Ahhh, I love this time of year… The scary movies on heavy rotation, the yummy treats, and the chance for all of us to have some serious fun with makeup! Soon, the parties, festivities, and get-together invites begin rolling in, but for some women coming up with new makeup ideas every Halloween for each event can be a struggle.
So, if you’ve exhausted your options and need some major inspiration, this post is for you!! I’ve done all the nitty-gritty research and rounded up several ideas that will help you slay this year!
And to make sure there’s something for everyone, I’ve included a few easy looks, cute ones, some downright terrifying ones, and a few insanely creative options! Whatever you choose, it goes without saying that you’ll be the envy of all the other ghouls at every spookified outing!
But, before we get to all those fantastic ideas, let’s cover a few important makeup tips concerning Halloween staples and essentials you’ll likely need.
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Now you can always go the route of getting a Halloween makeup kit, which often makes life easier for creating a specific look, whether it be a zombie, witch, or clown. But, what I find works best for most gals is using a combo of new items along with products they already own.
QUICK TIP: Several of the items in this article can be found on Amazon and come with FREE 2-day shipping with an Amazon Prime membership. Don’t have Amazon Prime?? No worries, you can grab a FREE 30-day trial right here!
Makeup Brushes: For Halloween makeup ideas that require cream-based makeup or liquids, you definitely want to have synthetic brushes on hand along with a sponge or two.
Luckily many of these will already be in your makeup bag. You can use a foundation brush for full-face work and smaller areas, a concealer brush. But for more intricate detail, I recommend using an eyeliner brush (angled, flat, or thin).
With powder products (face powder, blush, or eyeshadow), you can stick with the fluffy makeup brushes you regularly use, whether natural or synthetic bristles.
Primer: For long-wear and better color payoff, before you get to that face paint or eye makeup, make sure you’ve prepped with primer.
Setting Powder: Translucent setting powder is a necessity to help your makeup last! And often, face paints used for your base will need to be set before you move on to applying your other products.
Lashes: To bring seduction to your Halloween look, try “make-a-statement”, false lashes. Don’t forget lash glue!
If you want something with lasting power and excellent pigmentation, your best bet is to go with a brand that makeup artists like myself use. Sure, a standard kit can be sufficient for some, but they often have irritants and ingredients that don’t mesh well with every gal’s skin.
So to be on the safe side, I’ve listed some top brands to consider. Additionally, several of the items and products below can be used for a number of the Halloween makeup ideas for women that are featured in this article.
Theatrical Makeup Brands Highly Recommended By Professional Makeup Artists:
Single Product Face Paints:
Mehron Makeup StarBlend Cake
Mehron Paradise Makeup AQ Face & Body Paint
Mehron Cream Blend Sticks
Mehron Makeup Foundation Greasepaint
Mehron Makeup Color Cups
Mehron Makeup Liquid Face and Body Paint
Face Paint Palettes:
You have a few options depending on which Halloween makeup idea you decide on, how heavy you go with your products, and the formula. Typically if you use regular makeup, you should be fine with wipes or your regular face cleanser.
Cake makeup products can be removed with soap and water. However, most theatrical greasepaints, creams, and heavy makeup will require makeup remover with soap and water, a cleansing oil, or balm.
Top Halloween Makeup Removal Options:
Halloween’s the perfect time to experiment with makeup looks that you wouldn’t normally wear on your day-to-day basis. And if you’re anything like me, then most of these will be quite different from what you usually do. But who wants to be boring…Right!??
Check out my favorite Halloween makeup looks & ideas for women below, as it spans the spectrum from cute & playful to “fright festive” – don’t forget to share this post with friends!
Disclaimer: As a professional makeup artist and based on the images in this article, the recommendations listed are those that I would use to recreate these looks on my clients. The makeup products suggested in this article were not specifically used in these photos, and therefore the shades may vary from those in the images.
Going total retro as a ’60s babe has never been hotter than with a look like this! From our complete list of ideas for women, I have to admit this Halloween makeup is one of my favorites! To recreate it, you’ll need a yellow pastel lipstick like was used in the photo (but if you want to put your own spin on things, try using pastel pink or purple). You’ll also need false lashes (upper & lower), black eyeliner pencil, matte white eyeshadow (or ivory), and a matte foundation.
