I tried these patriotic face paint sticks during a 4th of July BBQ, and they definitely sparked conversations! The compact size was perfect for tossing in my picnic basket, though the silver crust packaging felt cheaper than expected.

The application was hit-or-miss. While the red and blue colors showed up vibrant on my cheeks, the white barely registered on my skin tone. I had to layer it thickly, which then transferred onto my husband's shirt during a hug - though it did wash out easily as promised.

Where these really shined was at our neighborhood parade. Kids loved how quickly they could draw flag designs on each other's arms, and the oil-based formula didn't sting even when my niece got some near her eyes (though I don't recommend that!). The screw-knob mechanism worked well until about halfway through the stick, then started crumbling.

For casual use like tailgates or picnics, these are fun. But for serious face painting or all-day wear? You'll need something more professional. The colors fade noticeably after about 2 hours of sweating in the sun.