Halloween is the time of year when creativity knows no bounds, and makeup is a key element in making your costume unforgettable. Whether you’re going for scary, glamorous, or whimsical, the right Halloween makeup can elevate your entire look. From eerie zombies to enchanting fairies, there are endless ways to experiment with your style and bring your Halloween vision to life.
With these 21 trending Halloween makeup looks, you’ll be able to find the perfect inspiration to complete your costume. Whether you want something simple and easy or intricate and bold, there’s a killer look for everyone. Grab your brushes, paints, and glitter—let’s explore the most exciting Halloween makeup ideas that will make you the star of any party!
1. The Classic Skull Look
The skull makeup remains a Halloween staple, offering versatility and a strikingly bold look. Whether you want a traditional skeleton face or a modern, colorful spin, this makeup style always makes an impact.
To create this look, start with a white or light base and use black around the eyes, nose, and mouth. Hollow out the cheeks with dark contouring to give the illusion of deep, sunken bones. For added drama, extend the design down your neck to make it appear as though your skin has peeled away.
For those who want to get creative, add colorful designs like flowers or jewels around the eyes, turning it into a Día de los Muertos-inspired sugar skull. This allows you to make the skull both eerie and beautiful, all while keeping the iconic skeleton shape.
2. Glamorous Vampire
Vampire makeup has evolved into something that can be as sultry as it is scary. Gone are the days of just pale skin and fangs; today’s vampires combine elegance with a dark, gothic twist.
Start by applying a pale foundation to create a flawless base. Contour heavily around the cheekbones to give that sharp, chiseled look. For the eyes, deep shades of burgundy, plum, or black create a dramatic, sultry effect. Smokey eyes and bold eyeliner are a must for capturing that mysterious vampire vibe.
Finish with a deep, blood-red lipstick and, of course, your fangs. Add a little bit of fake blood at the corners of the mouth for an extra creepy but glamorous touch. It’s the perfect balance of spooky and seductive.
3. Mystical Mermaid
For those who want a look that’s magical and enchanting, a mystical mermaid makeup is the way to go. This look is full of shimmery blues, greens, and purples, giving off an ethereal underwater vibe.
To get started, use a fishnet stocking or stencil to create scales with iridescent or metallic eyeshadows across your cheeks and forehead. Blend sea-inspired colors across your face, focusing on the eyes and cheeks for a mystical glow. You can even use body glitter or highlighter to enhance the mermaid aesthetic.
For the lips, try a bold shade like teal, purple, or silver. Add rhinestones or small pearls around your eyes to complete the look, and you’ll be swimming in compliments at your Halloween event.
4. Wicked Witch
The wicked witch makeup is a classic Halloween look, but this year, take it up a notch. Instead of the usual green face, opt for a more sophisticated yet sinister appearance with dark, smoky eyes and sharp contouring.
Start with a pale foundation and add dramatic contouring to create an angular, menacing look. Focus on the eyes, using shades of black, purple, and green to create an intense, smokey effect. Wing your eyeliner dramatically for a sharp, wicked finish.
Complete the look with dark lipstick, such as black, deep red, or purple. Add a touch of glitter or shimmer around the eyes for a modern twist, and your witchy vibes will be ready to cast a spell on everyone at the party.
5. Sugar Skull
Pay homage to Mexican culture with a vibrant and intricate sugar skull makeup look. This style, inspired by Día de los Muertos, combines colorful designs with the classic skeleton aesthetic.
Begin by applying a white base all over the face. Then, outline the eyes with bright, bold colors like pink, blue, or orange. Use black to create a hollowed-out nose and draw detailed patterns around your eyes, forehead, and chin. Flowers, lace, and geometric shapes are common motifs in sugar skull makeup.
For extra flair, add rhinestones, glitter, or even small beads around your design. A flower crown is the perfect accessory to top off this stunning and meaningful look.
6. Creepy Doll
Transform into a creepy doll with exaggerated, eerie features. The key to this look is big eyes, rosy cheeks, and a cracked porcelain effect to give off an unsettling vibe.
Start by applying a flawless, porcelain-like foundation base. Use white eyeliner on your waterline and below your bottom lashes to make your eyes appear larger. Draw exaggerated lashes below your eyes and apply false lashes on top for that wide-eyed doll look.
Finish with pink, round blush on your cheeks and bright red lips. To make the look even creepier, draw cracks on your face with black eyeliner or face paint to mimic a broken doll.
7. Zombie Glam
Want to look terrifying yet glamorous? The zombie glam makeup look is the perfect blend of horror and beauty, allowing you to embrace the spooky season while still looking fabulous.