Try It With:
Looking for something that you can recreate using products you already own? Get into the super spooky spirit of Halloween with this woodsy witch makeup idea! You’ll need a few basics, like dark eyeliner, a matte foundation, and dark vampy lipstick, of course.
If you want, you can use concealer in a lighter shade than you would normally use under the eyes. Adding just that extra touch of paleness can really make the eye designs pop! Using a black eyeliner pencil, you want to draw the squiggly tree-like branches above and below your eyes. But you could also try using a black gel liner with a thin, pointy liner brush instead. Then to add a hint of glam, finish it all off with some falsies like these faux mink ones!
Try It With:
On the hunt (no pun intended) for an adorable Halloween makeup idea? If you tend to lean more towards cute than terrifying, this is for you! To create this, you can use a brown contouring cream to add depth to the cheekbone area, for the sides of your nose and the brows.
Add white dots to your cheeks and temples with a liquid liner (or white cream makeup product). Try a slightly darker brown shade for the eye work along with black for the nose and lips! Sweep your hair up into two little buns or wear cute antlers! Then snag some lashes to finish your doe-eyed look!
Try It With:
Stylish, bold, and regal, if that’s your vibe, then this skeleton idea is perfect for you! You’ll get plenty of compliments during this Halloween party season!! Now, with skeleton makeup, it can help if you outline the face first with a kohl liner. Try using a black eyeliner pencil to do this for the nose & shapes on the cheeks (apply it to the waterline of your eyes also).
To create some of the lines at the chin and cheeks, fill in the nose, and darken your brows, you could use a thin eyeliner brush with black gel liner. And lastly, for the finishing touch… your crown!!
Try It With:
Transform yourself into a scary, half-zombie half jailbird ghoul! All you need is a white base, black lipstick, and face paints (black, red, and burgundy colors). Add one of these jailbird costumes, and the look’s complete!
This Halloween, why not go full-out, sexy warrior goddess mode! Show off your fearless, “conquer all” side! Whip out your favorite metallic eyeshadow palette, bronzer, and highlighter!
To master this look, smoke out your eyes with bronze, warm browns, and a very dark brown. Make sure you define your brows and add a soft nude lip! Then paint in the white accents (a triangle near each eye, a line above the lip, and then lines & dots down the lower lip and neck).
While a vampiress is an oldie but goodie as far as Halloween makeup ideas for women, it never fails at being a timeless, seductive classic. I absolutely love the ombre lips with the red and purple smokey eyes! You can truly nail this bloodsucker look by using a dark eyeliner pencil to create a prominent widow’s peak.
Use a foundation that’s a shade lighter than you regularly use to give it an “un-living” effect. Then grab red and deep purple eyeshadows for the eyes! For the lips, create the ombre effect using two lipsticks (one lighter and one darker) and a dark lip pencil.
Chic, elegant, and gorgeous are what come to mind when I see this Halloween look! You’ll want to grab some theatrical makeup for this idea. Start by outlining the eyes with a white eyeliner pencil creating cloud-like shapes.
Then you can just apply your white base (try a cake makeup powder) to all the areas of your face outside of those shapes. *If you’re using cream paint for the white, you’ll need to set it with powder).
For the eyes, try black face paint, a shimmery dark green eyeshadow, and lashes. And for the lines at the mouth, use a thin brush and black paint. Add some temporary jewels for the finishing touches. Rather than worrying about an adhesive, these come sticky ready… Just peel, paste, and press!
PRO Tip: Another option for jewels on the face is to use lash glue to help them adhere.
Go edgy, sexy, glam, and punk all at once with this look! Add gold across the cheekbone with complementary bold violet-purple on the lips to take this makeup idea to new heights!
It also includes a bronzer, along with neutrals, brown and gold eyeshadows. Apply the gold to the inner corners of your eyes to make them pop! Then scoop up some temporary hair color, and you’re ready to go party hopping!
Try It With:
A dark yet alluring take on pumpkin patches, sunflowers, and scarecrows!! Create this look with yellow, black, & orange face paint, red lips, and a smokey eye! Finish things off using black face paint or a cream liner to create the stitches on the sides of the mouth and lips.
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Impress all your friends with this beautiful mask creation! Your makeup can be done with white, gold, & blue face paints. Use black liner around the eyes and throw in some lashes. For an even more gorgeous look for the raised gold ornaments at the top of the mask (forehead area), try using jewels or pearls instead!
