There’s a unique kind of magic in face paint. It’s the instant, delighted gasp of a child when they see their reflection, transformed into a roaring tiger or a sparkling butterfly. It’s the “wow” factor at a festival, the final, perfect touch on a Halloween costume, or the communal joy of supporting a sports team with vibrant, painted faces.
This art form, whether practiced professionally at high-paying gigs or joyfully in a backyard for a birthday party, requires more than just creativity. It requires the right tools.
If you’re just starting, you might be tempted to grab that “face paint” palette from the seasonal aisle at your local big-box craft store. Stop right there. This is the single biggest mistake a new painter can make. Most of those cheap, chalky paints are craft-grade, not cosmetic-grade. They are often not skin-safe, can cause severe allergic reactions, will crack and fade within minutes, and stain the skin for days.
To truly create magic, you need professional-grade, cosmetic-safe paints. These paints are vibrant, water-activated, blendable, comfortable to wear, and—most importantly—designed to be safely applied to human skin.
But where do you find them? The internet has opened up a world of possibilities, moving us beyond the limited selection of theatrical supply shops. Now, specialist online stores cater specifically to face and body artists, offering a dazzling array of brands, tools, and educational resources.
Choosing the right store is almost as important as choosing the right paint. A great store doesn’t just sell you a product; it becomes a partner in your artistic journey.
What Makes a Great Online Face Paint Store?
Before we dive into our top 3, let’s establish our criteria. We didn’t just pick the stores with the most products. We looked for a balance of these key factors:
- Product Quality & Safety: This is non-negotiable. A top-tier store will only stock brands that are compliant with cosmetic regulations (like FDA and EU standards). This means the pigments are skin-safe, non-toxic, and hypoallergenic.
- Curated Selection & Variety: It’s not just about how many products, but which ones. A great store carries the industry’s most trusted brands (like Mehron, Wolfe, TAG, Diamond FX, Fusion, etc.). They offer a wide range of products, including essential one-stroke cakes, split cakes, individual colors, palettes, powders, and liquids.
- The “Extras” (Tools of the Trade): Face painting isn’t just paint. It’s brushes (round, flat, filbert, flora), sponges (high-density, stipple, petal), stencils, cosmetic glitter (never craft glitter!), practice heads, and cleaning supplies. A “one-stop shop” that stocks high-quality tools is a massive bonus.
- Customer Service & Community: This is what separates a good store from a great one. Are they just a warehouse, or are they painters? Can you email them a question about a product and get an informed answer? Do they have a community presence? Do they actively support the art form?
- Shipping & Reliability: When you have a paid gig on Saturday, you can’t afford for your paint to arrive next Tuesday. Fast, reliable shipping and accurate inventory are critical.
- Educational Resources: The best stores invest in their customers’ success. They provide blogs, video tutorials, and product comparisons to help you learn, grow, and get the most out of your purchase.
With these criteria in mind, we’ve done the brushwork for you. Here are our definitive picks for the top 3 best online face paint stores.
#3 – Silly Farm
Check them out here: Silly Farm
Silly Farm is a true institution in the face painting world. If you’ve been in the industry for any length of time, you know their name. Based in Florida, they have been a foundational pillar of the community for years, and their playful, vibrant branding perfectly matches the art form they support.
They are perhaps most famous for their connection to FABAIC (the Face and Body Art International Convention), one of the world’s largest and most beloved face painting conventions. This isn’t just a store; it’s a company run by people who are deeply embedded in, and passionate about, the international body art scene.
Product Selection
Silly Farm’s strength lies in its own branded products. They are the creators of the hugely popular “Silly Farm” brand of paints and, most notably, their “Rainbow Cakes” and “Arty Cakes.” They were pioneers in popularizing these multi-colored split cakes that allow painters to create stunning rainbow effects, flower petals, and tiger stripes with a single load of a 1-inch or 3/4-inch brush. For many party painters, these cakes are the backbone of their kit, enabling fast, high-impact designs that “wow” the crowd.
They also carry FAB, their in-house brand of paint, which is known for its bright, opaque coverage and is a solid competitor to other major brands.
While they heavily promote their own lines, they also stock a wide variety of other industry favorites. You’ll find a great selection of TAG, Wolfe FX, Diamond FX, and more. They also have an extensive inventory of stencils, brushes, sponges, and a fantastic, dazzling array of glitters from their “Pixie Paint” line.
