New ink?! We know Ben Affleck loves his lower back tattoo of a dolphin and will defend it 'til the end of time, so did he get some new ink -- on his FACE?!

Affleck is sober now, people, so we doubt he's crazy enough to ruin that manly mug with a tattoo -- which would clearly be the nail in the coffin of his career, too -- so no, it's just face paint, duh! Still -- a skull and crossbones! How edgy!

Affleck joined his kids and ex-wife Jennifer Garner for a neighborhood block party on Sunday and indulged his kids in getting his face painted like they did. Cute dad, right?!