53 Epic Halloween Makeup Ideas for 2024
With a spooky season just around the corner, you may be looking for awesome and easy Halloween makeup ideas for all sorts of parties and occasions.
From simple to complex, cute to scary, there are a vast number of great ideas for creating a truly unique look this Halloween, many that may be easier to master than you think.
How to do makeup for Halloween? We’ve rounded up a few of our favorites, great for faces of all ages, from cute and cuddly bugs to terrifying pop culture villains.
What makeup do you need for Halloween? Many of these ideas involve makeup products you may already own like concealer, bronzer or eyeliner. Other face paint ideas can be created with simple colored face paint kits available from general retailers and party stores.
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- Simple Halloween Makeup Ideas for Adults
- Easy Halloween Makeup Ideas for Kids
- Scary Halloween Makeup Ideas
- Cute Halloween Makeup Ideas
- Best Halloween Makeup Ideas for Guys
- Best Halloween Makeup Ideas for Women
Simple Halloween Makeup Ideas for Adults
1. Rainbow
This fun and colorful Halloween makeup idea is great for spooky season or for Pride month. Use a range of colors to create a layered effect on your eyelids, blending the colors as you move upward for an ombre effect.
Or start between the eyes and blend colors outward. Pick up some rainbow false eyelashes for some extra flirtatiousness or add some shimmer to your eyes, cheeks and lips.
2. Deer
This easy adult Halloween makeup idea employs makeup you may already have. Use some eyeliner to black off the end of your nose, then add some bronzer around the perimeter of your face dotted with concealer. This makeup pairs great with a set of fuzzy ears and antlers.
3. Alien
For a simple Halloween makeup idea, employ some green tinted makeup and eyeliner to make your eyes large and almond shaped. Or subtly add scales on your cheeks and forehead.
Other great textures to work with include shimmer, body glitter and adhesive jewels. Combine your makeup with a fun space-agey wig in bright blue or green.
4. Witch
Witches are a Halloween classic, which means there are a great variety of options, including the classic green-skinned variation a la The Wizard of Oz or more nature-friendly witch of the woods.
For a more sultry look, opt for a dramatic and dark eye with shadows radiating outward and under the eye and black lips. Or add fun details like spider webs and bat wings to the corners of your eyes. Pair with a classic witch’s hat or try a crown made of sticks or flowers.
5. Mime
One of the most simple Halloween makeup ideas, this one just needs white and black face paint combined with black and white-striped clothing. Cover your face entirely in white, then use the black to add details around the eyes.
Options include simple lines above and below your eyes or more elaborate decorations like diamonds, teardrops and starbursts. Paint your lips red or black.
6. Spider Eyes
A great subtle Halloween makeup idea if you are just looking to add a little bit of seasonal spirit is to use a black pencil or eyeliner to create a spider webbing effect around your eyes.
It can be as small or elaborate as you desire and can be combined with other dark and dramatic eye shadow, mascara and liner combinations. For a bold version, create a masquerade-style mask over the top of your face with a spiderweb motif.
7. Picasso Face
A fun adult Halloween makeup idea if you have access to multiple colors of face paint is to deck out your face with cubism style. Use blocks of color to segment various parts of your face to make it look like a Picasso portrait. Pair the bold look with a simple black or white outfit below.
8. Tattooed Lady
For an easy Halloween makeup idea that doesn’t involve drawing or applying makeup, look to the carnival days of yore. Use printable temporary tattoos to cover your face and visible skin, which apply with water and are easily removable with baby oil.
Transfer paper is available for both laser and inkjet printers and allows you to pick existing images or graphics from online or draw your own.
9. Sugar Skull
This hallmark of Day of the Dead celebrations makes a creepily gorgeous costume option for festivals and parades. Sugar skulls are often lushly decorated, varying from scary to beautiful.
Use all-over white face paint as a base, then use black or other colors around the eyes and nose to create a hollowed, skull-like effect that can be as simple or as elaborate as desired.
For the mouth, draw a line across the face and add stitching around the mouth. Wear a floral headband or add flowers to your hair to complete the effect.
