Halloween is your chance to experiment with makeup, push your creative boundaries, and glow up in ways you usually wouldn’t. From soft, wearable glam to extreme, head-turning transformations, the right makeup can completely level up your costume.
Whether you’re prepping for a school party, a Zoom hangout, or an Insta-worthy look, we’ve got you covered. This guide will walk you through 34 Halloween makeup looks you can actually recreate, with tips, tricks, and hacks to make each one feel effortless and fun.
Soft Glam Halloween Makeup Looks
Not every Halloween look has to be over-the-top or spooky. Soft glam looks let you dip your toes into the fun without going full costume mode. These looks are ideal if you want that Halloween fun makeup look that’s subtle, stylish, and still totally personal. And the best part? You can combine elements from multiple soft looks for a unique vibe. Here are some soft glam Halloween makeup looks to try:
1. Twinkle Fairy Halloween Makeup Look
Nothing says whimsical quite like a fairy glow, and this look is all about sparkle. Recreate this look with NARS Sheer Glow Foundation for that radiant, dewy skin, then sweep on Fenty Beauty Diamond Bomb Highlighter to catch every flicker of light.. You can also finish the look with face gems or rhinestones for a fairy-tale glow that’s totally Instagram-ready and effortlessly cute.
2. Kitten Glam Halloween Makeup Look
If you’re going for something flirty but not too dramatic, the kitten glam look is your perfect pick. Use a precise liner like Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner to nail those subtle feline flicks. For whiskers or nose details, an NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in black makes it super easy. This look is subtle, yet instantly recognizable, and is perfect for school parties or last-minute plans.
3. Flower Crown Princess Halloween Makeup Look
This dreamy, Instagram-worthy aesthetic makeup blends a soft, pastel eyeshadow with a rosy blush and shimmering highlights around your cheekbones and brow bone that creates an effortless glow and enhances your features. You can easily recreate this look using L’Oréal True Match Lumi Foundation for a luminous base, then blend soft shades from the Morphe 35C Everyday Chic Palette across your lids.
4. Mini Unicorn Halloween Makeup Look
When it comes to unicorn glam, the brighter the better. Blend pastel shades from the NYX Ultimate Shadow Palette in Brights like lilac, mint, and bubblegum pink, and highlight your cheekbones with Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal to mimic that holographic glow. This look adds tiny sparkles near the temples and under the eyes for a mystical, playful vibe.
5. Glitter Ghost Halloween Makeup Look
If you want spooky with a glam twist, glitter ghost makeup is your go-to. Start with a pale canvas using Kryolan Aqua Color in White or a very light concealer shade. Then layer shimmering powders like ColourPop Loose Glitter or NYX Glitter Brilliants over your cheekbones and under your eyes. This is perfect for girls who love shimmer and sparkle but still get in the Halloween spirit.
6. Butterfly Eyes Halloween Makeup Look
You can turn your eyes into butterfly wings with a mix of color and detail. This look adds shimmering touches at the tips or around the corners to mimic natural iridescence. It’s easy to recreate and you can DIY it with Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner in black to outline your wings—it gives you that sharp definition. Then, fill in the spaces using bold shades from the Huda Beauty Neon Obsessions Palette or glide on NYX Epic Wear Liner Sticks for bright pops of color.
7. Siren Halloween Makeup Look
If you’re aiming for seductive and mysterious, go with the siren look. Recreate a smoky eye using the Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Palette to blend in deep greens or blues for that ocean-like depth. You can also recreate the look with a mermaid-esque wig or ocean-inspired accessories to fully exude the mystical, dangerous allure of a siren ready to mesmerize everyone at the party.
8. Pastel Skeleton Halloween Makeup Look
You don’t have to go dark with a skeleton look—you can make it fun and dreamy. Grab the Mehron Paradise Makeup AQ Pastel Palette and paint your skeleton lines in soft pinks, lilacs, and baby blues. The pastel Skeleton makeup look puts a fun twist on the classic skeleton makeup, making the look approachable yet Halloween-appropriate.
