Keeping your face paints in great condition is one of the best ways to make sure they always perform beautifully, last longer, and stay safe to use. Whether you’re a professional artist or just getting started, proper storage and care make a big difference in how your paints look, feel, and apply. At Jest Paint, we’ve worked with every major brand of professional face and body paint, and we’ve learned what really helps keep them fresh and performing at their best. Here’s our complete guide on how to store, maintain, and care for your face painting products. And if you want a simple easy to read FAQ page, you can visit our How to Store Face Paint Products FAQ section. 1. Understanding Face Paint Shelf Life Every brand and formula is a little different, but in general: Unopened face paints can last for several years if stored correctly. Once opened, most paints last about 12–18 months, depending on how they’re used and stored and on the declared shelf life posted on their label. Keep in mind that natural ingredients and varying pigments can react differently to environmental conditions, which means that two paints from the same brand might not age in exactly the same way. This is completely normal and not a sign of poor quality. The key is to store your paints correctly and check them regularly. If a product develops an unusual smell, visible mold, or a drastically changed texture, it’s time to replace it. 2. The Ideal Storage Environment Face paints are sensitive to temperature, humidity, and light. To keep them in top condition: Store in a cool, dry place. Avoid direct sunlight, heaters, or freezing temperatures. Keep lids tightly closed when not in use to prevent dust, air, or bacteria from getting inside. Let paints dry before closing. If you close a damp cake, trapped moisture can cause unwanted softness, separation, or mold. Avoid temperature extremes during transport. Heat can melt or warp products; cold can make them brittle. If you’re a traveling artist, consider insulated containers or foam inserts to help keep your paints secure and stable in your kit. 3. What to Do if Your Paint Cracks, Shrinks, or Separates Because professional face paints contain natural ingredients and glycerin-based binders, it’s normal for them to change slightly during storage. You might notice cracks, minor shrinkage, or a small amount of liquid separating on the surface. The good news: these changes are harmless and easily fixed. To rehydrate: Add a few drops of clean water to the surface and let it absorb. If the paint has lifted from its container: Add a few drops of water underneath and press gently to reset it. Once you activate the paint with water, it will mix back together and perform exactly as expected. 4. Caring for Brushes and Sponges Your brushes and sponges are just as important as your paints. Proper cleaning helps them last longer and keeps your kit sanitary. Never soak brushes with the handles or ferrules submerged, as water can loosen the glue holding the bristles. Wash thoroughly after each use with brush soap, gentle shampoo, or Jest Paint’s Brush and Body Wash. Reshape bristles after washing and dry them horizontally or upside down to prevent water from seeping into the handle. For sponges: Rinse with warm water and mild soap. You can also wash them in a mesh bag on a gentle cycle, then air dry completely before storing. Store brushes and sponges separately in clean containers or brush wallets to maintain their shape and hygiene. Clean tools help your face paints stay in great condition and prevent cross-contamination between colors. 5. Hygiene and Sanitation Tips Keeping your kit clean protects both your products and your clients. Sanitize surfaces and containers regularly using 70% isopropyl alcohol spray or an approved makeup sanitizer. Use clean water for activation—replace rinse water frequently while painting. Avoid double-dipping to prevent bacterial transfer. Allow paints to air-dry completely before packing your kit away. Inspect your products occasionally for signs of mold, odor, or major texture changes. These simple habits will help extend the life of your paints and ensure safe, professional results. 6. Daily Care and Handling Tips A few mindful habits go a long way in preserving your paints: Activate with the right amount of water. Too much water can cause the surface to become mushy; too little can make application uneven. Avoid scraping or digging into the cakes. Instead, gently load your brush or sponge on the surface. Wipe off excess paint or water after each use to prevent buildup. Air-dry before storing. This one step alone can significantly extend your paint’s usable life. Use foam inserts or cases to keep your paints stable during transport and prevent cracking or contamination. 7. Long-Term Storage and Travel For artists who travel frequently or have large kits: Store your main stock at home in a stable, climate-controlled space. Rotate paints—use older ones first so nothing sits unused for too long. Label your paints with open dates to track freshness. Avoid leaving kits in hot cars or cold garages for long periods. If your environment is particularly humid, you can place a small silica gel packet (the kind used in electronics or shoes) in your kit to help absorb moisture. 8. Caring for Other Products in Your Kit Don’t forget about your glitter gels, split cakes, and liquid face paints. Liquid face paints: Keep the lids tightly closed, shake before each use, and avoid introducing extra water into the bottle. Glitter gels: Store them tightly sealed to prevent them from drying out. If they thicken, a tiny bit of distilled water can help restore texture. Split cakes: Treat them like solid colored paints—allow to dry before closing and avoid contamination by using clean tools. Final Thoughts Your face paints are an investment in your artistry. A little care and attention will make them last longer, perform better, and keep you ready for any event. At Jest Paint, we recommend treating your paints as living materials—they respond to their environment, and with the right care, they’ll continue to deliver vibrant, reliable results for years. If you ever have questions about storage, reactivation, or product care, our team is always here to help.
Keeping your face paints in great condition is one of the best ways to make sure they always perform beautifully, last longer, and stay safe to use. Whether you’re a professional artist or just getting started, proper storage and care make a big difference in how your paints look, feel, and apply.
