Halloween is such a fun holiday for our kids, but making sure it is a safe one falls on our hands as moms. I first made a version of this natural face paint when my twins were babies, in fear of putting unnatural chemicals and dye on their skin. If you are running short on time you can do the project with simple food coloring + natural (non-fluoride toothpaste). I think it is much more fun and safe though to use fruits and vegetables.

To make the fruit and veggie face paint you will need a tube of natural, non-fluoride toothpaste (Tom’s is a great brand to use). You can also find non-fluoride toothpaste in the toddler paste section, but be sure it is not flavored.

For the coloring, first pick out which colors you would like to use, and find fruits and veggies that will produce the colors for you. Grind up the foods individually in a blender or food processor. Then heat them in a sauce pan with 1/4 cup of water until boiled down into sauce consistency. Note: every food will be a different consistency — no need to worry about that. Add the sauce slowly to a 1/2 cup of toothpaste and stir until achieving the colors you would like.

For the colors shown, I used:
graham crackers – tan/brown
kale – green
red cabbage (put in a small amount) – blue
pumpkin pulp – orange
blueberries – purple

Apply with makeup/paint brush for Halloween faces, and be sure to never use a fruit on a child’s skin if there is a known allergy!