Acrylic paint is an extremely versatile type of paint. It can be used for most projects such as canvas paintings, wood projects, and even glass. Some people might even use it as face paint.
People are now getting more and more creative by choosing alternative solutions to just basic makeup. But can really use acrylic paint as eyeliner? While you can use acrylic paint as eyeliner, it’s generally not recommended due to the toxic chemicals it may contain.
In this article we go over what you need to know for using acrylic paint as eyeliner, and even alternative ways to incorporate the paint in your makeup routine.
Let’s get started!
Can You Put Acrylic Paint on Your Eyes?
You can. However, it’s not recommended.
We know that a lot of people out there, have come up with some fancy designs where they put acrylic paint on their eyes. While artists do this perhaps for a photoshoot, or some other type of art, it’s not highly recommend.
Acrylic paint is not designed be used on the skin. It is however relatively safe in comparison to other paints. Acrylic paint is water based, and most of them are non-toxic nowadays, so applying acrylic paint for a short time won’t probably lead to any issues.
However, if you have sensitive skin, or have known allergies, it can potentially be a problem. Check out this article that talks about acrylic paint causing allergic reactions.
If you are looking for non-toxic acrylic paint, that is even safe for kids, then I recommend this Apple Barrel Set. This set is non-toxic comes with tons of vibrant colors. You can imagine that kids get paint everywhere, so it’s safe to say it’s okay for short term use on your skin.
If you don’t take precautions with a skin-safe paint, the real problem occurs if and when the acrylic paint irritates your eyes. You have to remember that in order to get pigment in paint, small chemicals need to be added. The pigment that goes into acrylic paint isn’t as small and smooth like in actual face paint.
This means that you will have small particles going into your eyes. This can cause a huge amount of eye irritation. All it takes is a small amount. At the same time, people apply a small amount of acrylic paint and mix it with their makeup. This gives it a more vibrant look. Again, doing this isn’t the most recommended thing out there, so it’s at your own risk.
Is It Safe to Put Acrylic Paint on Your Lips?
Not exactly. Now, it is fair to say that acrylic paint is some of the safest paint that you can possibly buy. However, it hasn’t been designed for the skin, and it’s typically not tested on it either.
If you put acrylic paint on your lips, there is a small chance that you will ingest some of it. While we cannot say that the acrylic paint is going to cause you any long term damage if you swallow small amounts, do you really want to take that risk?
It is also worth noting that some colors of acrylic paint contain some awful ingredients that can cause damage, such as lead. Again, it isn’t really something that is going to cause many issues if you only consume a small amount but, let’s be honest, why would you want to be consuming lead in the first place? It really makes no sense.
My top recommendation for skin safe paint, is this Arteza non-toxic paint set. It doesn’t contain those harsh chemicals so it’s safe to be used on skin.
What Happens if I Get Acrylic Paint in My Eyes?
It’s important that you rinse and wash your eyes immediately after it makes contact. You will need to use clean water for this, and gently rinse your eyes to make sure no paint remains on them.
Ideally, you will be hunched over a sink with running water. You will then want to pull your eyelid down and splash as much water in there as you can. We won’t lie, it is going to be uncomfortable, but it is the only way that you are going to be getting that acrylic paint out of your eye.
The longer you leave the paint in your eye, the higher the chances are it will cause damage. As we said before, the pigment inside of the paint is not going to be finely ground up. This means that it runs the risk of scratching your eyeball.
If you notice any issues with your vision beyond a bit of irritation, then it is important that you visit your Doctor or a hospital as soon as you can. Although it most likely won’t be serious, it’s always a good idea to get checked out if the problem persists.
What Happens if I Accidentally Eat Acrylic Paint?
If you put acrylic paint on your lips and accidentally ate it, there isn’t really much you can do about it. Just keep an eye on your health over the next day or so.
Accidentally eating a lot of paint would be a different story, but small amounts of paint shouldn’t really be a cause for concern unless you are doing it regularly.
You may also want to drink plenty of fluids, as it may help dilute the swallowed acrylic paint quicker. Although, your stomach should be doing a pretty decent job of that anyway. Ingesting a small amount of paint isn’t very serious, but if you happen to be allergic to certain chemicals, it’s good to get checked out.
What Paint Is Safe as Eyeliner?
The only paint that you should be using as eyeliner will be face paints and, even then, they may not work as well as you would hope. This is because they are also water-based and they will start to smudge if you sweat even a little bit.
This set, is my top recommendation for quality face paints. Many artists use this set to create vibrant face art.
You can combat the smudging a little bit if you add some powder around the eye before you apply the face paint. Although, once again, you will want to ensure that whatever powder you use around your eyes will have been rated for use on the face.
You should never, ever be putting something anywhere close to your eyes that has not been rated for use on the skin.
Final Thoughts
While there are some people that will use acrylic paint as an eyeliner, I really wouldn’t recommend it. The risk of eye irritation is always there. If you must paint around your eyes then you should use face paint, like the one recommend above.
Always remember to be safe and use non-toxic acrylic paint if you are applying it to your skin. Also, don’t forget to check out my other articles for all your acrylic painting Q&A’s. Happy painting!
