A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World
Updated on Jul. 10, 2024
Need some inspiration for the big day? Whether you want to go glam or ghostly, these easy makeup ideas will create a whole Halloween mood.
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Halloween is one of our favorite times of the year because we can really let loose and be who we want to be … if only for a night. Depending on your preference, you can go clever, cute, creepy or totally glam with an amazing Halloween costume and pull everything together with the right makeup. Or you could create an entire Halloween look with just your makeup. The showstopping Halloween makeup ideas on this list are particularly great for people who don’t have a big budget or a lot of time to spend on elaborate face painting ideas. You could draw some flowers on your face, throw together a simple DIY costume and call yourself a garden goddess if you want!
These Halloween makeup ideas—some of which even include fake blood that you can make yourself—range from super simple to moderately simple. Translation: We’re keeping it really easy so that anyone can accomplish these looks, meaning you don’t need to know tons of makeup secrets to make them amazing. So, have a little fun, go a little wild on the big day and use a few of the new products you pick up for a little extra oomph all year long.
This is one of those Halloween makeup ideas that’s both simple and super cool. Grab some lipstick, eyeliner, mascara and face paint to complete your comic book character look. For added fun, get your friends to sport this look for a cool comic-book-themed group Halloween costume.
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Looking for a glam goth makeup look for Halloween? Check out this look for inspiration. There’s a good chance you already have the makeup needed to create the look. This would be a great makeup idea for a glam vampire costume too.
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This is a great spooky (and easy) Halloween makeup idea. Even if the black contacts aren’t your thing, you can still make the eerie look work with your makeup bag staples. You’ll look like you just walked out of a creepy Halloween movie!
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You’re sure to turn heads with this Halloween makeup look. Once you get the nun costume, simply grab some eyeliner, mascara, lipstick and a lighter shade of foundation to complete the scary costume.
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It’s a look fit for royalty! And it’s an easy Halloween makeup idea to throw together. Grab lipstick, white eye shadow, a white eye pencil, foundation and mascara (or fake lashes) and get to work. An elegant queen makes a great teen Halloween costume too.
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DIYers, take note. This is a great Halloween costume to throw together, and the makeup won’t take long at all. First, cut out bats on orange construction paper and stick them on a black shirt. Then, get to work on the makeup. Put on some lighter foundation, then the eye makeup, and finish the look with a layer of black lipstick.
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Channel your inner Black Swan this Halloween with this creepy ballerina makeup. The best part? It’s an easy costume to create. After you put on your black ballerina outfit, put your hair back in a bun and get to work on the makeup. Put on foundation and black lipstick, and draw on the eyebrows with an eyebrow pencil. Complete it with an under-eye design drawn on with face paint and a fake spider on your shoulder for added creepiness.
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Show the whole Halloween party you’re dead serious about the “Till death do us part” vow with this Halloween makeup. Start by applying foundation, then work on the eyes using red and black eye shadow (don’t forget to fan it out and blend!). For the lips, get two shades: black and metallic red. Apply red to the inner parts of your lips, then apply black along the outside and blend to create that eye-catching lip color.
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This one ranks pretty well on our list of cool Halloween makeup ideas. Put on some lighter foundation or white face paint, then paint on some cracks with blue face paint. Put on blue eye shadow, mascara and blue lipstick to tie it all together for a chilling Halloween look. Looking for more spooky chills? These true ghost stories will keep you up at night.
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This is a pretty easy Halloween makeup look to simplify, if you so choose. All you really need to do is play up the red and black color scheme and top it all off with horns. You could do an allover red face paint or just use red eye shadow and lipstick with some rhinestones. If you opt for the red base, a heavy black eye look and black lipstick will stand out beautifully. Now you can be the subject of a spooky Halloween story.
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A siren is a bit different from a mermaid in that the siren is a bit more dangerous. So with that in mind, to recreate a siren look, you’ll want to go dark and moody. This makeup is a blend of purples and grays, which you can achieve with face paint and some shading. Just blend these colors all around your face and eyes, add some definition for gills, and you’re set. If you’re going for a funnier costume, check out these punny Halloween costumes.
