Zombie Makeup Ideas To Haunt This Halloween

Halloween makeup calls for creativity, and few looks are as versatile or instantly recognisable as the zombie. From creepy grey-toned faces to gory prosthetics and even glam undead hybrids, zombie makeup lets you unleash your imagination and transform into something haunting. Luckily, it can be as simple or as detailed as you want, making it perfect for both beginners and seasoned makeup lovers.

No matter if you’re heading to a costume party, trick-or-treating, or want a scroll-stopping look for Instagram, we’ve rounded up the most hauntingly good zombie makeup ideas. With inspo from Pinterest and tips on how to recreate each style, you’ll have everything you need to rise from the dead this Halloween.

Creepy Grey Toned Zombie

Nothing says chilling like a cold, corpse-like finish. A grey-toned zombie look is subtler than full gore but still deeply unsettling, thanks to its ghostly pallor and bruised detailing. It’s also one of the quickest looks to pull off, making it ideal for a last-minute Halloween transformation.

To recreate this look, start with a pale foundation or face paint base, then build shadows using matte eyeshadows in shades of greys, blacks and dark browns. For extra texture, liquid latex and tissue paper can be layered onto the skin to mimic peeling flesh. This zombie makeup idea is a great choice if you’re looking to create a look with makeup bits you already have handy, since it uses mainly neutral shades you’ll typically find in an eyeshadow palette.

Frankenstein-zombie

For a zombie look with a twist, this green-based Frankenstein-inspired makeup is equal parts eerie and fun. The bold green skin sets it apart from typical undead looks, while the darkened eyes, shadowed cheekbones, and fake stitch detailing add that essential horror edge.

To recreate it, start with a green face paint or cream base, then build depth with darker greens and blacks around the eyes and jawline. A few carefully drawn “stitches” across the face or forehead using eyeliner will finish the effect, making it the ideal choice if you want something instantly recognisable yet uniquely spooky.

Zombie Eyes

Nothing says Halloween quite like the timeless undead zombie look. This style uses a grey or white-toned base to wash out the skin, with heavy black eyes around the eyes to create that sunken, decayed effect and red and purple veins to amp up your liflessness, with some vampy lips to top it off.

This makeup idea isn’t as gory or gruesome as the others, so you can still have that girly glam vibe without falling too far squeamish - perfect for any zombie cheerleader makeup ideas or zombie schoolgirl makeup ideas.

Partial Zombie Effect

This is a genius approach for anyone hesitant to dive fully into zombie gore since only select areas of the face undergo the undead transformation. Think shadowed hollows around one eye or a streak of “decay” crawling down a cheek, while the rest of the face remains untouched or glammed.

Recreate this by choosing small focal points like one cheekbone, the edge of an eye, or the side of your mouth and build in grey or green tones, red veins, or blood splatter just there.

Rotting Zombie

It’s all about the skin in this one. Again, start with a pale base and build you’re zombie bruises and decomposing skin by layering green, yellow, and purple matte eyeshadow or cream face paint to create the illusion of lifeless, rotting skin.

Using a fine detail brush like an eyeliner brush, add some purple veins around your face and neck to finish off the ‘infected’ look. We love that this makeup idea gives maximum impact with minimal effort; all you need are a few clever colour techniques.

Full Out Zombie

If you’re looking to go the whole nine yards this Halloween, this intense zombie look delivers maximum impact. The skin is covered in a ghoulish green base that instantly sets the tone for the undead, while hollow blacked-out eyes give that eerie, hollowed effect that feels straight out of a horror film.

Chiselled, exaggerated contouring sharpens the features, making your face appear skeletal and sunken, and is finished with red, blood-like accents that look as if you’re own flesh is rotting.

Glam Zombie Makeup

If you want your zombified look to have a dash of drama, this glam take adds a chic spin to the undead. Think smouldering smoky eyes, perfectly sculpted features, and a hint of gloss on dead or bruised lips.

Start with a pale, washed-out foundation to tone down vibrancy, then define the eyes with dark liners and shadows to intensify that haunting gaze. To keep it polished rather than gruesome, choose muted reds or purples for the lips, just enough to suggest decay without tipping into gore, perfect for Halloween gatherings where you still want to bring glamour to your fright.

You’ve now got your pick of the bunch of zombie makeup ideas that’ll have you turning heads and giving frights. For more ghoulish inspo looks, check out Our Favourite Clown Halloween Makeup Looks.