Superstar Dream Colours

Superstar Dream Colours: splitcakes for rainbow face paint and one stroke

A splitcake is a face paint pot with multiple colours poured side by side, so a single stroke of your brush or sponge places a smooth gradient on the skin. Superstar Dream Colours are exactly that: glycerin-based splitcakes in 22 themed colour combinations, from rainbow to mermaid and from unicorn to carnival. Also known as rainbow cakes, rainbow face paint or gradient face paint.

Linda Gloudemans, owner of SchminkenGrime.nl, works as a make-up artist at events, develops and teaches the NHA distance-learning course on theatrical make-up, and serves as examiner for the Dutch vocational programme Allround Make-Up & Hair Artist. At her face painting workshops she often sees beginners working too wet with splitcakes: the colours in the pot run together and the gradient on the skin turns muddy. The fix is straightforward: brush or sponge lightly damp, not soaked.

What's in this category?

The Dream Colours come in two sizes and four mood clusters:

• Dream Colours 45 grams in 13 colour combinations: Rainbow, Summer, Ice Cream, Unicorn, Emerald, Ice, Safari, Sunshine, Candy, Flower, Sweet, Mermaid and Carnival.
• Little Dream Colours 30 grams in 9 smaller variants: Little Ocean, Little Magic Sunrise, Little Mermaid, Little Bloom, Little Rose, Little Royal, Little Safari, Little Rainbow and Little Red, White & Blue.

Looking for a specific mood? Think of:

• Bright and playful: Rainbow, Unicorn, Candy, Sweet, Sunshine, Flower
• Cool tones: Ice, Emerald, Ocean, Bloom, Mermaid
• Warm and earthy: Summer, Safari, Ice Cream, Magic Sunrise, Rose
• Party and theme: Carnival, Royal, Red White & Blue

Which size do you choose: 45 grams or Little 30 grams?

The two sizes are designed for different ways of working:

• Choose the 45 grams if you want to lay down broad areas of colour with a sponge: rainbow bases, butterflies, tigers and quick themed designs at events. The round pot is made for sponge work.
• Choose the Little 30 grams if you work with a brush: one stroke flowers, petal shapes and designs where you load multiple colours onto your brush at once. The Little Dreams are designed for flat or angle brushes.

Just starting out with splitcakes? The 45 grams is usually the first choice, because sponge work requires less technique than one stroke with a brush.

For the Little Dream Colours, flat brushes like the FBFX Floor Brushes and FBFX Simone Brushes work really well, because they are wide enough to pick up multiple colour bands at once.

What is one stroke and when do you use it?

One stroke is a face painting technique where you load multiple colours onto a flat brush at once and place them on the skin in a single stroke. The result: a flower petal, a dragon scale or a butterfly wing with a built-in gradient from light to dark, without switching between colours. The Little Dream Colours are designed for this technique: the narrow colour bands fit neatly under a flat brush.

How do you use a Dream Colours splitcake?

Dampen your brush or sponge lightly with clean water and draw it across the paint in the pot in the direction of the colour bands, so the colours sit next to each other on your brush or sponge. Aim for a creamy load: not too dry, but definitely not too wet.

Two ways to apply a Dream Colour:

• With a sponge: press the colours onto the skin with a gentle dabbing motion for a smooth rainbow gradient. A Butterfly Sponge works well for creating butterfly wings from the inner corners of the eyes on a child's face, thanks to its teardrop shape.
• With a flat or angle brush: load multiple colours at once for one stroke flowers, petals and butterfly wings with a built-in gradient from light to dark.

It is normal for the colours in the pot to blend slightly at the edges or show small cracks over time. This does not affect the quality: once you activate the paint with water, the cracks fill back in and the colours stay workable.

Dream Colours or individual pots?

Dream Colours and individual Superstar face paint pots both give great results, but you reach for them in different situations.

A Dream Colour is the right pick when you want speed and a gradient. The colours are already side by side in one pot, so you do not need to switch pots or brushes to build a colour flow. Handy for children's parties, events and themed work where pace matters.

Individual pots of Superstar Face Paint are the choice when you want full control over your colour selection. You decide which shades sit next to each other and in what ratio. For shimmer, pearlescent and dual-tone effects, take a look at Superstar Metallic Face Paint. For a ready-to-use set of individual colours, check the Superstar Face Paint Palettes.

Frequently asked questions about Superstar Dream Colours

What is a splitcake?
A splitcake is a face paint pot with multiple colours side by side, so one stroke of your brush or sponge creates a colour gradient without switching pots.

What is the difference between Dream Colours 45 grams and Little 30 grams?
The 45 grams has a wide round shape and is designed for sponge work on larger areas. The Little 30 grams is narrower and fits neatly under a flat brush for one stroke techniques.

Are Superstar Dream Colours safe for children?
Yes. As glycerin-based water-activated face paint, Dream Colours are suitable for children's face painting.

How do you remove Superstar Dream Colours?

Remove Superstar Dream Colours with a facecloth or the Makeup Remover Wonder Towel, lukewarm water and a mild soap or baby shampoo. The Wonder Towel is a reusable cloth you dampen and then wipe across the skin to lift the face paint without scrubbing.

Do not scrub hard, and avoid baby wipes or oil-based cleansers. These can irritate the skin, especially on children or anyone with sensitive skin. Is the skin a little dry after removal? Apply a mild moisturising cream.

How do you store Dream Colours?

After use, wipe the pot clean with a sponge or cloth. Leave the face paint to dry completely without the lid on. Only once it is dry, put the lid back on.

Store Dream Colours in a cool, dark place. Keep the pots away from direct sunlight: the glycerin softens in the heat. Has a colour gone soft? Put the pot in the fridge for a short while to firm it back up.

Where do you use Dream Colours?

• Children's face painting at parties, schools, markets and events
• Festival looks and body paint with gradient effects
• Pantomime, cosplay and themed events
• Carnival and celebration looks (Rainbow, Carnival, Red White & Blue)
• One stroke designs: flowers, butterfly wings and dragon scales
• Themed looks: mermaid, unicorn and rainbow
• Practising splitcake technique and gradient effects at home

Other Superstar products

Want to combine your splitcakes with individual colours? Have a look at Superstar Face Paint in single pots. For applying and blending Dream Colours, the Superstar Sponges are a useful companion. You'll find the full Superstar range on the Superstar brand page. Want to compare splitcakes and one stroke products from other brands? Take a look at the Splitcakes and One Stroke category.

Want to learn more about face painting?

Are you new to face painting and not sure where to start? Sign up for the free 4-part face painting mini-series. Over four days you'll receive clear tutorials, videos, downloadable technique cards, practice sheets and simple face paint examples you can try straight away.