Halloween makeup doesn’t need to be complicated or cost a fortune.
You don’t need to be a makeup artist. You just need a little creativity, some basics from your makeup bag, and a calm, “I-got-this” attitude.
Below are 14 Halloween makeup ideas that are fun, affordable, and detailed enough that you won’t be screaming into your mirror at midnight.
Let’s get spooky.
14 Halloween Makeup Ideas That Are Easy And Gorgeous
1. Classic Cat (But Actually Cute)
Minimal effort, maximum payoff.
What you need:
- Black liquid eyeliner
- Black pencil eyeliner
- Neutral or smokey eyeshadow
- Nude lipstick or gloss
How to:
Go heavy on the winged eyeliner, extending it slightly past your eye. Use the pencil to draw a tiny triangle on your nose tip. Dot 3 whisker spots on each cheek, and add a few whiskers if you want. Stick to a smokey eye and nude lips to keep it classy.
Bonus tip: Set your eyeliner with a little black eyeshadow so it won’t smudge during the night.
2. Scarecrow
Cute, cozy, and doesn’t require face paint.
What you need:
- Orange eyeshadow or blush
- Black eyeliner
- Pink or red lipstick
- Flannel shirt (optional but adorable)
How to:
Apply a bold orange blush in a round shape on your cheeks and the tip of your nose. Use eyeliner to draw fake stitches across your smile lines, forehead, and maybe your nose. Finish with a bold lip and braid your hair if you’re going full fall-farm-core.
It’s giving hayride vibes.
3. Skeleton (Half or Full Face)
Low-cost drama.
What you need:
- White face paint
- Black eyeliner and eyeshadow
- A blending brush or sponge
How to:
Draw out your design with eyeliner—hollow eyes, a nose cavity, and teeth that stretch across your lips. Fill in with black and white. Blend dark shadows around the edges to give that sunk-in, decaying look.
Half-face skeletons are perfect if you still want to wear a bold lip or enjoy snacks without ruining your makeup.
4. Pop Art Comic Girl
Channel your inner Roy Lichtenstein.
What you need:
- Black eyeliner (liquid or gel)
- Bright red lipstick
- White face paint or white eyeliner
- Vibrant blue or yellow eyeshadow
How to:
Outline your facial features dramatically—jawline, nose, brows—with black eyeliner. Add dotted white circles all over your face or cheeks. Finish with red lips outlined in black and tears drawn under one eye.
The bold lines do all the work here.
5. Glamorous Vampire
Sexy and spooky. Classic.
What you need:
- Deep red lipstick
- Burgundy or black eyeshadow
- Fake blood or red lip gloss
- Contour powder
How to:
Go heavy on contouring to make your face look hollow. Use burgundy shadows around your eyes to mimic that “undead” look. Drip fake blood (or a gloss/lipstick combo) from the corners of your mouth. Smudge the red into your lips for a “just fed” effect.
Pair with red nails and a dark outfit.
6. Galaxy Girl
Cosmic and mesmerizing.
What you need:
- Purple, blue, and black eyeshadow
- Silver or white eyeliner
- Highlighter or shimmer
- Optional: rhinestones or star stickers
How to:
Blend purples and blues across your cheeks, forehead, and eyelids. Add stars and sparkles using white liner or stickers. Don’t be precise—this is about dreamy, not perfect.
This looks amazing in photos, especially under fairy lights.
7. Wednesday Addams
Deadpan, moody, and takes under 10 minutes.
What you need:
- Pale foundation
- Black eyeshadow
- Matte lipstick in black, dark purple, or deep red
- Braids
How to:
Use a pale foundation shade to tone down your skin. Apply black shadow on the lids with zero shimmer. Keep your brows bold and straight. The lips should look sharp and unforgiving.
Bonus: You can wear your regular clothes in black and still look Halloween-ready.
8. Doll Face (Creepy or Sweet)
Flexible: go cute or horror.
What you need:
- Rosy blush
- Black eyeliner
- False lashes (top and bottom if you can)
- Nude or pink lipstick
How to:
Apply blush in tight circles on your cheeks. Use liner to draw exaggerated lower lashes or “cracks” in the cheeks and forehead for a broken doll effect. Paint your lips into a smaller, heart shape for that porcelain vibe.
Add freckles for cute, or cracked lines for creepy.
9. Spider Eyes
Webs, not wrinkles.
What you need:
- Black liquid eyeliner
- Metallic eyeshadow (silver, gold, or purple)
- Optional: rhinestones
How to:
Draw spiderwebs from the outer corner of your eyes or forehead with a fine liner. Fill the lids with metallic shadow to contrast the black. Add tiny spiders if you’re feeling extra.
This looks glam but spooky—perfect for parties.
10. Clown (Pretty, Not Scary)
Think circus glam, not nightmare fuel.
What you need:
- Bright blush
- Glitter
- Black eyeliner
- Red or blue eyeshadow
How to:
Paint little triangles above and below your eyes with bold shadow. Add glitter over the lids. Use liner to sharpen the shapes, then go in with heavy blush and a bold lip.
Keep the colors playful if you don’t want to freak people out.
11. Butterfly Face
Whimsical and artsy.
What you need:
- Bright eyeliner or shadows (blue, purple, pink)
- Black liquid liner
- White eyeliner
- Optional: butterfly stickers or rhinestones
How to:
Draw butterfly wings that extend from the corners of your eyes to your temples. Fill with color, outline in black, and add white dots for a realistic touch. Keep your inner eye makeup light so the wings pop.
Use your hairline or forehead to finish the top wings if you’re going all out.
12. Zombie Chic
Gross but still kind of hot.
What you need:
- Green or grey cream makeup
- Black and brown eyeshadow
- Fake blood or red lipstick
- Tissue and liquid latex (optional)
How to:
Contour your face with grey, brown, and green shadows to create a “rotting” effect. Smudge under the eyes and cheek hollows. Use a dab of red gloss or fake blood around the mouth. Want to be extra? Apply tissue with latex to create a torn skin effect, then paint over it.
Use a setting spray. Zombies sweat too.
13. Minimalist Ghost
Simple, fast, and budget-proof.
What you need:
- White face paint or pale foundation
- Black shadow
- Nude or grey lipstick
How to:
Cover your face with pale makeup. Smudge black shadow around your eyes in a hollow shape. Keep lips desaturated. Mess up your hair or tie it back tight.
You’ll look like you crawled out of a haunted linen closet.
14. Witchy Glam
Dark, powerful, and fierce.
What you need:
- Dark green, purple, or black eyeshadow
- Winged eyeliner
- Bold matte lipstick (black, wine, or dark brown)
- Highlighter
How to:
Smudge a deep color all over the lids and lower lash line. Add a strong wing and lots of mascara. Finish with dramatic lips and a pointed brow. A little shimmer on the cheekbones gives that mystical glow.
Bonus points if you carry a crystal or wear lace gloves.
Before You Go – Quick Skin Tips
- Use a primer or barrier cream before applying heavy makeup.
- Remove everything with a good cleansing oil and gentle wash.
- Moisturize like your skin just ran a marathon.
Because no look is worth waking up with burning cheeks and clogged pores.
Pin this now so you’re not stuck scrolling Pinterest at 11 p.m. on October 30th.
And remember: you don’t have to go all-out to look amazing—you just need confidence, a mirror, and maybe a little eyeliner.