Easy Halloween Makeup Ideas for Kids
10. Scarecrow
An easy Halloween makeup idea is to turn your little one into a cute or spooky scarecrow. Just use black pencil or eyeliner to add stitching around the mouth and other patchwork details on the cheeks and nose.
Combine the look with some raggy oversized clothes, overalls and a straw hat. Add flowers, raffia or straw to the hat for an adorable Halloween craft idea.
11. Jack-O-Lantern
Another classic Halloween makeup idea, this one can be as simple or detailed as you want. Use orange face paint all over and add black triangles around the eyes and nose. Create a wide and toothy smile with black paint for an adorable Halloween painting idea.
12. Zombie
Another undead denizen of the spooky season, zombie makeup can run the gamut from cute to scary depending on how you use it. For a classic look, opt for green face paint, hollowed-out eyes and fake blood.
You can also use adhesive latex to create cool skin effects. For a budget-friendly way to create three-dimensional wounds, use some non-toxic Elmer's glue and toilet paper, then add flesh-colored makeup over the top.
13. Cat
Like other great kid-friendly Halloween makeup ideas, this one can vary from adorable to creepy. Put on some cat ears and opt for simple drawn-in whiskers and a black nose. Or add some elaborate spots and coloring to the face, like cheetah spots or tiger stripes.
14. Glow-in-the-Dark Skeleton
Glow-in-the-dark face paint can be a great way to create spooky effects and make your kid more visible when trick-or-treating at night. Use a neon shade to outline the eyes, nose and cheeks to create a creepy skull.
Pair the makeup with all-black clothes or a dark hoodie. You can also paint the hands and any skin to look like bones for a fun body paint idea.
15. Frankenstein
For this classic and easy Halloween makeup idea for kids, you just need green and black face paint. Cover the entire face in green then add stitching details on the face and neck, black lips.
Use a temporary color or spray for hair or choose a wig with messy black hair.. You can also opt for a Bride of Frankenstein version with her signature white streaked wig and lightning bolts on the sides of the face.
16. Weird Barbie
Get the iconic look of Kate Mackinnon’s character from the Barbie movie by creating her signature style using various colors of face paint and some black eyeliner.
You can reproduce the look exactly or get creative with your scribbles and lines to make your own version. This makes a cute and easy Halloween makeup for a girl child when paired with colorful and mismatched clothes.
17. Wednesday Addams
This is an easy Halloween makeup idea for kids since it really only requires a light face with darker details. Use white face paint or pale foundation to achieve a plaster-like skin tone, then add some circles around the eyes with a dark shadow. Finish it off with black lipstick, a braided wig and black clothing.
18. Baby Yoda
For this fun Halloween makeup look, you will need lots of green face paint and some wide yoda ears. Cover the area around the eyes in black. Pair the look with a brown or tan cape or hooded robe.
19. Pokemon
To achieve a fun look for a toddler or baby, create a simple circular design with red face paint or rouge on their cheeks before slipping them into a yellow onesie or footie pajamas.
20. Robot
For a cute retro Halloween makeup idea great for kids, use silver face paint all over or partially to cover the face, then add seams using black pencil or eyeliner and circular rivets to make the pieces look like they are fastened together.
21. Vampire
What's the best makeup for Halloween? Fake blood, of course! Use it as the center of your vampire makeup look for kids by adding it liberally around the mouth and eyes, either as stains or drips.
You can also use black makeup, eyeliner or dark shadow to create an undead hollowed look under and around the eyes. Pair this with the classic fangs and black cape.
Scary Halloween Makeup Ideas
22. The Nun
For a super freaky and creepy look pulled from The Conjuring movie franchise, use an all-over white coat and lots of black around the eyes and mouth. For an even scarier look, add some yellow or white contact lenses.
23. Marionette
For scary Halloween makeup easy to apply, use a black pencil or eyeliner to draw two vertical lines under your mouth to your chin to mimic a hinged marionette. You can also add details like cracks, eye circles and red bow lips as accents.
24. Human Ouija Board
Turn the entire upper half of your body into a creepy ouija board by drawing the recognizable symbols and imagery from these spooky divination tools. Write “yes” and “no” on your forehead and add a planchette shape over one eye.