Try It With:
Mehron Makeup Clown White Professional Makeup – set it with powder, or it will smear
If simple, easy, and cute is what you have in mind, try this jester Halloween makeup idea! To pull this off, once again, you likely already have all the things you’ll need in your makeup bag. For the eyes, try a dark matte brown eyeshadow and black mascara.
You can add a hint of gold shimmery eyeshadow at the inner and outer corners of the eyes. Above and below the eyes, using a black or deep brown cream or gel liner, you can create the elongated triangles.
Lastly, try two lipsticks for the lips, a dark burgundy for the outer, and a rosy rouge for the inner. You can use a thin, pointy eyeliner makeup brush for the corners of the lips and create thin elongated lines using your same burgundy lipstick. Or, if you prefer, you can use a lip liner pencil.
Embody the seasonal autumn changes of nature with this bloodcurdling makeup look! Grab your favorite fall bold lipstick, some deep blush, and matte eyeshadows (orange and brown). Smokey out the eyes with the brown and apply under the lower lashes as well. Use the orange above the brows for added intensity.
Apply a burgundy liner to your waterline and use a brown liner to create the veiny squiggly lines around the eyes, temples, and upper cheeks. Add some orange and dark red or burgundy accessories. And if you really want to capture this look, create messy big hair by teasing it out.
Perhaps, you want to be totally wicked glam this Halloween?? Well, a sultry evil fairy, like Maleficent, might be what you’re after, gals! You’ll need a combo of black and red eyeshadows, a black ink liner, and volumizing mascara (or lashes).
Go bold with your brows as you fill them in. Use a black liner to line your lips, and then apply a rich red lipstick. Blot your lips, as this will help blend the two colors. Add some horns like these and call it a day!
Try It With:
Hiya Georgie! Lol, I couldn’t resist… Nothing says terrifying clown like Pennywise from the movie “IT”, right?? And this makeup idea is a good one for those of you looking to take a minimalist approach.
Instead of white face paint, try a foundation a few shades too light to create a pale complexion and set with translucent powder. To intensify this look, try using a lip crayon in a dark red to sketch the small triangles above the brow and the lines that come down the face to the lips. Then go back over it with paint or cream (the same shade you use for your lipstick).
Now, if you want a sexy take on Pennywise, this is your best dramatic bet! You’ll need a shimmery burgundy lipstick along with berry and red-toned eyeshadows to complete a look like this. I love how she opted for a hot red wig to keep the clown-inspired motif!
Ice out the competition and try ice princess makeup!! If you’ve been looking for incredibly easy Halloween makeup ideas, this one doesn’t get much easier! All you need is a frosted pink lipstick, sheer light pink blush, white mascara, and pale pink or silver shimmery eye makeup. The Victorian-style wig is what really sets this look off!
Try It With:
If a creepy doll is your spooky flavor of the month, have at this one! Start with a concealer that’s too light around your eyes. Add a lot of blush for the cheeks, and use an orange-toned lip pencil to create the freckles.
Go with an orange-red lipstick and use eyeliner to create the drawn-on lashes under the eyes. Don’t worry about perfection; what makes this look creep-worthy is the messiness around the eyes! Lastly, put your hair in high pigtails with cute little bows!
Try It With:
Give all your friends a scare with this downright spine-tingling yet stylish makeup idea! Of course, you can really take it over the top and add a little “black swan” to the mix with a crown and full costume if you want!
To bring this look to life, you need black feather lashes and black eyeshadow. Smoke out the eyeshadow and add a little gold glitter above (near the temples) and below your eyes. Go with pale (white/nude) matte lipstick and use black face paint for the lips and lip stitching. Allow it to dry on the lips completely to prevent bleeding or smearing.
Try It With:
Take a classic scarecrow makeup, mix it with a ventriloquist puppet, and add a little cuteness to it for a complete Halloween vibe! This look features a heart-shaped red lip along with orange and yellow eyeshadow shades.
Use orange paint or highly pigmented powder product for the cheeks. And to create definition, sweep a brown shade under them. This will also make those cheeks pop!
You’ll need a black liner for the freckles and mouth details, white face paint for the chin, and upper & lower false lashes (for the lower lashes, try individuals)! Throw your hair into cute ponytails or braids, and you’ll be the cutest scarecrow hybrid around.
