Now that Halloween is fast on its way, it’s time to start thinking about what your costume will be! If we’re being honest, however, our very favourite part of getting dressed up for Halloween is often actually the process of getting creative with makeup than making or wearing a costume. Of course, we give bonus points for ideas that let us do both, but we really love putting the skill into a bit of themed makeup artistry right around Halloween. The real trouble is decided between looks, which is why we can usually be found spending the month of October scrolling through options online!
Are you feeling just as interested as we are, if not more, in the idea of learning how to do something awesome, spooky, and impressive with your makeup this Halloween? Check out these 15 ideas, designs, and tutorials that we’ve come across so far in our search for inspiration and guidance!
1. Easy Halloween cat makeup
Whether you’re planning to go as a black cat, and leopard, or even a pink panther, dressing like a cat for Halloween is a total classic no matter how you spin it! It’s also a great, simple option for if you find yourself strapped for time. Just because you’re aiming for something quite easy, however, doesn’t mean it can’t also look impressive. Take a look at Twist Me Pretty to see how they made their details so neat and appealing in their cat look.
2. Simple zombie makeup
Dressing as a zombie is another awesomely simple costume to put together that doesn’t take up a whole lot of time but that can still totally have a lot of impact! Of course, even though the outfit is simple, this is also a look where the makeup can really make it. If you’re a bit of a beginner but you still want to look the part, check out how Look Like A Zombie mapped out this simple tutorial that’s nice and easy to follow no matter your level of makeup skill.
3. Ventriloquist dummy makeup
Even though you’d like to get a little creative with your makeup and do something that’s at least slightly spooky, are you also still the kind of person who likes to add a bit of a girly element to your costume, since that’s just your style? In that case, we’d absolutely suggest taking a look at how Slashed Beauty painted their face to look like a cute but every so slightly haunting ventriloquist’s dummy!
4. Harley Quinn makeup
If you’ve ever been a fan of comic book movies then we’re pretty sure we already know which look you’re thinking about this year, particularly since a new instalment in this character’s storyline is about to be released! This tutorial featured on Instructables has all the tips and tricks you’ll need to turn yourself into Harley Quinn.
5. Painted Wonder Woman head piece
If you’ve got a little bit of makeup skill and a steady hand that you feel pretty confident in but you’ve never tried painting on a feature that someone else might choose to make as a costume piece, then we’d suggest at least considering getting a little freehand creative to try it out! For example, we’re completely obsessed with the way Cosmopolitan outlines the steps for painting a realisitic looking Wonder Woman headpiece, in case you don’t have time to make a physical one.
6. Day of the Dead sugar skull makeup
if you’re feeling like creating something a little more intricate looking, or maybe even doing a makeup look that can really do almost all the work for the costume itself thanks to its impressive detail, then we think you just might be the perfect person to give a sugar skull look a try! If you’re into the idea but think that doing your whole face might be a little too complicated, however, then we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how Brit + Co. did this slightly simplified but still stunning half-skull version instead.
7. Fox makeup tutorial
Are you actually still thinking about the idea of doing a really simple look because you’re very busy and won’t have time for something high maintenance but you’ve done the black cat classic too many times to count? Then maybe you’d prefer to to try something like this adorable fox makeup from The Wonder Forest that’s just as easy and time efficient as the cat but slightly less common!
8. Angel of death makeup
Maybe we’ve really caught your attention with this whole concept of doing something very quick and simple because you know you’ll be pressed for time but you can’t help wondering whether there isn’t a slightly spookier option than a furry animal? In that case, we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how Sokolum created this interpretation of what they believe an angel of death might look like!
9. Mermaid scales makeup
If you’re going to get creative with your makeup, are you the kind of person who would rather create something along the lines of a magical or mythical creature instead of something cute or spooky? Then we’d be willing to bet that you’ll find a tutorial like this one from Allure for making yourself look like a mermaid, complete with scales, a little more satisfying!
10. Stitched mouth makeup tutorial
Just in case you’re still aiming for simple and spooky but you’d rather have even more of a freak-out factor than you’ve quite seen on anything else in our list so far? In that case, we’re convinced you’ll get a real kick out of the way Cute DIY Projects created this special effects inspired makeup that uses actual thread, adhesive, and makeup to create the rather convincing illusion that you’ve sewn your mouth shut!
11. Detailed lion’s makeup transformation
Perhaps, despite not being a fully fledged professional, you’re actually someone with quite a lot of self taught makeup skill and good patience, so you’re looking to create something much more detailed and advanced looking? Then we think you just might be the perfect person to give this very impressive (but surprisingly not that complicated) lion transformation outlined in detail on Brit + Co. a good try!
12. Feather embellished owl makeup tutorial
Have we actually got you feeling quite torn at this point between the idea of making something kind of cute and simple to do but also this whole concept of embellishing your face a little to really take an otherwise easy look to the next level? Well, who ever said you have to choose between the two? Instead, check out how Modcloth outlines this simple owl look that even details a method for adding feathers!
13. Last minute Halloween makeup tutorials
Maybe you’re in need of a really last minute makeup tutorial that will literally only take you a few minutes because you’ve suddenly freed up for a Halloween party that you didn’t originally think you could attend, but nothing we’ve shown you so far is quite simple enough for you to do quickly? Then we’d encourage you to take a look at this entire list of last minute makeup and simple costume ideas collected thanks to Top Inspired! This cursed nun concept, which actually only requires four makeup products and about ten minutes to do, was probably our favourite one.
14. Giant monster mouth tutorial
Are you actually quite an advanced makeup enthusiast indeed but, rather than simply painting all the details of your illusion like you saw in the lion transformation, you’d really like to do something drastic using SPFX makeup techniques? In that case, if you’re looking to get totally creepy, we think you’ll get along quite well indeed with this tutorial from Simple Symphony that shows you how to turn your mouth and jaw into a giant monster mouth complete with fangs.
15. Easy clown Halloween makeup tutorial
Before we sign off of this post and go practice our own chosen makeup look, just to make sure we’ve got it down pat, here’s one more very simple tutorial that will have you looking unique and eye catching without having to spend hours on your makeup! We love how well Hayley Bui shows you how to add harlequin style clown features to an otherwise pretty makeup look for a bit of Halloween style.
Do you know another DIY enthusiast who loves to try their hand at new kinds of makeup but has said they could use a little inspiration and guidance this coming Halloween? Share this list with them so they have all kinds of options to choose from!