Create a letter board across your chest with a low cut top or dress. You can also add sun and moon details to your shoulders and other Ouija specific details on your face, neck and chest.
25. Evil Clown
Always good for a scare, create a horrific clown using an all-over white face paint as a base for creepy details and accents. Opt for classic clown face, but scarier and distorted or use fake blood around the eyes and mouth for a terrifying visage. Pair with a creepy black, green or red wig.
26. Creepy Doll
Another variety of scary Halloween makeup easy to create is to doll it up. Use white porcelain- colored makeup all over, then draw your eyes to be wider than they really are with a black pencil or eyeliner.
Fill in the area around the eye with white and add drawn or faux exaggerated eyelashes. For the lips, opt for a red or black pout. You can also create cracks and seams in the porcelain that allow real skin to show through for an even spookier effect.
27. Chucky or Bride of Chucky
Pop culture villains from the 80s are the best, including another very specific set of terrifying dolls from the Child's Play franchise. Don a pair of overalls, striped shirt and a red wig before using a black or red pencil to create wounds and stitches on your face.
Or opt for the Bride of Chucky with dark dramatic eyeshadow and lashes, black lips and a red heart-shaped tattoo on your chest.
28. Freddie Krueger
There are a wide range of tutorials for creating this fun and scary Halloween makeup idea. The key is to recreate Krueger’s burned look, which can be done with a mix of black and red face paint applied strategically to look like burn wounds.
You can also use adhesive tatex bits or tissue mixed with non-toxic Elmer’s glue to add some depth and dimension.
29. Ghost
This frightfully good Halloween makeup idea goes far beyond the ubiquitous white sheet. Use white and black makeup to create a terrifying face with dark sunken eyes and cheeks, wounds and stitches. Add black lipstick or black makeup around your mouth and pair with tattered clothes.
30. Headless Marie Antoinette
For a terrifying period costume, use red body or face paint to create a line around the neck dripping blood. You can also do a more traditional overly-powdered makeup look on the face. Pair this look with one of Antoinette’s signature dramatically high wigs and elaborately detailed gowns.
Cute Halloween Makeup Ideas
31. Dragon
For a fun Game of Thrones-inspired Halloween makeup idea, use colorful face paint or eyeshadow to create a scale look. On the skin, a great hack uses fishnet stockings over the area with powdered shimmering eyeshadow to get scaly details. You can also create a fun dragon wing effect using liner and shadow around the eyes.
32. Unicorn
Another cute and mythical creature Halloween makeup idea, this fun look employs soft and shimmery pastels aplenty. Create an ombre of pastel eyeshadows around your eyes and add sparkly details like adhesive gems and body glitter.
Use glittery lipgloss in a fun color and add a unicorn horn headband.
33. Forest Elf
All you need for this fun Halloween makeup idea is a pair of fairy ears or horns to transform into a spirit of the forest. Use shimmery earth tones and rich greens around your eyes to create botanical-inspired details like vines, leaves and flowers.
34. Bumble Bee
For a cute Halloween makeup idea for kids or adults, use some yellow and black face paint to create a full face of alternating stripes. Or use more subtle details with a nod to bees like honeycombing, dripping honey and cute antennae.
35. Ice Cream Cone
For a fun and easy Halloween makeup idea, use colorful face paint to mimic the look of drippy and melting ice cream below a paper cone attached with clips or a headband. For a more colorful look, add a candy-colored wig.
36. Batwing Eyes
This cute Halloween makeup look doesn’t even require any other costume details to be stunning. Try lining your eyes with batwing detail in black liner.
They can be as small or large, simple or elaborate, as you desire and can be paired with other fun costume ideas like a witch or just worn with formal or daily wear.
37. Lady Bug
Use red and black face paint all over your face to create this little bug’s signature spots or use it just around the eyes to make a mask with adorable antennae extending up your forehead.
Best Halloween Makeup Ideas for Guys
38. Beetlejuice
With the sequel to this 80s classic coming soon, you can easily recreate the look of its namesake character. Paint your face with white paint then add shadows in purple and black around the eyes. As a finishing touch, add a wild green wig and striped attire below.