At Jest Paint, we’ve worked with every major brand of professional face and body paint, and we’ve learned what really helps keep them fresh and performing at their best. Here’s our complete guide on how to store, maintain, and care for your face painting products.
And if you want a simple easy to read FAQ page, you can visit our How to Store Face Paint Products FAQ section.
1. Understanding Face Paint Shelf Life
Every brand and formula is a little different, but in general:
-
Unopened face paints can last for several years if stored correctly.
-
Once opened, most paints last about 12–18 months, depending on how they’re used and stored and on the declared shelf life posted on their label.
Keep in mind that natural ingredients and varying pigments can react differently to environmental conditions, which means that two paints from the same brand might not age in exactly the same way. This is completely normal and not a sign of poor quality.
The key is to store your paints correctly and check them regularly. If a product develops an unusual smell, visible mold, or a drastically changed texture, it’s time to replace it.
2. The Ideal Storage Environment
Face paints are sensitive to temperature, humidity, and light. To keep them in top condition:
-
Store in a cool, dry place. Avoid direct sunlight, heaters, or freezing temperatures.
-
Keep lids tightly closed when not in use to prevent dust, air, or bacteria from getting inside.
-
Let paints dry before closing. If you close a damp cake, trapped moisture can cause unwanted softness, separation, or mold.
-
Avoid temperature extremes during transport. Heat can melt or warp products; cold can make them brittle.
If you’re a traveling artist, consider insulated containers or foam inserts to help keep your paints secure and stable in your kit.
3. What to Do if Your Paint Cracks, Shrinks, or Separates
Because professional face paints contain natural ingredients and glycerin-based binders, it’s normal for them to change slightly during storage. You might notice cracks, minor shrinkage, or a small amount of liquid separating on the surface.
The good news: these changes are harmless and easily fixed.
-
To rehydrate: Add a few drops of clean water to the surface and let it absorb.
-
If the paint has lifted from its container: Add a few drops of water underneath and press gently to reset it.
Once you activate the paint with water, it will mix back together and perform exactly as expected.
4. Caring for Brushes and Sponges
Your brushes and sponges are just as important as your paints. Proper cleaning helps them last longer and keeps your kit sanitary.
-
Never soak brushes with the handles or ferrules submerged, as water can loosen the glue holding the bristles.
-
Wash thoroughly after each use with brush soap, gentle shampoo, or Jest Paint’s Brush and Body Wash.
-
Reshape bristles after washing and dry them horizontally or upside down to prevent water from seeping into the handle.
-
For sponges: Rinse with warm water and mild soap. You can also wash them in a mesh bag on a gentle cycle, then air dry completely before storing.
-
Store brushes and sponges separately in clean containers or brush wallets to maintain their shape and hygiene.
Clean tools help your face paints stay in great condition and prevent cross-contamination between colors.
5. Hygiene and Sanitation Tips
Keeping your kit clean protects both your products and your clients.
-
Sanitize surfaces and containers regularly using 70% isopropyl alcohol spray or an approved makeup sanitizer.
-
Use clean water for activation—replace rinse water frequently while painting.
-
Avoid double-dipping to prevent bacterial transfer.
-
Allow paints to air-dry completely before packing your kit away.
-
Inspect your products occasionally for signs of mold, odor, or major texture changes.
These simple habits will help extend the life of your paints and ensure safe, professional results.
6. Daily Care and Handling Tips
A few mindful habits go a long way in preserving your paints:
-
Activate with the right amount of water. Too much water can cause the surface to become mushy; too little can make application uneven.
-
Avoid scraping or digging into the cakes. Instead, gently load your brush or sponge on the surface.
-
Wipe off excess paint or water after each use to prevent buildup.
-
Air-dry before storing. This one step alone can significantly extend your paint’s usable life.
-
Use foam inserts or cases to keep your paints stable during transport and prevent cracking or contamination.
7. Long-Term Storage and Travel
For artists who travel frequently or have large kits:
-
Store your main stock at home in a stable, climate-controlled space.
-
Rotate paints—use older ones first so nothing sits unused for too long.
-
Label your paints with open dates to track freshness.
-
Avoid leaving kits in hot cars or cold garages for long periods.
If your environment is particularly humid, you can place a small silica gel packet (the kind used in electronics or shoes) in your kit to help absorb moisture.
8. Caring for Other Products in Your Kit
Don’t forget about your glitter gels, split cakes, and liquid face paints.
-
Liquid face paints: Keep the lids tightly closed, shake before each use, and avoid introducing extra water into the bottle.
-
Glitter gels: Store them tightly sealed to prevent them from drying out. If they thicken, a tiny bit of distilled water can help restore texture.
-
Split cakes: Treat them like solid colored paints—allow to dry before closing and avoid contamination by using clean tools.
Final Thoughts
Your face paints are an investment in your artistry. A little care and attention will make them last longer, perform better, and keep you ready for any event.
At Jest Paint, we recommend treating your paints as living materials—they respond to their environment, and with the right care, they’ll continue to deliver vibrant, reliable results for years.
If you ever have questions about storage, reactivation, or product care, our team is always here to help.
