Halloween has a way of arriving faster than expected. One moment you’re considering elaborate costumes and carefully planned beauty looks; the next, you’re getting ready for a party with twenty minutes to spare and absolutely nothing organised. Fortunately, a good Halloween makeup look doesn’t require professional special effects, complicated prosthetics, or an entirely new beauty collection.
MAKEUP
This year, we’re keeping things simple, with five looks that take inspiration from gothic beauty, classic horror characters, and familiar makeup techniques. Whether your preference is dramatic eyeliner, dark lipstick, or something a little more playful, these ideas can transform your everyday makeup into a convincing Halloween look with minimal effort.
1. The Modern Vampire
TIME NEEDED: 10–15 MINUTES
A vampire is a Halloween classic for good reason. It’s instantly recognisable, easy to customise, and requires surprisingly few products.
Start with your usual foundation, keeping the complexion relatively matte. Apply burgundy or deep plum eyeshadow around the eyes, blending it along the lower lash line for a slightly tired, otherworldly appearance. Add black eyeliner and several coats of mascara.
For the lips, choose a dark red or wine-coloured lipstick, concentrating a little extra pigment at the centre. A tiny amount of red lip liner extended from one corner of the mouth can suggest a drop of blood without the need for theatrical makeup.
What you’ll need: Foundation, burgundy eyeshadow, black eyeliner, mascara, and dark red lipstick.
2. The Black Swan
TIME NEEDED: 15–20 MINUTES
For something theatrical, take inspiration from the dramatic eye makeup associated with Black Swan. The key is exaggerating the shape of your eyeliner into something closer to a feathered mask.
Begin with a pale base and lightly defined eyebrows. Using a black liquid or gel eyeliner, draw an extended wing from the outer corner of each eye towards the temples. Add several shorter, angular lines around the outer corners to suggest feathers. Keep the shapes symmetrical enough to look intentional, although they don’t need to match perfectly.
Finish with black eyeshadow to deepen the design and a soft pink or nude lip to keep the attention on the eyes.
What you’ll need: Black eyeliner, black eyeshadow, pale foundation, and nude lipstick.
3. The Ghostly Romantic
TIME NEEDED: 10 MINUTES
If your Halloween aesthetic leans more romantic than frightening, a ghost-inspired look offers an elegant alternative.
Begin with a light application of foundation and concealer. Brush a cool-toned grey or taupe shadow around the eyes, allowing the colour to extend slightly beyond your usual placement. Apply pearlescent highlighter to the cheekbones, inner corners of the eyes, and bridge of the nose.
For an extra supernatural effect, add silver shimmer across the eyelids and a small amount beneath the lower lash line. Finish with a muted pink or cool nude lip, avoiding strong blush to maintain the washed-out effect.
What you’ll need: Cool-toned eyeshadow, pearlescent highlighter, silver shimmer, and nude lipstick.
4. The Wednesday Addams Look
TIME NEEDED: 10 MINUTES
Few Halloween looks are as easy to recreate as Wednesday Addams. The character’s signature combination of dark eyes, muted lips, and sleek hair makes this an ideal choice for anyone who prefers a more understated costume.
Start with a natural, matte base and avoid adding too much warmth to the cheeks. Apply a cool brown or charcoal eyeshadow close to the lash line, blending gently outwards for a soft smoky effect. Define the lower lashes with a little of the same shadow and finish with mascara.
Choose a deep mauve or muted plum lipstick, keeping the edges softly defined. Part your hair down the middle and create two braids to complete the look. A black outfit and white collar will make the reference immediately recognisable.
What you’ll need: Brown or charcoal eyeshadow, mascara, plum lipstick, and two hair ties.
5. The Glamorous Witch
TIME NEEDED: 15 MINUTES
For anyone who wants to look party-ready without committing to elaborate costume makeup, the glamorous witch offers plenty of creative freedom. Think dramatic eyes, luminous skin, and a dark lip.
Start with a smoky eye using black, deep purple, or emerald-green eyeshadow. Blend the darkest colour around the outer corners before adding metallic shimmer to the centre of the lids. Extend your eyeliner into a sharp wing and apply mascara for extra definition.
Keep the complexion luminous with highlighter across the cheekbones and temples. Finish with a rich berry or nearly black lipstick. For an additional detail, use eyeliner to draw a tiny crescent moon or star near the outer corner of one eye.
What you’ll need: Dark eyeshadow, metallic shimmer, eyeliner, highlighter, and berry lipstick.
