I used to melt a half stick of camo into a half full tin of GI sunscreen. I had about 3-4 different colors.
Went on easy and came off easy.
While I see the value of face paint, and have effectively used that advantage myself a few times, it used to get downright stupid.
When I was a scout it pissed me off to no end that out Batt commander (F’ing tankers!) insisted on face paint in the field, like the 13 ton armored diesel smoke spewing go-kart wasn’t going to give my position away, or that one could even see my face paint behind the CVC helmet, goggles and drive-on rag.
The only camo that would have helped me in the Box would be Brick Red, Concrete Grey, and Shit Water Black…and then a big ass burlap blanket to cover my ACU’s!
Camo cream in the field and on urban night ops. Always put on vaseline before putting on camo cream. Washed off using soap and water and when I got married the wife put me onto baby lotion to remove the final dregs of the cream.
Additionaly a few bits of burlap sewn onto jacket and trousers with some attached to the rucksack and webbing gear just to break up the shape. Around 10% - 20% of a ghillie, just to break up the outline a tad. Webbing gear and rucksacks also given a light dusting of vehicle camo paint so the nylon is not too shiny.
34th Infantry Division was legendary for making everyone wear face paint.
Tankers, staff weenies at Brigade and higher, cooks, whatever.
Fucking gay assed shit, if you ask me.
Camo if you need it, otherwise keep your hoo-ah to yourself.