The “Extras” & Education
Silly Farm’s website is a goldmine for more than just paint. They have one of the largest selections of stencils on the market, including the popular “Art Factory” stencils, which are perfect for adding quick, intricate-looking details to any design.
Their educational content is top-notch. Their YouTube channel is packed with tutorials from company owner Heather Green and a host of other sponsored artists. The content is often geared toward party and event painters, focusing on speed, efficiency, and popular, in-demand designs (like superheroes, princesses, and animals). They frequently host sales and promotions, making them a great place to stock up and save money.
Why We Love Them
Silly Farm feels like the fun, established, reliable “party” store. They are a powerhouse for a reason. They understand the business of face painting, especially for event professionals, and they provide the exact tools needed to be successful: fast, colorful, and fun. Their history with FABAIC gives them unparalleled credibility.
If you’re looking to build a kit focused on bright, fast, one-stroke party designs, Silly Farm is an outstanding choice.
#2 – FacePaint.com
Check them out here: FacePaint.com
If Silly Farm is the established “party,” FacePaint.com is the colossal “everything warehouse” where the party supplies are stored—and we mean that in the best way possible.
Based in Michigan, FacePaint.com’s unique selling proposition is sheer, unadulterated volume and variety. Their goal seems to be to stock everything a face painter, body painter, theatrical makeup artist, or Halloween enthusiast could ever possibly need. If you’re an artist who loves to mix and match brands, this is your paradise.
Product Selection
This is where FacePaint.com truly shines. They are brand-agnostic and carry an absolutely massive inventory from nearly every major player in the game. Their brand list is a “who’s who” of professional makeup:
- Mehron: Including the legendary Paradise AQ palettes and StarBlend powders.
- Wolfe FX: A staple for crisp, perfect linework (their black and white are industry standards).
- Diamond FX: Known for their incredibly bright, vibrant, wax-based paints.
- TAG: A favorite for one-stroke designs and pearlescent, shimmery colors.
- Kryolan: A high-end, German theatrical brand known for its Aquacolor line.
- Graftobian: Another theatrical giant, especially known for their ProPaint line.
- …and many, many more.
This massive selection makes them the ultimate one-stop shop. You can buy your favorite black from Wolfe, your bright colors from Diamond FX, your shimmer palette from TAG, and your sponges from Mehron, all in a single order.
Beyond Face Paint
What truly elevates FacePaint.com is its extensive stock of Special Effects (SFX) makeup. This is a major differentiator. They cater not just to face painters but to theatrical and Halloween artists, stocking everything from liquid latex, scar wax, and rigid collodion to 3rd-degree silicone, spirit gum, and a truly dizzying array of stage blood and prosthetics.
They also have a gigantic selection of cosmetic glitter (loose, gel, chunky) and bling clusters (self-adhesive gems), which are essential for adding that final, professional sparkle.
The “Extras” & Experience
The website is a massive, searchable database. While it may lack the “boutique” feel of our #1 pick, it is incredibly functional. The filtering system is robust, allowing you to shop by brand, color, or product type. They also have a solid loyalty program and run frequent sales.
Their customer service is highly rated for its efficiency. This is a store built for the working professional who knows exactly what they need and wants to get it quickly and reliably.
Why We Love Them
FacePaint.dcom is the “Amazon” of the face paint world. They are the essential one-stop shop for the artist who needs variety. The professional painter who needs a specific shade of Mehron Paradise, a block of Wolfe Black, a set of stencils, and a bottle of fake blood for a different gig can get it all in one box, with one shipping fee. Their commitment to inventory volume and brand diversity is unmatched.
#1 – Jest Paint
Experience the Jest Paint difference: Jest Paint
And now, for our number one spot. Taking the crown as the best online face paint store is Jest Paint.
If FacePaint.com is the “everything” warehouse and Silly Farm is the established “party,” Jest Paint is the meticulously curated, boutique art studio run by master artists, for artists.
Shopping at Jest Paint feels different. It doesn’t feel like a transaction; it feels like you’re being welcomed into a professional community. This store isn’t just about selling products; it’s about elevating the art form and empowering painters to be their best.
Based in Michigan, Jest Paint is owned and operated by Anna and Santi, two professional face painters with a deep passion for the craft. This is the secret ingredient that makes all the difference. They are not just retailers; they are artists who use these products every day.
The Jest Paint Difference: Curation Over Volume
The core philosophy of Jest Paint is curation. Anna and Santi personally test everything that comes through their doors. They are notoriously picky, and if a product doesn’t meet their high standards for pigmentation, blendability, safety, and durability, they simply do not stock it.
