50 Best Halloween Makeup Looks to Complete Your Costume
Get spooky and sparkly.
By Shelby Deering
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There’s nothing quite like going all out for Halloween! It’s the one time of year where you can fully embrace your creative side and transform into someone (or something) completely different for the night. While donning a cool costume alone can garner all the compliments, why stop there? Take your look to the next level with spooky, sparkly, and show-stopping Halloween makeup.
You can try something on the scary side (like a spider or zombie look) or the sweet (think: colorful fairy or melting ice cream styles). You can even get your little ones in on the fun with a bumblebee or kitten tutorial. They're even easier than DIY kids costumes! If you’re not big into wearing head-to-toe costumes, you can even do something simple and let your makeup act as a last-minute Halloween costume in itself. Plus, face painting doubles as a festive and fun Halloween activity for everyone!
Whether you have a huge Halloween party to attend or are heading out with your kiddos to trick-or-treat in style, check out these makeup looks that are sure to be a hit. And PS: If you have sensitive skin or plan to wear the makeup for extended periods of time, make sure you have a gentle cleanser to wash it off and invest in a good moisturizer to apply afterwards.
Pair your makeup with one of these Halloween costume ideas:
Unleash your inner enchantress with a spellbinding smoky eye—complete with dark lips, perfectly brushed brows, and glamourous glittering detailing. The teardrop rhinestones on this example are truly bewitching.
2
Joker Makeup
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Go as Gotham’s most infamous villain with bold and chaotic Joker makeup! From the haunting red grin to darkened eyes, this look will really let you embrace your mischievous side. If you want to go all out, complete the look with his iconic green hair.
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3
Snow Queen Makeup
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Channel icy elegance with shimmering white shadows and wintery blue accents. Add frosted lashes, sparkling gems, and a touch of icy contouring to capture the magic of a queen ruling over her winter wonderland.
4
Taylor Swift Fan Makeup
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Get ready to turn Halloween into your own Eras Tour! From recreating her iconic eras looks to adding a touch of glitter and red lipstick, you can channel your favorite Taylor Swift vibe effortlessly. Draw a pink sparkly "Lover" heart or a bold "Reputation" snake. Either way, you'll be ready to shake it off in style. Just don't forget friendship bracelets and the number 13!
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5
Cute Monster Makeup
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This one is AHHH-dorable! While this monster makeup keeps things simple with different colored googly eyes, you can also experiment with bright colors, glittery accents, and fun details like soft horns. Perfect for kids and adults alike, you can really embrace the spooky season while keeping things lighthearted and fun!
6
Elphaba Makeup
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Want to defy gravity this October? Turn yourself into the Wicked Witch of the West by using face paint to copy her signature green skin. Finishing details include dramatic eyes and bold lips. You can even throw on a dark wig to make your Elphaba truly magical.
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7
'60s Girl Makeup
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This low-maintenance makeup look is so simple to create with products you already have! Do your base makeup as you normally would, and put a layer of white matte eyeshadow across your eyelids. Then, trace the shape of your eyelid in a dramatic wing from the inner corner to the outer corner in black liquid liner for a Twiggy-like look.
8
Vampiress Makeup
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Dark, smokey eyeshadow and a glossy red lip are the basis of this fierce vampiress makeup look. Complete the look with faux fangs and streams of fake blood along the corners of your lips.
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9
Rainbow Makeup
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If you're looking for a costume that's more colorful and happy than scary, paint your face into a cheery rainbow! Using face paint, create a rainbow of shades across your eyebrows and under your eyes. Then, create a colorful winged eyeliner look with bright blue, pink, and yellow liner to complete the look.
10
Cheetah Makeup
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This simple and fun cheetah makeup look goes beyond a basic black cat while still allowing you to stay in your feline comfort zone! Use shades of yellow, taupe, and orange eyeshadow to shade the skin around your eyes and forehead. Then, use black eyeliner to create a dramatic cat-eye and to draw cheetah "spots" on top of the yellow "fur."
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11
Black Swan Makeup
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Get graceful this Halloween by painting your face to look like a majestic black swan. Start with a base of silver or white eyeshadow all over your eyelids, inner corners, and above your eyebrows in a winged shape. Then, add a few layers of dark eyeshadow atop the outlined shape and smudge it out for a natural swan effect.
12
Skeleton Makeup
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Dressing up as a skeleton for Halloween is anything but boring when it involves this creative makeup look! Use white face paint to emphasize your mouth and cheekbone areas. Then, use black paint to draw contour lines on your cheeks, mouth, and nose.
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13
Deer Makeup
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Take inspiration from a delicate doe with this ethereal makeup look. Color your cheeks with lots of bronzer, followed by spots of white face paint. Complete the look with a black nose and antlers.
14
Dragon Makeup
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This makeup look is a great option for kids and adults alike! Paint the area around your eyes and forehead with green paint, almost like an eye mask. Then, use fishnet stockings as a stencil for the dragon "scales," placing it on your forehead to trace the shapes with black eyeshadow or eyeliner. Finish the look with gold glitter on your cheeks for a mystical touch!
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15
Alien Makeup
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Think outside the box—or, in this case, the world—with this stunning alien makeup look! Use metallic shades of deep blueish purple to highlight your cheekbones, eyebrows, and lips, as well as contrasting shades, like fuschia, to add dimension.
16
Mermaid Makeup
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Take a cue from one of the most popular movies of the year and pull out all things shells and sequins! Though Ariel's makeup is a lot more simple, you can have some fun by adding colorful eyeshadow and scales for your night under the sea.
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17
Witch Makeup
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Talk about a magical makeover! There are so many witch costumes to choose from: wicked, good, mystical, and more. The most classic can be achieved by grabbing a witch hat and broom then sweeping on some dark makeup.
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'80s Makeup
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Halloween is the perfect time to take a trip back to your favorite decade. Did you know the '80s are Ree's favorite, too? Tease your hair to your heart's content then grab all of your brightest colors for eyeshadow, blush, and lipstick to have a totally tubular '80s Halloween Costume.
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Vampire Makeup
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It's classic for a reason! This absolutely vonderful vampire costume is complete with white face paint and dark eyes. Just don't forget the dribbles of blood from the mouth! You can even grab fake vampire teeth to really cause a scream.
20
Scarecrow Makeup
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We like our scarecrows a little less scary and a lot more cutesy—much like this version that features the cutest sunflower eye makeup along with the classic scarecrow smile. A little face paint will have this one done in no time.