9. Glowing Angel Halloween Makeup Look
For an angel glow that looks like it came straight from the heavens, you can recreate this look with Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter under your foundation and Too Faced Born This Way Highlighting Powder across the cheekbones, nose, and brow bone for a soft shine. To elevate the look, pair it with halo-inspired accessories or delicate wings for a finish that feels both magical and camera-ready.
10. Twilight Fairy Halloween Makeup Look
To nail the twilight fairy look, play with deep, mystical shades. Blend greens, purples, and golds from the Urban Decay Naked Wild West Palette to create a magical eye. Add sparkle with Glossier Glitter Gelée on your lids. For cheeks, go with a berry flush using Rare Beauty Liquid Blush in Encourage. Finish with an iridescent lip gloss for that enchanted glow. If you want to go the extra mile, pop on star-shaped stickers or leafy face tattoos for forest-fairy magic.
Classic Spooky Halloween Makeup Looks
If you want to get a little more daring, classic spooky looks are the way to go. Witches, vampires, skeletons, zombies, and ghosts make-up looks have stood the test of time—and for good reason. These classic spooky looks are perfect for anyone who wants that instant Halloween vibe without spending hours on details. Here are some classic spooky Halloween makeup ideas:
11. Witch Halloween Makeup Look
You can’t go wrong with a classic witch look. Recreate this look with a flawless matte base and create a smoky eye with the Morphe 35O Supernatural Glow Palette, blending dark purples and greens for that wicked vibe. Line your eyes with NYX Epic Ink Liner, and for your lips, go bold with MAC Lipstick in Cyber or even a matte black from KVD Beauty. Accessorize with a pointed hat, cloak, or even a broomstick to elevate the look.
12. Vampire Halloween Makeup Look
To transform into a vampire, you’ll want pale, flawless skin. Use a light foundation like Fenty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Foundation in a shade or two lighter than your usual. For your eyes, you can create a smoky eye with Anastasia Beverly Hills Sultry Palette and add extra depth with a deep red or black shadow under the lash line. You can top it off with bold lips and a touch of fake blood at the corners of your mouth to complete the effect.
13. Skeleton Halloween Makeup Look
You can create a dramatic skeleton face using the Mehron Paradise Makeup AQ Palette. Use black and white paints to carve out hollow cheekbones, teeth details, and darkened eyes. If you’d rather go glam, highlight the high points with Fenty Diamond Bomb Highlighter for that shimmering bone structure. Pair this with House of Lashes Noir Fairy Lashes to keep your eyes sultry. A black wig or slicked-back hair makes the look even sharper.
14. Zombie Halloween Makeup Look
For a zombie look that’s both creepy and fun, start with a pale foundation or mix white face paint with your base. Recreate the look by adding fake scars using Ben Nye Stage Blood and Mehron 3D Gel for textured wounds. Smudge gray and green shadows from the NYX Ultimate Shadow Palette in Smokes around your eyes for that undead vibe. Finish it with chapped, blood-stained lips using Kryolan Supracolor in Red. The more smudged and messy, the better.
15. Ghost Halloween Makeup Look
To nail a ghost Halloween look, keep it soft but haunting. Use MAC Studio Face and Body Foundation mixed with a white cream paint to lighten your complexion and create that sunken haunting effect around your eyes with gray tones from the Makeup Revolution Reloaded Palette in Smoky Neutrals. Add a touch of silver shimmer from ColourPop Super Shock Highlighter in Smoke N Whistles for an otherworldly glow. Pair this with pale nude lips, and you’ll look hauntingly beautiful.
16. Mummy Eyes Halloween Makeup Look
You don’t need full-body wraps to look like a mummy. Focus on your eyes by creating that worn, ancient vibe. Use the Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette to smudge deep browns and grays around your lids, looking into tired, sunken eyes. Add dark eyeliner with the KVD Tattoo Liner in Trooper Black for extra depth, then finish with Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara to keep the eyes defined. To complete the look, wrap a few gauze strips around your head.
17. Haunted Doll Halloween Makeup Look
If you want to look eerie yet cute, a haunted doll look is perfect. You can recreate this look with a flawless base using Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation and give your eyes that wide, porcelain effect with the NYX Epic Wear Liner Stick in White and draw exaggerated lower lashes. Elevate the look with rosy cheeks and paint small cracks across your face. This look with a glossy red lip will have you looking like a doll that’s just stepped out of a spooky attic.
