5 Best Airbrush for Body Painting of 2023 | Reviews + Guide

Airbrushes are versatile, in that they can be used for multiple purposes such as for toy model paintings, automotive designs, comic illustrations, and especially for makeup and body-painting.

Today, we are going to talk about the use of airbrushes for the art of body painting.

Before we move forward, we’d like to remind you that investing in a good-quality airbrush kit is very important if you plan to get one because then, your money will be worth spending and won’t be wasted on inferior quality materials.

With that said, let’s jump right into it!

Listed below are the Best Body-Painting Airbrushes:

• Neo for Iwata: The Neo for Iwata Gravity-Feed Airbrushing Kit is ideal for traveling artists due to its portability and compact size. Limitations arise from the small compressor range.
• Iwata HP-CS: The Iwata HP-CS and Master Airbrush Kit's main strength is its enhanced control features and high-quality primary components. Lower quality in some extras results in mixed value.
• Blick Complete: The Blick Complete Airbrush System has supreme durability due to reliable Iwata tools. The absence of an air regulator is a minor setback.
• PointZero Airbrush: PointZero Airbrush Dual Action Airbrush Kit offers a diverse set of three good-quality airbrushes. Ideal for budget-conscious users. Hose quality detracts from the overall value.
• Master Airbrush: The Master Airbrush Multi-Purpose Airbrushing System is distinctive for its inclusive elements and affordable price, reinforced by a warranty. Potential missing extras are a downside.

Best Body-Painting Airbrushes  

We've taken into consideration factors such as ease of use, durability, and overall performance to help you make an informed decision. So, if you're looking for a quality airbrush to take your body painting to the next level, here's the list of the 5 best body-painting airbrushes.

1. Neo for Iwata Gravity-Feed Airbrushing Kit - Best for Traveling Artists

Let’s start off the list with this Gravity-Feed Airbrushing Kit by Neo for Iwata.

Here’s a quick peek at the contents that come with this kit:

• A set of 3 compact air compressors
• One single airbrush solution for cleaning
• A set of 3 paints
• Neo for Iwata Gravity-Feed Airbrush with dual action performance

Experience

First of all, this kit is portable, which makes it perfect for creative artists who love to hit the road more often. It’s also a good option for those who are looking for a small airbrush and compressor package.

The air compressor does not contain features such as a tank or an individual water trap because it is meant to serve traveling artists and lightweight airbrush users.

If you’re someone who has a compact living area or someone who just likes to take on body painting as a hobby once in a while, then this kit is the right option for you.

There are two things that we really like about this particular kit.

One is that it can be upgraded so we can buy updated and better tools separately, for example, the $78 airbrush that comes along with it. This is great since we do not have to replace the whole kit all over again if a single tool gets damaged.

Second of all, it delivers natural and realistic effects which any body-painter would look for in a good airbrush kit.

However, we feel there is only one limitation with this pack - and that is the size of the compressor. It is quite small, and because of that, it sprays paint only to a certain extent. We had to have a lot of patience working with it.

Nevertheless, this kit is perfect for working with small details and produces dense effects.

2. Iwata HP-CS and Master Airbrush Kit - Best for Feature-rich Experience

Here is a kit that contains multiple of extras including main items such as a cleaning solution, a holding rack, a cleaning pot, a compressor with a tank, a cleaning solution, and a few others. And this is what makes it stand out amongst other airbrushing kits. 

It is large in size and suitable for artists who do body painting daily or as a profession. 

Experience

This kit allows us to have more control over the overall operation and manipulate it the way we desire. 

The best feature about it is that it comes with a gravity brush from this renowned brand, which you have seen earlier. And Iwata is one of the most preferred brands when it comes to airbrushes. So we would also highly recommend this one if you’re looking for great-quality airbrushes. 

We love that this airbrush allows us to control the flow of the spray. Therefore, when focusing on minute details, we can go for a finer spray and for filling in colors, we can go the wider spray options. 

While the airbrush itself is exceptional, we would say that some extras such as the cleaning pot is of poor quality. But overall, everything is working really well so far. 

