Banded ice pop with a white shine lineRed, white, blue. A rounded ice pop on a stick on the cheek, banded top to bottom, white shine line.
Eagle in profile with a gold hooked beakWhite, gold, black. Head in profile on the cheek, gold hooked beak, black dot for the eye, thin outline.
Firework burst in three ringsRed, white, blue. Short dashes in three rings from a center dot on the cheek, round brush tip.
Flag heart with a blue cornerRed, white, blue. Heart on the cheek, top-left lobe blue with four white dots, the rest in stripes. Simplified.
Folded-paper pinwheel on a stick down to the jawRed, white, blue. Four folded sails around a white pin dot on the cheek, a thin stick to the jaw.
Fourth of July date in a star: 4Blue, white, red. One big blue star on the cheek with a white 4 inside and a red outline.
Frosted cupcake topped with a two-stripe toothpick flagRed, white, blue. Blue case, white swirl, a toothpick flag of two stripes and a dot on top. Simplified.
Liberty torch with a three-tongue flameGold, red, white. A small torch on the cheek, gold handle, flame in red with a white core, fine brush.
One blue star trailing three streaks to the earRed, white, blue. One blue star on the cheek, three red streaks trailing toward the ear, white dot shine.
Pleated rosette with a star center, tails to the jawRed, white, blue. A pleated circle with a white star in the middle and two ribbon tails toward the jaw.
Simplified flag on the cheek, five stripesRed, white, blue. A small rectangle: blue corner with three white dots, five stripes, thin brush. Not the full flag.
Sparkler stick with gold dashes bursting at its tipGold, white, red. A thin stick on the cheek with short gold and white dashes bursting from its tip.
Stars-and-stripes shieldRed, white, blue. A shield outline: blue band with three stars across the top, red and white bars below.
Three stars climbing the cheekboneRed, white, blue. One star of each color from the cheek up toward the temple, flat brush, white outline last.
Two finger-width stripes with one star in the gapRed, white, blue. Two finger-width stripes on the cheek, one star in the gap, sponge edge and brush.
U, S and A across the cheek, one color eachRed, white, blue. One letter in each color across the cheek, flat brush, white outline on the blue.
Uncle Sam hat tilted on the cheekRed, white, blue. Tall hat with red and white stripes, blue band with a star, small brim, thin brush.
Waving flag along the cheekbone, simplifiedRed, white, blue. A rippling banner from nose side to ear, three stripes and a blue end with dots.
Beside the eye 14
Banner on a pole at the temple, simplified flagRed, white, blue. A pole from cheekbone to temple with a banner of three stripes and a blue corner dot. Simplified.
Blue star above the cheekbone, red and white lines behindBlue, red, white. A blue star on the temple with red and white tail lines running to the cheekbone.
Bunting swag along the cheekboneRed, white, blue. Five small triangles on a drooping line from the nose side to the temple.
Open star outline at the temple with a red dot insideBlue, red, white. One open star outline on the temple, a red dot in its middle, three white dots trailing to the ear.
Parade drum at the temple, sticks crossed aboveRed, white, blue. A small drum on the temple, zigzag cords on its side, two sticks crossed above it.
Picnic-cloth check patch at the templeRed, white, blue. A small tilted square of red and white checks on the temple, three blue dots beside it.
Rocket trail arcing over the brow boneRed, white, blue, gold. A small rocket above the brow, its dotted trail curving around to the cheekbone.
Scattered confetti squares at the templeRed, white, blue. Tiny tilted squares and dashes spread from the temple over the upper cheek.
Simplified flag sweeping back like a wingRed, white, blue. Blue patch with dots at the cheekbone, three stripes flaring to the hairline.
Star cascade from the temple to the cheekboneRed, white, blue. Nine stars shrinking as they fall from the temple, brush tip, colors in turn.
Striped ribbon with one loop, trailing down the cheekboneRed, white, blue. A three-stripe ribbon loops once at the temple and trails down the cheekbone.
Three stripes swept back from the eye cornerRed, white, blue. Three thin lines from the cheekbone to the hairline, starting beside the eye, fine brush.
