The present invention provides novel topically-applied skin and face coating and paint compositions comprising near infrared reflecting pigments and hydrogels swollen with aqueous solution and/or with simulated sweat. The invention further provides methods of making and using the compositions. The novel compositions protect the skin of the wearer from damage due to intense external heat or thermal flux and simultaneously divert thermal energy to a complementary evaporative cooling mechanism. The compositions protect skin from external thermal fluxes, conform to skin chemistry, and are easy to apply and remove.