18. Scarecrow Halloween Makeup Look
For a scarecrow look that balances cute and creepy. You can DIY with the e.l.f. Bite-Size Eyeshadow Palette in Pumpkin Pie or total smokeshow to create warm orange and brown or dark hollow eye looks. Finish the look with drawn stitched lines across your mouth and cheeks, then fill in a round, patchy nose with Suva Beauty Hydra Liner in Orange.
19. Creepy Clown Halloween Makeup Look
Creepy Clown makeup is all about bold expression and dramatic fun. To recreate this look, you’ll want bold eyes and a sharp smile. Use the James Charles x Morphe Palette to play with vibrant reds and blues, extending color past your brows and down your cheeks. For the lips, go exaggerated with MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lip in Feel So Grand, dragging the corners outward. Seal it with setting spray, and you’ll last all night at the carnival of horrors.
20. Ghoul Halloween Makeup Look
This look is all about eerie shadows and texture. All you need is to give your skin a lifeless by mixing white and gray paints from the Mehron Makeup CreamBlend Stick, then around your eyes, you can dab dark purples from the Morphe 35P Plum Palette to mimic bruised, hollow sockets. Mess up your hair or add baby powder to give it that dusty, just-climbed-out-of-the-grave finish.
Pop Culture & Iconic Character Makeup Looks
Want people to instantly recognize your costume? Pop culture and iconic character makeup hit differently. These looks are perfect if you love cosplay vibes or just want your friends to instantly recognize who you’re channeling. Plus, these looks often require fewer steps than traditional Halloween makeup, making them perfect for last-minute plans. These pop culture Halloween makeup looks are actually worth trying:
21. Harley Quinn Halloween Makeup Look
There’s no mistaking Harley Quinn’s chaotic charm, and her makeup is the quickest way to bring it to life. Recreate this look with a porcelain base using the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Foundation. Then apply a blue eyeshadow on one eye and red on the other, and smudge the edges with your fingers to mimic her wild energy.
22. Wednesday Addams Halloween Makeup Look
Sometimes less is more, and Wednesday Addams proves that perfectly. DIY with NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in a lighter shade to mute your complexion and keep your lids bare or softly shaded in gray and taupe tones. For your lips, you can sweep the MAC Lipstick in Sin on and complete the look with braids to capture her deadpan aesthetic in no time.
23. Stranger Things’ Eleven Halloween Makeup Look
Few characters are as instantly recognizable as Eleven, and her makeup is totally easy to recreate. Just even out your skin with Maybelline Fit Me Foundation, then add a soft flush of color on the cheeks. To recreate her iconic detail, draw a faint nosebleed or dab on a touch of Ben Nye Stage Blood. Pair with a pink dress or hospital gown, and your Eleven transformation is complete.
24. Cruella De Vil Halloween Makeup Look
If you want villainy served with elegance, Cruella’s look delivers. To recreate this iconic look, smoke out your eyes with blacks and silvers from the Huda Beauty Empowered Eyeshadow Palette, then sharpen it with a winged eyeliner. For lips, nothing screams Cruella more than Pat McGrath MatteTrance Lipstick in Elson 3, a deep red that commands attention. Add sculpted cheekbones and top it off with her two-toned wig for the full effect.
25. Maleficent Halloween Makeup Look
This is a fan favorite. It looks easy, but the horns do take a lot of work. To bring this look to life, you’ll want to focus on contouring your cheekbones with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit, a smoky winged eyeliner for that piercing gaze, and a bold lip in deep red or plum. Pair the makeup with her signature horns or a sleek headpiece, and you’ll instantly step into character. It’s a striking choice if you love makeup that feels both dramatic and regal, perfect for commanding attention at any Halloween party.
26. Ursula (The Little Mermaid) Halloween Makeup Look
Want a villain-inspired glam moment this Halloween? Ursula from The Little Mermaid is the ultimate choice. Her bold purple skin, sharp contour, and fiery red lips instantly make a statement that’s both fierce and unforgettable. To nail this look, start with Mehron Paradise AQ Face & Body Paint in Purple for that signature base. Sculpt your features using the NYX Highlight & Contour Pro Palette, then bring the eyes to life with the ABH Norvina Eyeshadow Palette for deep purples and shimmering blues. Finish with MAC Ruby Woo for the perfect villain-red pout.
