Looking for clown face paint ideas that can be cute, dramatic or a little spooky? Red noses, pointed eye shapes and painted smiles give you plenty to choose from.
These pictures also include rainbow cheek art and sparkly makeup, so not every look is a full clown design.
You can keep things simple or go all out with a white base and oversized black lips. Pick your favorite colors first, then decide whether you want tiny dots, glittery stars or a big painted grin.
Clown makeup and playful face paint inspiration
orange hair and a big red smile
We’re starting off strong with this cheerful red-and-white clown look. I love the rounded white eye patches and the wide red smile.
That bright orange hair makes the whole thing even more fun.
If you want to follow this look, keep the pink cheeks and thin black eye lines. The round red nose here is a separate costume piece.
rainbow with sparkling clouds
How cute is this little rainbow? It curves over one eyebrow and down toward the cheek, with sparkling pale clouds at both ends.
You could borrow these colors for a cheerful clown costume without copying a full white base.
gold lids and a single teardrop
If you love a sad-clown look, this one is worth saving. The gold-colored lids sit above dark, smudged points under the eyes.
A little black teardrop finishes one cheek.
I especially love the red lips with their downturned dark corners. Keep those small details if you want the same mournful expression.
burgundy nose and curved lines
I am obsessed with this burgundy makeup. The rounded painted nose and deep red lips look gorgeous together, with long dark curves connecting the mouth corners to the eyes.
Read also: 20 French Tip Toe Nails Ideas From Classic White to Colorful Designs
Try the narrow points above the brows if you want to follow the whole design. The pale lids and dramatic lashes are just as striking.
pink hearts and white swirls
These overlapping pink hearts are so sweet. I love the white borders and the curling lines reaching up toward the temple.
For a heart-themed clown look, you could pair this detail with a small pink painted nose.
painted beard and a white frown
Want something a little different from a big red smile? This design has a black painted beard surrounding a broad white frown.
The raised brows and tiny dark teardrops make the sad expression even stronger.
The rosy cheeks and reddish-brown nose keep it from being entirely black and white. I’d keep both.
scattered gems and pink shimmer
If you are looking for sparkle inspiration, then this one is for you. Multicolored gems scatter around the eye and across the temple, with a pink cheek and glossy, shimmering lips.
Try borrowing the scattered gem placement for your own costume makeup. I especially love the mix of tiny round gems and larger teardrop shapes.
black points and white lashes
This black-and-white clown look may just be my favorite one so far. I love the sweeping black points above the eyes and those bright white lashes.
The oversized black lips have sharply extended corners. Keep a little pink on the cheeks if you want that same touch of color against the white base.
white triangles and tiny dots
Don’t want to cover your whole face in white? No problem!
Try white triangles above the brows and below the eyes instead. The little dots at their tips are such a cute finishing detail.
A white circle on the nose and dark, extended mouth corners bring this simple clown look together.
little popcorn cheek painting
How adorable is this tiny popcorn carton? The red-and-white stripes and yellow popcorn keep the design easy to recognize, even though it only covers a small patch of cheek.
Save it as a small circus-themed detail if you don’t want a full-face design.
red yellow and blue stars
The star outlines are so cute in this makeup look. White centers sit inside red, yellow and blue borders beside the bright red lids.
Read also: 20 Letter T Crafts for Preschool: Ideas and Images to Review
Borrow this color combination if you want something playful. I’d keep the glossy red lips and the little colored dots near the inner eye corners.
wavy rainbow and white stars
I love this winding rainbow with its little white stars. Instead of a simple arch, it curls across the forehead and down one side of the face.
Choose this shape if you prefer loose curves to sharp eye triangles.
split-face spooky smile
If you want to go a little spooky, this one has plenty of details to save. A jagged dark border separates the white clown makeup from an area around one eye without the white base.
The red nose and sweeping red smile tie the two sides together. I especially love how different the eye makeup looks on either side of that border.
red freckles and smile curls
This little clown design keeps things simple with a red nose, dotted cheeks and thin smile curls. There’s no white base or painted eye shape.
Read also: 19+ Stunning Face Paint Ideas That Steal the Show
The red freckles are my favorite part. If you’re adapting this for a child, check that your face-paint products are suitable for their age.
bright dots under blue light
Don’t want lots of lines or detailed shapes? These bright dots offer a different bit of inspiration.
Pink, green and pale dots curve around the eyes under blue lighting.
Read also: 20 Ladybug Crafts for Preschool With Cute Spots and Smiling Faces
Try borrowing the dotted pattern for your own look, but remember that the blue lighting is part of the effect shown here.
white face and pink costume
How cute is this pink clown costume? The white face makeup, small pink mouth and dark eye accents sit above a pale ruffled collar.
Read also: 20 Spiderman Face Paint Ideas and More Superhero and Web Looks
The photo shows more of the outfit than the fine makeup details. I’d take inspiration from the pink-and-white pairing, including that little pointed hat.
pink and purple star eyes
I am obsessed with these pink and purple clown looks. Each has a big shimmering star around one eye, with smaller pointed details around the other.
You don’t have to use the same color to coordinate. Pick pink or purple, then keep the white base and matching nose color to follow this pair.
blue stars and pale swirls
This is such a pretty option if you love tiny details. Blue and pale stars sit beneath sparkling eyes, with curved flourishes and blue gems near the outer corners.
You could borrow the star shapes for a softer clown design while leaving the muted pink lips just like these.
high brows and a white smile
Here’s another cheerful clown face with just a few bold shapes. The high black arches, red nose and white mouth patch stand out without a full white base.
I love the thin black smile extending at each corner. The bright blue hair adds even more color, but you could keep the painted details on their own.
Read also: 20 Bug and Insect Crafts for Preschool With Cute Little Critters
silver lids and pointed liner
Last but definitely not least, we have this gorgeous silver-and-black eye look. Long black points extend beneath the eyes, with small sparkling gems tucked between them.
If you want to borrow its details, I’d keep the curved lines above the lids and the glossy dark burgundy lips. They’re such a pretty pairing!