We feel that the kit is actually a very good deal because if we had purchased the $178 Iwata HP-CS separately, we would have spent a lot more money than we did with this kit. We also found it to be user-friendly in the sense that anybody can easily operate it, especially with the easy-to-understand gauge. 

The compressor has made our body-painting projects very easy because firstly, it holds back the moisture so the work never gets messy. Secondly, it does not make a lot of noise, therefore, doing extensive work is not a problem. 

3. Blick Complete Airbrush System - Best for Professionals and Learners

Blick is a renowned brand that produces high-quality art materials and is very popular for its range of paints and mediums. 

Besides paints, they also produce high-standard airbrushes. 

The Complete Airbrush System kit contains extras such as a cutting mat, glossy sheets, one hobby knife, a cutting rail, and an airbrush cleaner. The main tools are all from Iwata, which include one HP-CS airbrush, a set of 20 Com-art colors, and one smart jet compressor. 

Experience

Obviously, the tools are not manufactured by Blick, but we are more than happy they included all the main tools which are from Iwata, one of the most reliable brands for airbrushes. This ensures that we receive high-quality materials with this pack.

We found that unlike some kits out there, this one has a compressor that provides great performance and offers a warranty of one year.

The materials are highly durable as they withstand long hours of painting without showing any signs of malfunctioning anywhere. We think this is a promising kit and we would recommend this to anyone who is doing body painting as a profession, as well as for learners.

Just like the Gravity-Feed airbrush you’ve seen earlier, the Iwata Eclipse HP-CS also delivers a dual performance which means that we can paint accurate and compact designs with it. It is also very easy to clean both inside and out.

On top of that, it also has a tension setting which allows how much tension you need for your art.

On the downside, the air compressor does not have a proper air regulator which can prevent any potential mess-ups. However, you can still adjust the water trap valve to make this feature work to a certain extent.

4. PointZero Airbrush Dual Action Airbrush Kit

The PointZero airbrush is another one with dual-performance action.

With this kit, you’ll get a set of 3 airbrushes. One is a siphon-feed while the other two are gravity-feed brushes. You’ll also get one hose, an e-book and a DVD guide for using airbrushes, and one HP air compressor.

This is perfect if you are a beginner in the line of using airbrushes and body painting. 

Experience

The best thing about this kit is that it offers a set of 3 good-quality airbrushes and one of them offers a different effect. 

We also get to share the e-book and DVD with some friends and students who want to practice airbrushing, and they are very easy to understand. These two also provide beneficial references in case we have to explain complicated techniques to beginners. 

The fact that this kit comes with 3 airbrushes at an affordable price has saved us a few bucks. This way, we can give our students practical and hands-on guides at the studio, without having to spend a lot of money buying individual airbrushes. 

We also suggest this kit for those who are on a budget and do not want to waste too much money on a single airbrush. The way it has saved an amount of money for us, it should also do the same for you. 

With the two dual-purpose brushes, we can do more projects besides body painting, such as toy modeling. In case you too want to experience other types and uses of airbrushes, this kit is a perfect option to start. 

So far, the tools in the kits showed good performance but the hose started to malfunction within a few days of use. We noticed its quality is not of the same standard as that of the airbrushes. In this case, we recommend checking for a good-quality hose before purchasing. 

5. Master Airbrush Multi-Purpose Airbrushing System Kit

Last on the list is this multipurpose airbrushing system kit by Master Airbrush.

This kit includes a lot more extras if compared to the other kits on this list, which makes it a great combo that you can get at a very low price.

Here’s a list of what you’ll get with the pack:

• A complete beginner’s guide on how to use airbrushes
• A color wheel to help match different shades better
• One hose
• HP diaphragm air compressor
• A set of 6 paints
• 3 units of airbrushes

Experience

The first thing that we loved about the combo is that it contains 3 units of airbrushes. Similar to the previous one, two of them are gravity-feed airbrushes, while the other one is a siphon-feed. These are pretty useful for working on other creative projects apart from body painting.

With the two gravity-feed airbrushes, we can work with two different textures because they do not have similar reservoirs, which means they deliver two different effects.

We find that the siphon-feed airbrush is perfect for spraying paints on specific body parts such as the legs, thighs, and the rest of the body from the neck below.

Instead of having to buy separate airbrushes for a large amount of money, we have saved a lot by purchasing this set.

