The present invention concerns a paint composition which comprises a binder, a coalescent agent and optionally admixtures and auxiliary agents known per se. The film forming agent comprises a glycidyl ether or glycidyl ester or a mixture thereof, the hydrocarbyl residue of the alcohol or carboxylic acid, respectively, of the ether or ester comprising a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon having 3 to 20 carbon atoms. The invention further concerns a method of accelerating the hardening of paint compositions and a novel method of preparing glycidyl esters. The film forming agents used in the invention lower the film forming temperature better than conventional reactive film forming agents. Due to low volatility the compounds are suitable for no-VOC applications.