Top 10 Halloween Makeup Looks

It's that time of year again: spending weeks planning your makeup and costume ready for Halloween. But where do we even get started? Well, whatever you pick, you better get practicing now.

Here at Cosmetify we’re showcasing the 10 best looks for Halloween. Whether you’re experimenting with something new this year or looking to perfect your usual go-to classic, we’ve got you covered with these Halloween makeup ideas.

1. Zombie Bride

It’s true: hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. For that perfect blood-bathed-beauty look, you can basically just get all dressed up – tiara and all – and then go nuts with the fake blood. But some ghostly bridal-esque makeup is the best place to start!

A bit of texturizing spray, followed by a bit of back combing, is the best place to start. Some smoky eyes and serious contouring will bring it all together.

2. Pumpkin

Halloween just wouldn’t be complete without a pumpkin – and if that means you’ve got to take one for the team then so be it. This look is so easy to achieve, just grab yourself some orange and black face paints or face palette and you’re on your way. And of course, your pumpkin look wouldn't be complete without matching nail art, check out our Top 10 Halloween Nail Art Inspirations to find out how to nail the pumpkin look.

For this look you’re going to need some makeup brushes, that’s for sure. We recommend Look Good Feel Better The Makeover Brush Set as the perfect way to get started on your look, with different sizes for the different makeup elements.

3. Wednesday Addams

She’s a Halloween legend, need we go on? This deadly look is how we feel most Monday mornings anyway, so it’s pretty easy to pull off.

NYX Professional Makeup Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in Alien is your best friend here – it might not be traditional, but thick dark lips with those long black plaits give this look it’s winning edge. Top of your plaits with a black hair accessory and you're good to go.

4. Reptile

No one likes a snake…but Halloween is different. This scaly look is still a makeup favorite, and the secret to remarkably real-looking reptile skin is simply a good eyeshadow palette and a pair of old fishnets! Better still, a pair of yellow contacts will definitely win you 'Best Dressed'.

We recommend NYX Professional Makeup Ultimate Shadow Palette for a mix of shimmery and matte greens and golds – perfect for layering and blending color. Finish with Urban Decay's lengthening and volumizing mascara for blacker-than-black lashes.

5. Mermaid

When in doubt, throw some glitter and gems on. Much like our snakey look above, you can also whip the fishnets out for this one. Okay, so mermaids aren’t exactly the stuff of nightmares, but when else will you have an excuse to dress like one?

For this look you're going to need some serious glitter. Luckily Shrine and Barry M have you completely covered when it comes to anything that glimmers. Simply apply these sparkles for an added dash of mermaid magic.

6. Cat

Simple Halloween makeup is great if you don't have all day, and this feline look is always a Halloween hit - mostly because it's so easy to achieve and can look really effective. Once you've got your hands on some ears and a choker, it's just a case of getting that cat face paint just right.

The essential element of this look is some striking cat eyes.

L'Oreal Paris Matte Signature Liquid Eyeliner is the perfect tool for mastering those feline eyes: start from the middle of the eye and draw outwards in one confident stroke, adding a delicate flick to finish. Use Givenchy's silver eyeliner to add some nose detailing and a few whiskers, and meow!

7. Vampire

Old reliable. A sultry vampire look never goes out of style for Halloween, but you’ve got to get it right. Too little, and it just looks like you’re on a night out; too much, and it looks like you’ve been in a horrible accident. But, with the right inspo, you can get your vampire Halloween makeup just right!

For this look, you need NARS NARSissist Eyeshadow Palette. With a spectrum of blacks and grays, as well as some fleshy tones to accentuate a vampy complexion, it’s like this palette was designed for this very purpose! Go for a bright liquid lipstick, like this one from diego dalla palma, to finish things off with a touch of macabre.

8. Clown

Done well, this look can be pretty damn creepy. Clowns are so varied, so you can really play around with this one. From decorated eyes to full-on Pennywise, clowns really can steal the show. Why not mix it up a bit and experiment with some Joker Halloween makeup?

Get this look with Benefit BADgal BANG Pencil. Getting the shapes around the eyes is key, then you can experiment with colorful collars.

9. Doll

Ah, that old horror movie classic. Creepy dolls never get old, and this Halloween doll makeup look is super easy to achieve.

Just get your hands on some porcelain-white face paint and face powder, black liner for freckles and china cracks, and red lips for good measure. Go on, add some fake blood if you feel like it too.

You can keep it mellow if you’re feeling playful, but if you’re aiming to scare then going full Annabelle will definitely do the trick

Exaggerated lashes are the perfect way to finish this look off, which is why we recommend Eylure Exaggerate No. 140 Lashes. These false lashes huge and fluttery, taking doll eyes to a whole new level. Follow up with some OTT pink cheeks with some help from a pop of blusher.

10. Skull

The pièce de résistance has got to be the skull. Probably the most time-consuming option of them all, this look requires some serious patience and precision. That said, it’s literally a masterpiece – definitely worth taking the day off work to produce…

Remember: makeup this good needs some serious TLC. Make sure you’ve set your look with a setting spray (or hairspray, for a more heavy-duty approach) so that it doesn’t fade or smudge.

We recommend using Cover FX Mattifying Setting Spray: it’s a light mist that won’t ruin the intricate detail you’ve been slaving over for hours, and gives an even matte finish that’s been proven to last all day!

Before you start panicking about the level of detail, even the most artistically-challenged of us can achieve this look. Brianna Fox does it best in her easy-to-follow tutorial:

If you’re strapped for time (or don’t want to look too scary) then just apply your Halloween makeup to half or a quarter of your face. Alternatively, if you’re looking to vamp it up, you can even go all out and add makeup to your hands too! What's more, these looks are the basis for pretty much all bloody or ghostly Halloween makeup looks, so why not experiment with a devil, angel, zombie or scarecrow look?

If you'd like to vamp your look up a little more, take a look at our edit of the best The Best Dark Lipsticks for Halloween and Beyond – and don't worry if you want to match your nails to your new look, we've rounded up the Top 10 Halloween Nail Art Inspirations.