A young girl is dressed like a witch, and a young boy is dressed like a skeleton. They both wear face paint.
Halloween makeup is part of the fun, but find out how to make sure you and your kiddos don’t end up regretting the glitter. (For Spectrum Health Beat)

Will your little ghouls and goblins be wearing face paint, makeup or masks this Halloween?

With so many varieties of costume and theater makeup available these days, parents must consider the best options for their children’s skin care in order to avoid acne, rashes and allergic reactions.

Pediatric dermatologist Mary Yurko, MD, PhD, from Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, shares information to help keep the breakouts at bay.

Be on the lookout for:

  • Allergic reactions to ingredients
  • Irritation from makeup application and removal, or from adhesives such as whiskers and eyelashes
  • Acne breakouts from oil-based makeups

Tips to avoid irritations:

  • Consider theater makeup instead of costume cosmetics, or, better yet, mineral makeups.
  • Read ingredient labels in the products to look for substances to which you may be allergic, or are not approved by the FDA for use in makeup.
  • Avoid oil-based makeup.
  • Consider having makeup done by a salon or savvy parent, not by a fellow 12 year old.
  • Remove makeup promptly after trick-or-treating, and with mild washes or creams. Don’t go straight to bed with remnants stuck to your skin.
  • At least three days beforehand, test the new makeup product on a small area (such as your inner wrist or the side of your neck) to make sure you aren’t allergic to it.
  • If you are allergic to latex, avoid latex noses, masks and latex-based adhesives.
  • Consider a wig or a hat instead of temporary hair dyes that may damage the hair or not wash out.

If your child appears to be having an allergic reaction, remove the makeup right away. Contact your primary care provider and seek medical attention as some reactions may be more severe than others.