Twelve dots curving from brow bone to cheekboneRed, white, blue. Twelve dots from the brow bone around the temple to the cheekbone, brush handle end.
Two curved brush flicks in red and blueRed, blue, white. Two curved strokes side by side under the outer eye corner on the cheekbone.
Forehead and full face 16
Bunting from temple to temple with starsRed, white, blue. Nine flags on a line across the forehead, a white star in each blue one.
Firework sky across the foreheadDeep blue, red, white, gold. Three bursts of different sizes above the brows, dots falling to the temples.
Five level stripes across the forehead, red firstRed, white. Five level stripes above the brows from temple to temple, red first, sponge edge.
Five-star tiara arching above the browsBlue, white, red. Five stars arch above the brows, the tallest in the middle, red dots between.
Forehead band carrying seven white starsBlue, white, red. A blue band from temple to temple with seven white stars, thin red line above and below.
Half blue with stars, half stripes, split down the noseRed, white, blue. Simplified flag over the whole face off the lids: stars one side, five stripes the other.
Liberty crown rays at the hairlinePale green, white. Seven pointed rays fan up from a band above the brows to the hairline.
Lone blue forehead star, white dot at each tipBlue, white. One blue star on the forehead with a white outline and a white dot at each point.
Parade drum major's hat band on the foreheadBlue, gold, white, red. A blue band with a gold badge shape in the middle and a red plume line up.
Star mask on brow bones and cheekbonesBlue, white, red. A blue band over brow bone and upper cheek with white stars, red edge, lids bare.
Stars for cheek circlesRed, blue, white. One red star on each cheek and a blue star on the chin, white outlines.
Stripe on each cheek, star on the foreheadRed, blue, white. One red stripe on the left cheek, one blue on the right, white star above.
Three bursts: one per cheek and a larger one aboveRed, white, blue, gold. One burst on each cheek and a larger one above the brows, dots between.
Three wide bands: red brow, white cheeks, blue jawRed, white, blue. Sponge three bands across the face, forehead to chin, keeping off the eyelids.
Tricolor dot freckles, brush-handle sizeRed, white, blue. Dots in the three colors scattered over the nose and both cheeks, brush handle end.
White-and-gold wing over each brow bone, blue tipsWhite, gold, blue. A wing from the nose bridge over each brow to the temple, feather tips in blue.
How it works
These 4th of July face paint ideas are 48 designs in red, white and blue, sorted by where they sit: 18 for a cheek, 14 beside the eye and 16 for the forehead or the whole face.
Read the full guide
4th of July face painting ideas for a line of children
Quick holds 14 that take a few strokes each: Three stars climbing the cheekbone, Two finger-width stripes with one star in the gap, Open star outline at the temple with a red dot inside. Sponge a stripe with the edge of the sponge and brush the stars on last.
Patriotic face paint ideas with no flag and no date
More than twenty designs carry no flag, no date and no firework (stars, stripes, rosettes, ribbons, dots and bunting), so they also suit Memorial Day or Veterans Day: Pleated rosette with a star center, tails to the jaw, Bunting swag along the cheekbone, Forehead band carrying seven white stars.
Questions and answers
Do these Fourth of July face painting ideas show the real flag?
No. A cheek has no room for thirteen stripes and fifty stars, so each flag design is simplified and says so: Simplified flag on the cheek, five stripes has a blue corner with three white dots.
Which USA flag face paint ideas for kids are simplest?
Flag heart with a blue corner and Waving flag along the cheekbone, simplified. Both keep to three colors and a handful of dots, sized for a cheek.
What are red white and blue face paint ideas without stars?
Three wide bands: red brow, white cheeks, blue jaw; Twelve dots curving from brow bone to cheekbone; Tricolor dot freckles, brush-handle size. Each uses only the three colors and one tool.
What paint goes on a child's face for the Fourth?
Only face paint sold for use on skin; craft paint and markers are not for faces. Follow the label, keep it away from the eyes, and wash it off the way the label says. Nothing in this list goes on an eyelid.