The second and possibly best feature of this pack lies in the air compressor. First of all, it contains a moisture trap that holds back moisture and prevents it from entering into the airbrush, increasing the chances of clogging and potential messes.

Secondly, it has a gauge that is easy to understand and a set of two stands where we can keep the airbrushes if we’re not working.

Moreover, it holds an automatic switch where it shuts off whenever the power has reached 57psi. This feature is very helpful in that it helps extend its own shelf-life and it also helps save a lot of energy.

And as if this is not enough, it also comes with a warranty of 2 years and a 1-year return policy, so there is no restraining for us to work it to its limit.

However, we had a few tools missing with the purchase, therefore, we suggest contacting the seller and making sure everything is included before getting this pack.

What Is the Best Body-Painting for Airbrushes?

Airbrushes are versatile tools used for various purposes, including body painting. The table below details the specifications of a selection of superior body-painting options for airbrushes, with a focus on parameters such as Product Type, Feed Type, Nozzle Size, measured in millimeters (mm), Cup Sizes, measured in ounces (oz) or cubic centimeters (cc), Compressor Type, and Maximum Pressure (Max PSI), denoted in pounds per square inch.

Buying Guide For The Best Airbrush for Body Painting

Before buying anything, we always tend to go through a few considerations first. And the same thing applies to buying an airbrush kit as well.

If you are a beginner, especially, it can get pretty tiring to inspect all the necessary requirements for getting a good-quality kit. Knowing what and what not to buy is not as easy as it sounds when you have got no idea about a particular product.

However, rest assured because we are here to guide you out of this confusion. Let’s take a look at a few things you have to look for before getting an airbrush kit.

• Choosing paints

The first thing you should know is that airbrush paints are not the same as those used with regular brushes.

The difference lies in the consistency of these paints. While regular body paints are thick, airbrush paints are thinner because they have to be sprayed on to the body using the force of air itself. If they are thick, it would be impossible for them to pass through the airbrushes and even create clogging.

And with that out of the way, let’s talk about how airbrush paints function.

All paints used for airbrushing must contain water so that applying or removing them will be both easy and safe.

If you want reliable safe paints, look for those which are non-toxic and FDA-approved.

Keep in mind that there are sample and starter paints that will serve only for a small number of body paintings (the ones that came with those kits above are all starter paints).

If you want larger packaged paints, look up for those with more quantity which is normally mentioned on the labels.

• Purchasing separately vs combo kits

Paints are available individually or in combo kits.

Mostly, professionals and experts would go for individual paints as they are more knowledgeable of the types and purposes of these paints.

But if you are just starting out with body painting, we would highly recommend going for kits instead because they come with other integral tools as well. As long as you’re still learning, it is much more affordable to work with paints in a kit.

Once you have got the hang of body painting, start exploring and trying out individual paints so that you can compare the quality of different paints. The same goes for tools as well.

In the hunt for a good airbrush painting kit, make sure that integral tools are available inside. Such tools include a compressor, an airbrush, a hose, a jar if you’re using siphon-feed airbrushes, and of course, airbrush body paints.

We do not recommend purchasing a kit that lacks any one of the above because then, you’d have to buy it separately at a much higher price.

• Known brands

Since airbrush body painting is on the rise as a popular form of art, you’ll notice that there are only quite a number of brands that dominate the airbrush market with their up-to-date, good-quality products.

Whatever tools we have mentioned in our reviews are the ones we found to be good so far.

Hopefully, more brands will come up with more advanced materials for airbrushing in the near future. But for now, we would recommend sticking with a few trusted popular brands.

• Budgeting

As you have seen in the reviews, not all kits include the same materials. Hence, it means that the prices will also not be the same.

Again, depending on the brand, one company charges at a high rate while another at a lower rate.

However, if you must buy a trustworthy airbrushing kit or an individual tool, it would cost you more than a hundred dollars.

No doubt, that is a lot of money, but the investment will be worth it as you won’t have to keep replacing them time and again as you would with cheap products.

• Warranty

There are many companies that offer a warranty period of around 1-2 years.