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Turning yourself into one of Batman’s nemeses doesn’t have to be hard! Just start with a white base, paint over your eyebrows with red eye shadow or face paint, add a red nose and lips, and muddy up your eyes with some blue eye shadow. A crisp wing with some eyeliner will tie it all together—and, of course, a green wig. You can even turn this into a couples costume and go with Batman. Now that’s some drama!
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The Alice in Wonderland character doesn’t require a lot in the way of makeup. The hearts are the most important part, and you can interpret that however you like. For this specific look, you can start with a neutral base, do a dramatic eye shadow look, and color a mini heart on your lips. The costume itself is where the real drama happens! Coordinate with an Alice, White Rabbit and Mad Hatter for a fabulous best friends costume.
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Want to look like a critter walked all over you while you lay prone in the woods this Halloween? Here you go! You can draw on the paw prints with eye shadow and then do a dramatic smoky eye. The rest of this look is fairly neutral—except the blank-stare contact lenses.
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Dress up like the music legend with just a bit of makeup and the right wig. To imitate the Ziggy Stardust look, give yourself a pink and white base and then paint on the lightning bolt. This is one of those impressive-looking Halloween makeup ideas that is surprisingly simple to execute, and it can be completed with some lipstick and smudged eyeliner. Speaking of music, these Halloween songs should be on your costume party playlist.
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To channel this dark fairy, start with a clean, neutral base on your face—a villain has perfect skin!—and pump up the volume with your eyes. A blend of red and black shadows, along with strong eyeliner and brows, will add drama. A red lip completes the look. Don’t miss these other DIY Disney costumes that make quite the statement.
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For this rock star Halloween makeup look, use a bit of black face paint to make the star and some rhinestones to add bling. On the other eye, a smokey eye with fake lashes will add the perfect amount of flair. Finish with a bold black lip and you’re set.
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Some of the funnest Halloween makeup ideas pay homage to Disney villains. In Emma Stone’s Cruella, one of her looks features black face paint with “The Future” written in the negative space. You can cut out the letters, place them on your face, and then paint around them to create this look pretty easily. A bright red lip and her iconic wig—plus a puppy—will finish this costume. Don’t forget to snag Fido his own dog Halloween costume this year!
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This woodland fairy look is one of the prettiest and simplest Halloween makeup ideas. All it takes is a bit of pastel eye shadow and some freehand-drawn flowers or vines with liquid white eyeliner. Beyond this, you can dress and do your hair however you want! This also works as a lovely DIY costume for kids.
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Why be a regular cow when you can be a pink cow? You could actually do this easy Halloween makeup look with any color combination you want. A rainbow cow, perhaps? Just paint your face with spots at your leisure and that’s it. If you can find a cow onesie for your costume, that will put it over the top. Oh, and don’t forget a makeup sponge!
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Channel your inner seductress to transform yourself into Batman’s nemesis. To pull off this Halloween makeup idea, swipe green eye shadow all over your lids and around your face as well. You can use green eyeliner to draw the vines and leaves before adding big lashes and a bold lip.
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This costume doesn’t require much in the way of makeup. You’ll mostly just want to draw Shuri’s dots on your face and really rely on your costume to tell the story. Aside from Black Panther himself, here are some costume ideas for men that the guy in your life will love.
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Terrifying clowns definitely rank among the scariest Halloween costumes around, and you can’t go wrong with It‘s Pennywise. To create the look from this scary movie, you just need a neutral base and red paint to draw the line around your face. You can do a smoky eye if you like, but the red paint is the crux of this look. Hold a single red balloon to up the creepiness factor.
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You could consider this an Ariana Grande costume or just a bunny costume—either works. The mask is the main piece you’ll need, but to complete this look, paint on a bold lip and add some fake lashes. The blood is totally optional. It’s one of the easiest Halloween makeup ideas to rock!