If you’re itching to stand out and show off this Halloween, neon glowing face makeup is the answer! Use it to create the dots! I’d grab a dark blue face paint for the lines, but you can switch it up however you like and make it your own!
You may raise a few goosebumps with a dark, bring on the “creepy” factor look like this! Hahaha 🙂 …Now, if ease is what you need, just pair it with an all-black attire, and you’re good! You’ll only need dark lipstick and a black eyeliner pencil to recreate this one!
Try It With:
Embrace your love for fantasy, fairies, and all things magical & whimsical! This look includes a bronze metallic lipstick, brown & copper eyeshadows around the eyes, lashes, a shimmery bronzer, and a little gold for the brows! Pair it with some DIY leafy accessories you make, and you’ll look woodsy mystical!
Try It With:
Not sure how to create scales; worry not! Just grab a stencil along with your colorful cream or cake face paint! Or you could even try an eyeshadow palette with deep purples, navy blue, light blues, and such.
If you want to make this makeup style brighter and a little more mermaid-esque, try a palette like this one of gorgeous aquatic hues. Then add a pale pink shimmery lip color to the mix!
PRO Tip: Grab pair of fishnet stockings and use them as your stencil!
Take a simple, innocent red-riding hood look and turn it into full gruesome, gore! For this idea, do your makeup as you usually would on one side and use special effects (scar wax and fake blood) on the other side! Check out these cute red cloaks to complete it!
Try an eye-catching out-of-this-world look!! Now, this one may seem complicated, but it’s actually relatively simple. Most of what you see are temporary tattoo stickers on the forehead and cheekbones. You’ll need a bright red metallic glitter lipstick, smokey gray liner for the eyes, lashes, shimmery burgundy eyeshadow, and some gold glitter!
Looking for something simple this Halloween? You’re in for a treat! A mime makeup look is what you need! To achieve this, you will need white and black face paint. Try adding a hint of blue under the lower lash line, as was done here. For the lips, try black lipstick, and then add a touch of metallic burgundy at the center.
Try It With:
Channel your inner tigress!! Let’s be honest symmetry is often a struggle for most when it comes to makeup, which is why a simplified half-face approach makes total sense. I would suggest using Mehron Paradise Makeup (AQ Paint) for this as they have a variety of red and orange shades along with black & white.
Or, if you are looking for an actual kit to create something similar, try Mehron Makeup Premium Character Kit (Cat/Animal).
The perfect makeup look for a spooky night on the town visiting your favorite haunts! Try a kit like the Mehron Makeup Tri-Color (Skeleton) Palette, along with bright red lipstick. For the other side of your face, keep it glam and sexy with regular makeup products.
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This year, why not step out of your comfort zone with a creative & fun look like this?? Pull out your favorite summery bright pink lipstick or gloss! You’ll want to use a matte white along with bright pink eyeshadow. Try KVD Beauty Super Pomade in Power Green for the brows. Don’t forget your watermelon helmet and seeds!!
Try It With:
This sugar skull makeup look is so elegant and beautiful! With this idea, try Mehron’s cake face paints in white, along with some black and pink face paints… For your eyes, you could easily just use an eyeshadow palette you already have if it has maroon and purple shades. Go with matte lipstick for your lips. Then just add black liner and mascara!
PRO Tip: If creating this look feels intimidating, try temporary sugar skull face tattoos instead!
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Why not rock a bad girl, badass look this year??! Let your wild side shine!! You’ll need some contouring on the cheeks and a bright lipstick (which you likely own already).
The key here is that super fierce eye makeup! Try using a black gel eyeliner with an angled brush to create the wing. Then, set it with some black eyeshadow. For the green, use a highly pigmented neon green eyeshadow. Top it off with some savage, long lashes, and then throw your hair up into a faux hawk!
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Capture a little pumpkin playfulness with this easy and cute DIY Halloween look. Apply orange face paint, along with black, and finish off the look with matte black lips!
This is an artistic and creative masterpiece that combines glam and scary in an absolutely gorgeous way. You’ll want to create the wing with a liquid liner, fill your brows in super dark with pomade, and try black face paint along with orange and yellow. For the eyes, use orange, browns, and black eyeshadow.
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Bring out your prettiest bright eyeshadows and sparkliest glitters!! Amy’s makeup is gorgeous and the perfect playful look for Halloween!! Just make sure you grab a colorful wig, rhinestones, glitter, a unicorn headband, and larger-than-life lashes!!