27. Anime Character Halloween Makeup Look
Anime-inspired makeup lets you step into a world where eyes are bigger, expressions are bolder, and everything feels a little more exaggerated. You can play with KVD Tattoo Liner for sharp graphic lines and wide-eyed details with circle lenses that give you an animated effect. Add some bright blush and a glossy lip tint, and you’ll look like you stepped straight out of a manga panel.
28. TikTok-Inspired Yarn Halloween Makeup Look
If you want something that is on trend and straight from TikTok, the yarn makeup trend is your perfect Halloween pick. I know it’s not that easy, but it’s totally worth it for Halloween, especially if you’re looking for something unique. In this look, Charlotte layers pieces of white or cream-colored yarn (cotton yarn works best), but you can use any other color depending on what look you’re going for.
Layer the yarn on your face using a skin-safe adhesive like Mehron AdGem Adhesive or DUO Brush-On Lash Glue for precision.
Use eyeshadow shades like purples, blacks, and reds to sunken, creepy effect, and smudge a dark lip color like Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink in Voyager across the lips and slightly onto the yarn for that distressed finish. Apply bold lashes such as Glamnetic Lush Lashes to contrast the textured face. Line your eyes with a dark, smudgy kohl pencil to enhance the haunting look
29. Disney Princess Gone Dark Halloween Makeup Look
Every princess has a darker side, and this look is your chance to bring it out in the most glamorous way. Recreate this look with your go-to soft glam staples, like the Urban Decay Naked Palette, but deepen the shades with smoky blacks and berry tones for a more sinister vibe. You can add a dramatic contour and finish with a vampy lip from MAC’s Diva lipstick.
30. Movie Character Halloween Makeup Look
Nothing says Halloween glam like transforming into your favorite movie character. You can take your inspo straight from Wicked. If you want something bold and theatrical, Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba is a great choice and instantly recognizable. To recreate her look, start with a striking green base using Mehron Paradise AQ Paint in Amazon Green and pair it with a sharp black wing, long lashes, and a matte red lip for a witchy-meets-diva finish.
Creative Halloween Makeup Looks
Extreme, creative Halloween transformations are where you truly get to play with color, texture, and details that make people stop and stare. These makeup looks are perfect if you want to make a statement and experiment with techniques you wouldn’t normally try. Remember, Halloween is the only time “too much” is actually a compliment. Check out these creative Halloween makeup looks for some inspiration:
31. Sugar Skull Halloween Makeup Look
Celebrating Dia de los Muertos never looked so dazzling with the sugar skull makeup. DIY with Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation for a smooth base, then map out your designs in white or black or you can use bright pops of color with the ColourPop Pressed Pigments. Elevate the look with some rhinestones or stick-on gemsn from amazon to make your sugar skull sparkle under any light.
32. Clown Halloween Makeup Look
Clown makeup doesn’t have to be basic—it can be cute, creepy, or even high-fashion depending on how you spin it. Nail the look with a full-coverage base like KVD Good Apple Foundation to get that flawless canvas, then draw sharp shapes and exaggerated eyes with Suva Beauty Hydra Liners. A bold red lip and fake tears would complete the classic clown effect.
33. Alien Halloween Makeup Look
If you want an out-of-this-world glam, this alien makeup by Persamua is futuristic and definitely delivers. To nail this look start with a flawless matte base using Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Foundation and set with Laura Mercier Translucent Powder. The artist conceals her brows for a bleached effect and uses a sclera mesh lenses for her eyes. You can DIYwith NYX Brow Glue and concealer for your brows and use Uniqso Sweety White Mesh Sclera Contacts.
34. Mermaid Zombie Halloween Makeup Look
Why choose between eerie and enchanting when you can have both? Mermaid Zombie merges shimmering, aquatic colors with undead textures for a bold hybrid look. You can use NYX Ultimate Brights Palette for the mermaid scales (press a fishnet stocking against your skin as a stencil), or get mermaid scale stencils from Amazon.