Start by applying a pale or gray base to give your skin a dead, lifeless look. Contour heavily to create hollowed cheeks, and use dark eyeshadows like black, purple, or gray to give your eyes a sunken, undead appearance. The eyes are the dramatic focal point, so don’t shy away from smoky eyes and false lashes.
To add glam, use metallic eyeshadows or highlighter to give your zombie skin a radiant finish. Add fake blood or scars to one side of your face for that perfect mix of beauty and gore.
8. Fairy Queen
For a more magical and enchanting Halloween look, channel your inner fairy queen. This makeup style combines soft, pastel hues with plenty of glitter and sparkle, giving you an ethereal glow.
Start with a luminous foundation for a radiant base. Use soft shades of pink, lavender, and blue on your eyelids, and add a touch of shimmer or glitter to the inner corners of your eyes. You can also dust glitter on your cheeks and forehead to enhance the magical effect.
Complete the look with soft pink lips and rhinestones or floral decals around your face. Add a flower crown, and you’ll be ready to rule your magical kingdom.
9. Comic Book Pop Art
Turn yourself into a comic book character with the fun and vibrant pop art makeup style. This retro-inspired look is bold, colorful, and instantly recognizable, making it a fantastic option for Halloween.
To create this look, start with a flawless foundation and use black eyeliner to outline exaggerated facial features. Draw bold lines around your jaw, cheeks, and nose to give your face that cartoonish effect. Use bright colors like red, yellow, and blue on the eyes and lips to mimic the classic comic book printing style.
The signature element of this look is the dotted shading. Use white or black face paint to create evenly spaced dots across your face and neck. The result is a striking, unique look that’s sure to be a hit.
10. Enchanted Unicorn
Unicorn makeup is whimsical and playful, perfect for anyone who wants a more lighthearted Halloween costume. This look focuses on pastel colors, shimmering highlights, and a touch of magic.
Start with a dewy, glowing foundation, and use pastel eyeshadows like pink, lavender, and blue on your eyelids. Add glitter or rhinestones to your eyes and cheekbones to give off that magical, sparkling effect.
For the lips, try a holographic or iridescent shade to match the whimsical theme. Add a unicorn horn headband, and you’re ready to enchant everyone with your mystical charm.
11. Bloody Scarecrow
The bloody scarecrow makeup combines the rustic elements of a traditional scarecrow with a horror twist, making it a perfect creepy Halloween look.
To achieve this look, start by applying a brown or orange base to mimic the texture of burlap. Draw black stitches across your mouth, nose, and cheeks to give the illusion of a sewn-up face. For the eyes, use dark, earthy tones like brown and red to create a hollow, sunken effect.
The final touch is adding fake blood around the stitches or anywhere you want to give your scarecrow a gruesome, terrifying finish. This look is simple but incredibly effective for a scary Halloween night.
12. Poison Ivy
Bring out your villainous side with a Poison Ivy-inspired makeup look. This Batman character is known for her bold green makeup and fiery red hair, making it a striking choice for Halloween.
Start by using green face paint or eyeshadow to contour your face, focusing on your forehead, cheeks, and chin. For the eyes, use shades of green, gold, and brown to create a smokey, earthy look. Add dramatic lashes or eyeliner to emphasize your eyes.
To really bring the look to life, use green face paint to draw ivy leaves across your face and neck. Add artificial leaves to your hair and costume for a complete Poison Ivy transformation.
13. Catwoman
For a sleek, sexy, and mysterious Halloween look, Catwoman is always a great choice. This makeup style emphasizes sharp, cat-like features with bold eyes and flawless skin.
Start by creating a smooth, matte base. Contour your cheekbones and jawline to give your face a sleek, angular look. For the eyes, go all out with bold winged eyeliner, extending it into a dramatic cat-eye. Use dark shades like black and gray to create a smokey effect.
Finish with a deep red or plum lipstick to add a touch of glamour. Don’t forget to draw a small cat nose and whiskers with black eyeliner to complete the feline transformation.
14. Creepy Clown
Clown makeup can be both fun and terrifying, and this creepy clown look is no exception. It combines the playful elements of a clown with a dark, sinister twist.
Start with a white base to give your skin a clown-like appearance. Use bold, contrasting colors like red and black on the eyes, and draw exaggerated, long lashes extending down your cheeks. For the mouth, extend the lips far beyond their natural line to create a wide, unnerving smile.
To make the look even creepier, add fake blood around the mouth or eyes. Whether you go for a classic clown or a more twisted version, this look will definitely get some scares.