Become Mother of The Dragons this Halloween!! For this look, you’ll need a Khalessi wig for sure!! You want to go with neutrals, a matte nude lip, and strongly defined brows as far as makeup.
Ahoy, Matey!! A pirate is always a sexy option for women when it comes to Halloween costumes & makeup ideas! You probably have most of the products you’ll need for this. Try dark smokey brown & plum eyes, dark eyeliner, and deep plum-colored lips. Then add a little gold shimmer, or you could even try jewels at the inner corner of your eyes!
Time to raid your medicine cabinet and look for a first aid kit!! This incredibly creative makeup idea allows you to be glamourous and still create a while Halloween vibe all at the same time! For the lines on the face, try using a liquid eyeliner; for the lips, go with bold red lipstick and a warm coppery eyeshadow with the eyes.
Just breathtaking, right??!!? With a look like this, your makeup can do all the talking, allowing you the luxury of keeping your attire simple. Use black body paint for your hands and a metallic deep wine lipstick for the lips. You’ll also need glitter, rhinestone jewels, a blue eyeliner pencil, and a black liquid liner for the eyes.
Try It With:
Crazy zombie eyes indeed! I love this Halloween look as it screams gothic & scary! Try a foundation shade that’s just a little too light and add some contouring around the hairline. For the lips, go with black lipstick. Now for the eerie eyes, I’d use a cranberry-toned eyeshadow for the lid and take it almost up to the brows.
Add a dark mauve under the eyes and blend it up into the cranberry shade, so you create a round shape around the eye. The goal is to make the eyes look hollowed-out.
Use a black eyeliner on the upper lash line as well as the lower lash line and smudge it out. For the veins under the eyes, I’d recommend a tiny bit of face paint there. And of course, add those spikey lashes, girl!!
Want to go colorful this year? Lipstick and face paint are all you need to pull this one off!
This makeup idea features bright colors and hues along with bold blue lips! Best yet, the look you’re going for is messy (like you got caught up in a paint bomb explosion). So, you can get as creative as you want and not worry about perfection or symmetry when applying your makeup.
Try It With:
This puts a creative spin on a beehive makeup style that I love!! Try using a matte black ink liner or cream liner with a very thin-tipped brush for the line at the side of the nose, above the one brow, over one lip, and along the jawline.
The eyes are subtle and only need slight contouring at the crease. For the honeycomb patterns, try a white liner and a few matte earthy-toned eyeshadows to slightly filling them in… And of course, don’t forget that bright bold-toned lip!
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Become your own superhero with this easy Halloween makeup idea! You don’t have to stick to orange if you think another color may be more flattering with your skin tone. The goal is simply to match your painted mask to your lips. So, a couple of other options are black with black lips, or red with brilliant red lips, blue with blue lips…the possibilities are endless!!
Try It With:
Ready to cast a spell on every guy you meet? Undoubtedly this glam and seductive witch makeup will do it! For a look like this, you can use your foundation and concealer as you normally would. However, you should do some contouring for your cheekbones.
Now, the main focus is on the eyes and ombre-style lips. For the eyes, you’ll need red and black eyeshadows along with black eyeliner. I’d also add false lashes for that little somethin’ extra! But if you prefer sticking to black mascara, that’s totally fine too!
Related: How To Contour Your Face The Right Way: Get The Inside Scoop!
This enchanting look is an easier option if you don’t want to bother with a ton of face paint. Apply foundation and do a little contouring for the cheeks. Then begin outlining the eyes. Use a kohl liner pencil to trace where you will want to place the jewels.
Then go back and work on the eyes with your favorite purple and fuchsia shadows filling in the shape you created with the liner around them. For the nose, try a black cream liner. Lastly, add your jewels, and this beautiful look is complete!
It can be hard to know where to start in a world of endless makeup possibilities and with the spookiest holiday right around the corner. But now that you have this list of top picks, it should all seem a little easier!
What’s excellent about several of these ideas is that you don’t necessarily have to worry about a full costume. Just the makeup alone can perfectly capture the scare factor you’re going for! Well, that about sums it up; I hope you enjoyed these ideas, ladies! Happy Haunting!!
We want to hear from you… Which Halloween makeup look is your favorite? Leave a comment below…