12 Halloween Makeup Ideas to Try, Whether You're a Beauty Beginner or Pro
From mummy mystique to ghoulish glam.
As spooky season draws close, we only have one week to plan a jaw-dropping Halloween look that will leave everyone in awe (and jealous that they didn’t think of your idea sooner). But, have no fear! We’re rounding up some of the most innovative and fun makeup looks we’ve seen so that you can elevate your costume game, enchant, scare and transform into someone or something else for a night.
Whether you want to be an ethereal fairy or a sexy vampire, Halloween makeup allows for creativity and self-expression to take hold. From uncomplicated and cute to scary and show-stopping, here are some of our favorite makeup moments to add to your moodboard for Halloween this year.
Spiderella
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This dazzling spider queen looks like she comes from outer space. Starting off with the hardest look, we’d follow this creator’s instructions to a tee. On the shopping list: glitter, rhinestones, highlighter and anything shiny or sparkling that you can get your hands on.
Vampire Glam
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This creator brought a scary and modern twist to the traditional vampire look with red contacts and concealer lips. Tight-lined black eyeliner is paired with dramatic false lashes. Vampire elegance has never looked so good.
Dalmatian Chic
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Woof woof! You’ll be sure to get the crowd barking with this playful Dalmatian look. Whether you choose to go full glam or just add some black spots to your face, embracing your wild side is sure to win the pet-lover stamp of approval.
Doe-Eyed Cuteness
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Taking a page out of Moo Deng’s look, animal beauty started with the woodland princess herself — Miss Bambi, of course! You’ll need soft brown and white eyeshadow to add delicate spots onto the face, while you draw on a tiny fawn nose. Don’t forget to grab a white eyeliner to line the inner water line of your eye — this’ll give you that doe-eyed look.
Being Bug-Eyed
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Leave it to Mei Pang to think outside of the box not only during Halloween, but pretty much all year-round. If you’re looking for something extraordinary, take a page out of her book and try these laundry sheet bug to scare and entice all trick-or-treaters and partygoers alike.
Ghastly and Ghoulish
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Spooky, cute and simple to do. First, run to your local costume store for green, white, black and purple makeup. You’ll then trace the outline of different-sized ghosts around the eyes, filling them in with the same color paint. Finally, take some black eyeliner and draw in little eyes and mouths.
The Envy of All, Medusa
@ellejamesmakeup Replying to @Amelia Grundy i hope you like it!!! 🐍Who should i do next?? #medusa #medisamakeup #medusahalloweenlook ♬ Itsclashofthetitansmydudes – kirs+ten
Cursed by the goddess Athena, Medusa’s beautiful hair was transformed into snakes, making any man who looks at her turn into stone. To channel the powerful allure of Medusa, it’s pretty easy — even though it looks like it would take hours. You’ll want to contour with green eyeshadow or makeup all over the face and then add any eye glam you’d like. A pro tip from the creator’s video is to use a fishnet stocking over the face to achieve a scale-like appearance.
Skull-tastic Skeleton
@avashaw.ty Easiest last minute costume🖤 – - – #halloweenmakeup#skullmakeup#grwm#costumeideas#diycostumes#fyp#beautytok#trendingmakeup#makeuptutorial#simplemakeup ♬ Lovers From The Past – Mareux
This is possibly the easiest and cutest makeup beat to try on our list. This creator uses a liquid black eyeliner to mimic the hollow bones and sunken teeth of a skeleton.
Plant Lady
@sarahnewsfx This transition for halloween>>> #makeup #poisonivy products @nyxcosmetics_uk ♬ original sound – ComicsV2
Poison Ivy is a classic, but this creator took achieving her look to another level. Secure the ultra-glam yourself with a minty green eyeshadow base, some fake leaves and red contacts.
Undead and Pretty
@spacetemporaluser ハロウィンのためのメイクアップ‼︎#halloween #makeup #zombie ♬ оригінальний звук – pls.aep
Gore, but make it hot. This makeup look is quite eerie, but that’s what makes it fun. Use matte or cream eyeshadow in pink, purple, green, red and white to give off a decayed appearance.
Mummy Mystique
@daniellemarcan first halloween look this season: mummy 🥀 #makeup #halloweenmakeup #costume ♬ The Lobotomy – Maebi
This has got to be the prettiest mummy makeup we’ve ever seen. Hauntingly beautiful, you can use white gauze and makeup glue to mimic this look. Bonus tip: utilize dark eyeliner or eyeshadow to become your faux dirt.
Glamour Witch
@hayleybuix Witch core #halloweenmakeup #witchcraft #witchmakeup ♬ My Girlfriend Is a Witch – October Country
And last but not least, no Halloween is complete without the classic witch costume. More of a glamorous vibe, you can mirror this creator’s look with sleek eyeliner, a glossy reddish lip and fun accessories like gloves and a hat. We’re sure you’ll look spellbinding.
For more beauty news, check out our coverage of Les Filles En Rouje’s new makeup palette.