15. Mystical Fortune Teller
The mystical fortune teller makeup look is both glamorous and mysterious, perfect for those who want to channel some Halloween magic. Rich jewel tones, bold eyeliner, and a bit of sparkle are key to achieving this enchanting look.
Start with a glowing, luminous base and use deep shades like purple, emerald, and gold on your eyelids. Add bold, winged eyeliner for that extra dramatic touch, and sprinkle some glitter on your lids and cheekbones for a magical finish.
For the lips, opt for a deep berry or red shade. Accessorize with bold jewelry, a headscarf, and you’ll be ready to tell everyone’s fortune at the Halloween party.
16. Ghostly Glam
A ghost doesn’t have to be drab! The ghostly glam look combines the eerie nature of a ghost with a chic, fashionable twist. It’s perfect for those who want to be spooky and stylish.
Start by applying a white or pale base to give your skin an ethereal, otherworldly look. For the eyes, use shades of silver, gray, and black to create a hauntingly beautiful smokey eye. Add a touch of glitter to your lids and highlighter to your cheekbones to create a glowing, ghostly effect.
Finish with dark lips, and you’ll have a glamorous yet spooky Halloween look that’s sure to turn heads.
17. Vintage Hollywood Starlet Zombie
Combine old Hollywood glamour with a dash of horror by transforming into a vintage Hollywood starlet zombie. This look takes the elegance of a 1950s movie star and adds a spooky, undead twist.
Begin with a flawless, matte base and heavily contour your cheeks to mimic that vintage, chiseled Hollywood look. For the eyes, use neutral shades like gold and brown, with bold winged eyeliner to create that classic cat-eye.
Add fake wounds, scars, or blood to one side of your face to give the zombie effect. Don’t forget a bold red lip to complete the old Hollywood glam—and you’ll be the most stylish zombie at the party.
18. Ethereal Angel
For those looking for a softer, more heavenly look, an ethereal angel is the perfect Halloween choice. This makeup style focuses on glowing skin, soft details, and plenty of shimmer.
Start with a dewy, luminous foundation to give your skin a radiant glow. Use light, pastel colors like white, silver, and gold on the eyes, adding shimmer to the inner corners for a magical effect. Highlighter is key here—dust it on your cheekbones, nose, and cupid’s bow for an ethereal glow.
Complete the look with soft pink lips and glittery accents around the eyes and cheeks. A halo and feathered wings will seal the deal, making you the most divine presence at any Halloween event.
19. Half-Glam, Half-Gore
Can’t decide between a glamorous or gory look? Why not go for both with the half-glam, half-gore makeup style? This dramatic look splits your face into two halves—one side glamorous, the other side gruesome.
On the glam side, go all out with flawless skin, bold eyeliner, and a vibrant lipstick. Use golds, silvers, or deep reds to create a high-fashion look. On the gore side, add fake blood, wounds, or scars to create a terrifying contrast.
The result is a dramatic, head-turning look that’s both beautiful and horrifying—perfect for showing off your makeup skills.
20. Neon Skull
Take the classic skull makeup to the next level with a neon twist. This look combines traditional skeleton makeup with bright, glowing colors for a modern, eye-catching effect.
Start with a black base to create the backdrop for your neon design. Use neon face paints or UV-reactive makeup to outline the skull features—around the eyes, nose, and mouth. You can use bold neon shades like pink, green, or blue to make the skull stand out.
For an even more dramatic effect, wear this look under UV light, and watch your neon skull come to life. It’s a futuristic twist on a Halloween classic that’s sure to steal the show.
21. Glitzy Galaxy
If you want to go cosmic this Halloween, a glitzy galaxy makeup look is the perfect choice. This out-of-this-world style features shimmering blues, purples, and blacks to create a celestial masterpiece.
Start by applying a dark base, blending deep shades of blue, purple, and black across your face to mimic the night sky. Use white or silver eyeliner to draw stars and constellations on your forehead, cheeks, and neck. You can also add glitter to represent stars or distant galaxies.
Finish with a metallic or holographic lip color to enhance the celestial theme. This makeup look is not only unique but also mesmerizing—perfect for anyone wanting a cosmic-inspired Halloween costume.
Conclusion
Halloween is the perfect time to get creative and try out bold, unique makeup looks. From glamorous vampires to creepy clowns, there’s a makeup style for every personality and costume. Whether you prefer spooky, glamorous, or a mix of both, these 21 trending Halloween makeup looks will help you stand out this season.
So grab your brushes, paints, and a bit of fake blood—because this Halloween, your makeup is going to be killer!
