Face Painting Gifts for the Aspiring Painter

Know someone who loves face painting — or wants to get started? Face painting supplies make some of the best gifts because they're creative, hands-on, and genuinely useful.

Whether you're shopping for a kid who loves painting faces at sleepovers, a parent who wants to be the hero at birthday parties, or an aspiring artist building their kit, here's what to consider.

Starter Kits: The Best Gift for Beginners

If the person you're shopping for is brand new to face painting, a complete kit is the way to go. Everything they need in one box — paints, brushes, sponges, and sometimes even stencils.

Our Silly Face Fun Kits are a favorite because they come themed — holiday kits, character kits, and classic rainbow kits. They're designed so that a beginner can open the box and start painting immediately, with colors that work together for specific designs.

For someone who wants more flexibility, our Kits & Palettes collection includes build-your-own palette options where you can pick individual colors. Great for the artist who already knows what they want.

Rainbow Cakes: The "Wow" Gift

If you really want to impress a face painter, gift them rainbow cakes. These are multi-colored paint cakes that load onto a sponge in one stroke and create gorgeous blended effects — sunsets, tiger stripes, mermaid scales, floral gradients.

Rainbow cakes make any face painter look like a pro instantly. They're one of those products that people don't always buy for themselves but absolutely love receiving. Browse our rainbow cake collection — we carry everything from classic rainbows to single-tone ombre cakes.

Brushes and Sponges

Every face painter needs good tools. A quality brush set is a gift that gets used at every single gig, and a well-made brush lasts for years.

Check out our Brushes & Sponges collection for individual brushes and complete sets from Paint Pal. For sponges, we carry petal sponges, smoothie blenders, and more — essentials for smooth base coats and rainbow cake application.

Stencils: Speed and Versatility

Face painting stencils are a fantastic gift, especially for beginners. They make it possible to create intricate designs — scales, textures, patterns, detailed characters — without freehand skill. Stencils also speed up painting at events, which is essential once you start gigging.

We carry over 400 stencil designs. For a great starter gift, look for a set that covers the most-requested designs: butterflies, animals, sports themes, and textures. Mini stencils for cheek art are always a hit.

Glitter and Bling

Want to add some sparkle to their kit? Glitter is the ultimate face painting add-on. A few jars of Mama Clown cosmetic glitter or some gel glitter creams will make their designs pop.

For something extra special, add some gems and rhinestones — they're the finishing touch that turns a face paint design into something unforgettable.

Airbrush Gear

For the face painter who's ready to level up, airbrush supplies open up a whole new world. Airbrush tattoos are waterproof, fast to apply, and popular with teens and adults. It's a bigger investment, but for someone serious about the craft, airbrush gear is a game-changer.

Brush Care Supplies

Here's a practical gift that every face painter needs but rarely buys for themselves: brush cleaning supplies. Brush Bath and cleaning tools keep brushes sanitized and in great shape. It's like giving them a longer lifespan on all their favorite brushes.

Gift Ideas by Budget

Under $25:

• A few jars of cosmetic glitter
• Sponge packs
• Individual specialty brushes
• Mini stencil sets

$25–$50:

• Silly Face Fun Kit (themed paint kit)
• Brush collection set
• Rainbow cake set
• Stencil starter set

$50+:

• Deluxe paint kit with multiple cakes and tools
• Complete brush collection
• Airbrush starter setup

Not Sure What to Get?

If you're shopping for a face painter and aren't sure what they need, browse our best sellers to see what's most popular, or reach out to us and we'll help you pick the perfect gift. We do this all the time — especially around the holidays.