A black eyeliner pencil, a red lipstick, and a brow pencil can carry you through most of a Halloween night. That is the premise of this guide to easy Halloween makeup. There are no prosthetics, no latex, and no special kit. Instead, there are five looks built from what is likely already in your makeup bag, plus a removal routine for the end of the night.
Before you start: safety from the FDA
Even easy Halloween makeup goes on skin, so the usual rules apply. The US Food and Drug Administration has a page on novelty makeup, and its advice is simple. Follow the directions on the label, and use only products meant for skin. If face paint has a very bad smell, the FDA says that could be a sign of contamination, so throw it out.
Also, take label warnings seriously. If a product says it is not for use near the eyes, believe it, the FDA says, even if the label shows people wearing it there. Color additives come with limits on how they may be used. For instance, the agency lists eight fluorescent colors approved for cosmetics, and none of them is allowed for use near the eyes.
Test early
The FDA’s Halloween safety tips suggest testing new makeup on a small patch of skin on your arm at least 24 to 48 hours before the party. That way, a reaction will not ruin your plans. The agency also recommends makeup over a costume mask that can block your vision.
Skip decorative contacts
The same FDA page discourages decorative contact lenses that a doctor has not prescribed, and it says selling them without a prescription is illegal. So let eyeliner and shadow do the dramatic work.
Five easy Halloween makeup looks
Each look below uses everyday products, which is what keeps this easy Halloween makeup easy. As a result, you can mix and match them with almost any costume.
1. The cat eye
This is the most wearable look of the five. Start with a black liquid or pencil liner. Draw a thin line along the upper lash line, then flick it out and up toward the end of your brow. Next, fill in the inner corner with a short downward line for a feline shape. For a full cat costume, use the same liner to draw a small triangle on the tip of your nose and three thin whiskers on each cheek.
2. The skull half-face
A half-face skull looks dramatic but needs only black and white. First, cover one side of your face with a white cream product meant for the face. Then use a black liner or cream shadow to fill the eye socket in a rough circle. Add a small upside-down heart on the tip of the nose. Finally, draw a line from the corner of the mouth toward the ear, crossed with short vertical strokes for teeth. Leave the other half of your face in your normal makeup, which makes the contrast sharper.
Easy Halloween makeup built on one detail
The last three looks take even less product. Each one adds a single detail to your usual face.
3. The glitter tear
This one takes a light hand. Choose a glitter labeled as cosmetic grade and meant for the face, never craft glitter. Apply a clear gel or glitter glue made for skin in a single tear shape under one eye, well below the lash line. Then press the glitter on with a fingertip. Keep it on the cheek rather than close to the eye, in line with the FDA’s caution about the eye area.
Keep it on the cheek rather than close to the eye.
4. The vampire lip
A deep red or berry lip is all a vampire needs. Line your lips first, then fill them in with the lipstick and blot once. For a bitten effect, smudge a little of the lipstick just below the center of the lower lip with a fingertip. Add a hint of the same shade to the cheeks to keep the look cohesive. If you need help picking a shade, our guide to fall lipstick shades matches berry, brick, and brown to skin undertones.
5. Freckles
Freckles might be the simplest easy Halloween makeup idea here, and they work for a scarecrow, a pirate, or a fairy. Use a brown brow pencil and dot it lightly across the nose and upper cheeks. Vary the size and spacing so the freckles look natural, then tap each one with a fingertip to soften it. For a scarecrow, add a few stitch lines at the corners of the mouth with the same pencil.
Make easy Halloween makeup last
Halloween nights run long, so prep matters. Start with clean, moisturized skin, which helps cream products blend. After you finish, a light dusting of translucent powder can set cream products on the face. Carry a cotton swab and your lipstick for touch-ups, and avoid rubbing your eyes.
If you are also decorating at home, our ideas for Halloween decor use candlelight and natural materials, which flatter a made-up face in photos too.
The removal routine
The FDA advises against going to bed with your makeup on, since it can irritate skin and flake into your eyes. So take it off before bed, following the removal directions on the product label.
Step by step
- Loosen the makeup. Massage a cleansing balm or oil over dry skin to break down liner, cream color, and lipstick.
- Lift the glitter. Press a piece of tape gently against the glitter, or use a cotton pad soaked in remover, rather than scrubbing.
- Be gentle around the eyes. The FDA notes that the skin there is delicate. Hold a soaked cotton pad on the eye for a few seconds before wiping.
- Wash and moisturize. Follow with your usual cleanser, then apply a simple moisturizer.
If your skin reacts at any point, stop using the product. The FDA encourages people to report bad reactions to cosmetics, and its novelty makeup page explains how.
Easy Halloween makeup questions, answered
What is the easiest Halloween makeup look?
The cat eye is the simplest. It needs only a black liner and a few minutes of practice.
Can I use craft glitter on my face?
No. Use cosmetic glitter meant for the face, and keep it away from the eyes.
Should I patch-test Halloween makeup?
Yes. The FDA suggests testing new products on a small area of your arm at least 24 to 48 hours ahead.
Are decorative colored contacts safe?
The FDA warns that decorative contact lenses sold without a prescription are illegal and could cause harm. If you want them, get a prescription from an eye care professional.
Lay out your liner, red lipstick, and brow pencil on Saturday afternoon, test anything new on your arm, and keep the cleansing balm by the sink for when you get home.