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Take your zombie costume up a notch by being a zombie mom. You just need to use dark, gloomy colors across your entire face and put some extra emphasis on deadening your eyes. Muss up your hair, wear sloppy clothes and carry a mug around to be the ultimate over-it mom. While exhausted moms everywhere definitely inspired this costume idea, here are the true origins of Halloween’s spookiest monsters, including zombies.
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This fairy makeup look is quite elaborate, but you can easily simplify it. For example, you can freehand some flowers on your face in colors you like, or even use flower stickers instead. Opt for a coordinating flower crown and wig to bring it all together.
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This Halloween makeup look is totally up for interpretation. Whatever your zodiac sign is, you can start by drawing it on your face and using colors that coordinate with the symbols of your sign. For this one, she drew flowers to coincide with her Virgo sign, and it’s so pretty! By the way, did you know that astrology affects your choice of sweets? Well, it does! This is your zodiac sign’s favorite candy.
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This pretty clown takes the typical circus makeup style and uses bolder, brighter colors that are a bit more fun. Instead of primary colors, paint your face in these neons. If you can’t find a nose that’s the right color, you can also paint a red one. Add a bright outfit, a wig and some fun jewelry for an easy look that stands out. It’s one of those Halloween makeup ideas you’ll be proud of as soon as you look in the mirror.
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For this creepy Halloween makeup idea, you just need black and white eye shadow or some face paint to draw teeth on your mouth and create dark spots on your face. Follow your own bone structure to make the definition, and before you know it, you’ll be giving people nightmares and makeup envy. Don’t forget to use all the skeleton puns you can when you’re out and about in this “humerus” getup.
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Lady Gaga really wowed the crowd at the 2019 Met Gala. To recreate this look, you need black and white eyeliner, a bright pink lip and something to adorn your eyes. You can either cut up pieces of gold foil and attach them with eyelash glue or opt for facial adhesives. Just be careful of any sharp edges.
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This Halloween makeup look really relies on your tiara and sash, so the makeup is up to you! You can up the spooky factor by adding in some fake blood droplets, but go for a pretty eye and lip look to suit whatever costume you choose to wear.
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Snow White is one of the easier Disney princesses to recreate because her makeup is just a fresh face with a bright red lip. Smooth out your skin with foundation to start, and then add crisp red lipstick. This Disney flick also happens to be one of the best witch movies, if you want to go old-school (and not too scary).
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This look takes the most popular Pokémon character and makes it pretty. Use yellow and black eye shadow to create a graphic eye look, and then add some white shapes on your cheeks. Black lipstick and a fun yellow wig pull everything together.
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OK, so this Carrie Halloween costume is really about the dress and the blood, but you can do her subtle prom makeup before you douse yourself in the red stuff. A pretty blush and soft lashes will do the trick. And, um, did we mention all the blood? If you’re putting together a scary Halloween movie marathon, this Stephen King classic should be on your must-watch list.
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Come on, Barbie, let’s go party! Grab everything in pink for this look—pink eye shadow, pink lipstick, pink blush and pink rhinestones! Really play up the bright colors, and make sure your outfit matches. If you’re expecting, you and your Ken can adapt this into a clever pregnant Halloween costume.
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Pop art is so much fun to recreate with makeup. For this one, use eye shadow or face paint to draw lines and dots on your face to mimic the style. This look even has tears, which adds a bit of whimsy.
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You can be a creature of the deep with just some metallic eye shadow (for drawing scales), metallic eyeliner and rhinestones. This specific look has a gorgeous pattern of rhinestones, but you can mix it up and place yours however you want. Don’t forget your fin! If your motto is “the more, the merrier,” get everyone in on the action with an under-the-sea family Halloween costume.
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Jessica Rabbit is an icon. To be her, use as much purple eye shadow as you can pack onto your lids. You’ll also need the biggest fake lashes your eyes can handle! Add your red lipstick and wig, and you’ll be completely transformed!
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The weather may not be freezing on Halloween, but you can still be an ice queen. And this is one of those Halloween makeup ideas where you can really have fun with the glitter. Paint your eyelids with icy colors and add tons of glitter so you look frozen. Do the same with your lips for the full effect. A stark white wig turns you into the queen you know you are.
