you get it so I can get the rights to use it?

I got it on a thread here and who ever posted it said they had permission to post it everywhere. I can get that if my child was hurt like that I would want to spread the word the fastest way possible. Facebook and forums like these are the fastest way. If you called your local news they might do a story if it was a slow news day but that wouldn't travel as far as it does on the internet.