However, this does not apply to the whole kit but only to mechanical tools such as the air compressor and the airbrush. That is because the extras do not cost as much as the main mechanical tools do. Most of the money you invest is actually on the latter.

So, getting such an extended warranty will only allow you to use them as freely as you like without worrying about refunds or return policies.

We actually encourage you to take advantage of the warranty and put their limits to the test. Just keep in mind that you shouldn’t be the cause of their damage unless they malfunction on their own.

How to Get the Best Results for Airbrush Body-Painting

There is no better way to get greater results than practice.

Yes, that is a very obvious thing to say, but it holds a lot of truth in it. No amount of high-quality paint can make up for a lack of skills and practice. And yes, we said “skills” because they can be acquired through consistency and practice.

Also, keep learning and expanding your knowledge about this art. It does not matter whether you’re a beginner or a professional because once you stop gathering knowledge, your chance of learning also ends.

After all, “a man who stops learning is as good as dead”, right?

There are so many sources to help improve your skills. A few examples include videos, e-books and guides, classes, and so on.

If you’re just starting, we’d suggest looking up sources that explain the basics first. Don’t forget to check out reliable and simple ones. From those, you’ll learn the art step-by-step in an easy-to-understand manner.

Here’s a bonus tip: If you want to learn how professionals create magnificent body-painting designs, try using stencils. They will give you ideas and in time, you will hardly require to use them anymore.

Purchasing Online

Same as for learning, there are plenty of sources to find an airbrush kit as well.

We would recommend Amazon for general choices. Sites that are similar to Facepaint will offer you a broader range of airbrushing supplies.

What types of airbrushes are best for body painting?

Gravity-feed airbrushes are often preferred for body painting because they allow for better control and precision. They are also more versatile and can be used with a wider range of paints and makeup.

Can I use any type of paint or makeup with a body-painting airbrush?

No, not all paints or makeup products are suitable for use with a body-painting airbrush. It is important to choose products that are specifically designed for airbrushing, as these are formulated to provide the proper consistency and flow for use with an airbrush.

What should I look for when choosing a body-painting airbrush?

When choosing a body-painting airbrush, there are several factors to consider, including the type of feed, the size of the nozzle, the level of control and precision, and the overall durability and reliability of the tool.

How do I clean and maintain my body-painting airbrush?

Proper cleaning and maintenance are essential for prolonging the life of your body-painting airbrush. This typically involves disassembling the tool, cleaning each component thoroughly after each use, and using specialized cleaning solutions to remove any buildup or clogs.

What are some tips for using a body-painting airbrush?

To achieve the best results with a body-painting airbrush, it is important to practice proper technique, use the appropriate paint or makeup products, and maintain a consistent distance and angle from the skin. It is also important to work in a well-ventilated area and to protect the surrounding surfaces and objects from overspray.

Can I use a body-painting airbrush on other surfaces besides the skin?

Yes, body-painting airbrushes can be used on a variety of surfaces, including clothing, props, and other materials. However, choosing the appropriate paints or coatings for the specific surface is important to ensure proper adhesion and durability.

Thank you for taking the time to read our exciting article on the best body-painting airbrushes! We hope you found it insightful and informative. All these products are great, but now it's time to reveal our top three recommendations. Out of the 5 best body-painting airbrushes, these are our top choices:

1. For creative artists who are always on the move, the Neo for Iwata Gravity-Feed Airbrushing Kit is an ideal option. It offers portability, and upgradeable tools, and delivers natural and realistic effects that any body painter would look for in a good airbrush kit.

2. If you are looking for an airbrush kit packed with features and extras, the Iwata HP-CS and Master Airbrush Kit is a good option. It offers control over the spray, a quiet compressor, and a high-quality HP-CS airbrush, all at an affordable price.

3. For both learners and professionals, who want a trusted brand for their airbrushing needs, the Blick Complete Airbrush System is the right choice. It offers a one-year warranty on the compressor, high durability, and dependable performance from the renowned Iwata airbrush tools.

So, our top recommendations cater to different types of airbrush users, from travelers to professionals, and even beginners! Remember, the best airbrush for you ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences. With the information provided in our comprehensive review, we hope you will be able to choose the perfect airbrush to kick-start or level up your body-painting journey. Happy airbrushing!