How to Paint on a Party Mask

Party masks give revelers a sense of anonymity--that is perfect for partiers who may want to shed their daily persona for one that is less inhibited. However, wearing a slide on plastic mask can get tiresome. They are difficult to breathe in and if you want to smooch or take a sip of cocktail, you will have to shed your party face. Planning to attend a Mardi Gras party or parade? Wear a paint on party mask! If applied correctly, your party face will stay in place all day (or night) long.

Wear face primer and foundation. These layers of products do a few things--protect your skin from any irritation and keep those colors in place.

Start by applying your eye makeup. Don't forget--this is a party! Now is the time to wear bold colors. Typically, the best eye makeup for a party mask is dark shadow on the lower lid, mid tone in the crease and wear the highlighter up to the brow. Line your eyes with black or a colorful, blue or purple eyeliner.

Press silver, gold or copper metallic face paint along the bridge of your nose and between your eyes. Use a small sponge to apply the face paint. Dip a small paintbrush in the face paint. Make some squiggly, vertical lines between the eyes. Hide the sponge marks with the lines.

Dampen another small sponge slightly with water. Press this into purple or pink face paint or if you went with blue eyeshadow, select colors from that color palette. Dab on color over the eyelid, moving upward over the brows. Create a diagonal flow with the paint and then press the color under the eye. (Think about making a mask shape as you press.) The party mask can encircle one or both the eyes.

Dip your index finger in glitter glue. Press the glitter along the outside of the eye, where the mask ends.

Use another paintbrush and paint small specks of dark color above the eyes. This will make the eye mask have a festive look around the edges.

Get bold contrast. Select a contrasting color like peacock blue and add more paint touches to the edges of the mask. Layer the colors. Experiment with what looks good.

Finish by swirling on more silver with the paintbrush. Outline the bridge of the nose with the silver and paint under the eyes too. 

While you wear your mask, avoid touching your face or rubbing your eyes. No matter how much primer you use, it won't help if you rub the makeup away. Have fun in your paint on party mask.