This is an incredible value-add for painters, especially beginners. You are protected from the “duds.” You can shop with absolute confidence, knowing that every single item on their site, from the most expensive palette to the cheapest sponge, has been vetted and approved by world-class professionals. This saves artists priceless time, money, and frustration.
The Owners & Unmatched Education
This is where Jest Paint truly laps the competition. The store is a reflection of its owners’ commitment to education. Their YouTube channel is, without argument, one of the single most valuable face paint resources on the entire internet.
Anna and Santi (and their team) produce an endless stream of high-quality, in-depth tutorials, product comparisons, and honest reviews. They don’t just show you a product and say “buy this.” They show you how to use it. They will compare five different brands of white paint side-by-side, showing you the pros and cons of each for linework, for blending, and for base coating. They will troubleshoot common problems, like paint cracking or sponges absorbing too much water.
This builds a level of trust that is simply unparalleled. You’re not buying from a faceless corporation; you’re buying from your mentors.
Product Highlights (The “Must-Haves”)
While Jest Paint stocks all the best brands (they were one of the first and biggest champions of Fusion Body Art), their in-house products are industry legends.
- Bolt Brushes: This is their exclusive, in-house brush line, and it is a game-changer. Designed by painters, the “Bolt” line has the perfect bristle length, snap, and shape for everything you need. The “Bolt” liners are famous for creating exquisitely crisp linework and teardrops. Their one-stroke brushes hold a clean edge and release paint smoothly. Many professional painters will use only Bolt brushes.
- Jest Paint Brand Split Cakes: Like Silly Farm, Jest Paint has its own line of “Rainbow Cakes” (split cakes), and they are magnificent. They are designed by artists with specific looks in mind, like the “Leanne’s Rainbow” collection (created with artist Leanne Courtney), “Fairy Blossom,” or “Tiger.” The color combinations are smart, unique, and incredibly vibrant.
The Shopping Experience
The website is a dream to navigate. It’s clean, fast, and organized intuitively. But the magic is in the product descriptions. They are not copy-pasted from the manufacturer. They are written by Anna and Santi, packed with personal tips, application advice, and honest insights.
And then there’s the customer service. It’s legendary. Emails are answered promptly by people who actually know about face paint. It feels less like “customer support” and more like asking a fellow painter for advice.
Finally, their shipping is famously fast and reliable. In the face painting world, “Jest Paint fast” is a common phrase. They understand that a last-minute gig or a depleted kit requires urgency, and they consistently deliver.
Why They’re Our Number One
Jest Paint wins because they represent the absolute best of the face painting community. They masterfully combine the three pillars of a perfect store:
- Impeccable, Curated Products: They only sell the best, including their own exclusive and innovative product lines that have become industry standards.
- Unmatched, Free Education: They don’t just sell you paint; they teach you how to be a better artist, building a loyal community that trusts them implicitly.
- Authentic Passion: They are run by artists, for artists. Every aspect of the business, from the website design to the customer service, is infused with a genuine passion for the craft.
Shopping at Jest Paint doesn’t just get you supplies; it makes you a better painter.
Honorable Mentions
While those are our top three comprehensive stores, a few others deserve a shoutout:
- Mehron: Mehron – The “granddaddy” of theatrical makeup. While you can buy their products at our other featured stores, their direct site is a great resource, especially for their Paradise and StarBlend lines.
- Kryolan: Kryolan – Another high-end, professional theatrical brand. Their “Aquacolor” line is a favorite in theater and film, and their direct site is the best place to see their full, extensive range.
- Your Local Store! Don’t forget to check Google Maps for “theatrical supply” or “magic” shops in your area. While the selection might be smaller, sometimes you just need to see a color in person or grab a last-minute sponge, and supporting a local business is always a great choice.
Final Thoughts
The right online store is more than just a place to spend money; it’s a partner in your creativity. It’s your source of inspiration, your well of education, and your reliable provider of the tools you need to make magic.
Whether you choose the established party vibes and “Rainbow Cakes” of Silly Farm, the massive “everything” warehouse and SFX selection of FacePaint.com, or the meticulously curated, educational-first “artist’s studio” of our #1 pick, Jest Paint, you are now equipped to buy professional, safe, and high-quality supplies.
Now, grab a brush, a cup of water, and some vibrant, skin-safe paint. Go unleash your inner artist and create some joy.
Who is your go-to face paint supplier? Did we miss your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!