39. Jack Skellington
Another classic Halloween entertainment character, A Nightmare Before Christmas’ Jack Skellington is an easy look to recreate using makeup.
Just paint your face white all over, using black to circle your eyes to create a skull effect. Use a black liner or pencil to create a stitched line across the lower cheeks and mouth. Pair this makeup with a pinstripe suit.
40. Jigsaw
Get this creepy Halloween makeup idea using white, red and black paint or eyeliner. Create vertical lines downward from your mouth and red spirals on your cheeks.
Add a messy black wig, dark paint or shadow around the eyes and red contacts to get the full effect.
41. The Joker
This popular DC character makes a chilling and fun Halloween makeup idea for guys. Create a variation of creepy clown makeup that employs red, black and blue to create diamond shapes around the eyes and the trademark split smile. Add a green wig or colored hair spray to finish.
42. David Bowie
David Bowie’s signature Ziggy Stardust style is a great inspo for a Halloween makeup look. All you need is red, blue and black face paint to create the lightning bolt emanating from your hairline. For a fun variation, try it in shimmering gold or silver (or both!)
43. Creature From the Black Lagoon
Use green and blue shimmery face paint or eyeshadow to create reptilian gills over a green base perfect for this Hollywood classic monster. Use fishnet stockings as a stencil to create scaling and draw large, exaggerated lips that mimic the creature’s large mouth.
44. Hulk
Another Halloween makeup idea that uses lots of green, you can cover your face, neck and any visible skin with green for this fun comic-inspired look. You can also use black pencil or liner to create lines and shadows that mimic the Hulk’s chiseled face..
45. Terminator
For fun and scary Halloween makeup ideas for guys, use silver and black face paint to create the look of a metal casing over one half of the face (as if the skin has been torn away). You can also add a single red contact lens to complete the look.
Best Halloween Makeup Ideas for Women
46. Retro Makeup
This stylish Halloween makeup look allows you to choose your favorite decade or era and run with it. Choose a heavily rouged French Revolution makeup style or more subdued turn-of-the-century Gibson Girl look. From the 20th century, choose styles like red-lipped flappers and 80s electric blue shadow.
47. Black Swan
For a pretty and distinctive Halloween makeup idea for women, mimic Natalie Portman’s iconic and chilling look in Black Swan’s final scenes, which entails winged accents drawn carefully and in detail around the eyes combined with pale skin and red lips. For an extra-spooky touch, add red contacts.
48. Sally
For a fun couple's costume idea, become Sally to his Jack Skellington. Start with a light blue face paint as your base then use a pencil or eyeliner to draw stitched details on your face. Use liner or long faux eyelashes to create her wide and expressive eyes.
49. Mermaid
Always a classic, mermaid looks vary from simpler to more detailed. Think blues and greens with a lot of shimmer and sparkle that evokes the sea.
Create scales using the fishnet trick mentioned above in strategic places. Or just decorate around your eyes for a more subdued look. Feel free to layer on the glitter, shimmer and crystals.
50. Ursula
One of Disney’s classic villainesses from The Little Mermaid, this look is easy to recreate and makes a fun Halloween makeup idea for women. Starting with a purple or lavender base.
The eyes should be the focus of your effort, so layer on the blue and black shadow, reaching your brows and beyond. Finish with bold, red lips and a sneer.
51. Goth Glam
While a goth look is fun any time of year, this variation adds a little glamor and grandeur to the ordinary all black. Dark, dramatic eyes and dark red or black lips prevail, but glam adds a bit more shimmer, crystals and softness to the look.
52. Ice Queen
Create a frosty look using pale blues and lots of white around the eyes. Add some white eyelashes dusted with glitter and pale blue lips. You can also add touches of silver and bejeweling. Combine the makeup with an icy tiara or sparkling jewelry.
53. Harley Quinn
Another great couple costume idea with the Joker, recreate Harley’s fun look with red and blue eyeshadow over a pale base on each side. To finish the costume, add colored hairspray to your own pigtails or create a multi-colored blonde wig.
Halloween is a great time to experiment with fun and terrifying makeup ideas that can become part of a larger costume or stand all on their own for a great look that accompanies regular clothing or formalwear. Most of them are fairly simple and can be done in minutes.
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