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Few things are spookier than a Ouija board. You can become the game simply by painting letters on yourself with paint or eyeliner. Go for a dramatic smoky eye, and paint the planchette somewhere on yourself as well.
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Harley Quinn is a perennial favorite for Halloween. You just need red and blue eye shadow to create this look, along with some lipstick and the appropriate wig or hair paint!
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Of course, we’re going to recommend being a witch for Halloween! This is the ultimate Halloween makeup idea: Just paint yourself green and call it a day! If you choose, you can be more of a glam witch with a smoky eye and pretty lipstick, but the green is really the key here. By the way, witches can be the stars of the show when it comes to cool Halloween decorations too.
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The character of Jules in HBO‘s Euphoria always has some sort of bright or sparkly makeup look going on. It’s easy enough to tap into any of her looks, but the glitter from the Halloween episode is especially beautiful. For this, you can smudge a pastel shadow around your eyes and add some glitter into your lashes and around your eyes. Add highlighter in all the right places to tie it together.
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You don’t have to go with a full Halloween vibe if you don’t want to. This look really celebrates the autumn season. Using fall colors, you can do a colorful eye shadow look before you draw some tree branches around them. Add in a few rhinestones and gold glitter for shine.
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Drawing a couple of bats on your cheeks can look more glamorous than you may expect, especially if you pair that with bright eyes and long lashes. Become this spooky maven with a matte black lip and a long icy wig.
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No Halloween is complete without a jack-o’-lantern. You can be the star of the show with this look. Use orange eye shadow as a highlighter around your face and on your eyelids, and then draw your mouth on with a liquid black lipstick. Add the nose and a bit of orange glitter, and that’s it!
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Become queen of the rainbows with this colorful makeup look. You don’t have to stick to any one pattern—simply use your favorite rainbow shades to draw a fun pattern around your face. You can add rhinestones for some sparkle and any lipstick or mascara you like.
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You can draw butterfly wings around your eyes for a subtle but pretty Halloween makeup idea. This can be done with eye shadow or eyeliner. Give your wings some sparkle with tiny rhinestones, and add some fluttery fake lashes.
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How creepy is this broken doll? Give your skin the porcelain look by first covering it all with foundation that’s a shade or two lighter than you’d normally wear. Then use eye shadow or eyeliner to draw the cracks on your skin. Overdraw your lips with lipstick, and do a fun shade of eye shadow, just like a doll.
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To be a vampire, use dark colors for a bold smoky eye, adding some dark accents down to your cheeks. You can do this with eye shadow or eyeliner. Coat your lips with black lipstick, then add some fake blood and vampire fangs.
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This is one of the simplest Halloween makeup ideas to recreate. To be Wednesday Addams from The Addams Family, all you have to do is create a strong smoky eye both on your lids and under your eyes. By buffing the dark shadow all over, you’ll give yourself those shadows. Then simply wear the right costume—it really is that simple. This also makes a great work-appropriate Halloween costume.
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You can tone down the typical clown makeup with pastel colors, like this Halloween look. Either highlighters or eye shadow will work for the colored parts. Just smudge them on your eyes, cheeks and nose in a fun blended pattern. The most fun part of this look is the huge lashes.
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How glam is this Ursula look from The Little Mermaid? To recreate this, use a strong contour on your face to start. Then use a combination of turquoise and purple on your eyes, with some glitter for an added pop. A bright red lip adds even more glamour.
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For a fun and easy makeup look that is oh-so-seasonal, try this scarecrow. Swipe orange eye shadow on your lids, and finish with eyeliner and mascara. For the rest of your face, use that same orange eye shadow on your cheeks, and draw the stitches on your mouth with eyeliner.
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We love fun animal-themed Halloween makeup ideas! There are a few ways you could create this look: with face paint or eye shadow and eyeliner. A bold brow and lashes will bring it all together.
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Next, check out these Halloween party ideas for the ultimate night of fun—after all, you need somewhere to show off your spooktacular makeup design.
