For me, Halloween is about doing something really amazing with your makeup – as an artist it gives me a moment to really go for it and be playful. Of course, if you are a makeup artist everyone wants you to do their makeup too! So if I do have time, I have to start mine early before everyone else calls on me to help them. My advice is that you should pick a reference you love and start from there. Last year that was Madonna for me – it doesn’t have to be scary, so watch your favourite films and music videos and pick looks you love.
Contact lenses are hard to put in (sometimes I want to give up after one!) but they do make all the difference, so be patient because they elevate the Halloween look. And it’s worth picking a fall-back look that you can always go back to if you feel uninspired. For me, that’s a vampire: throw in some fangs and a bit of fake blood to finish your look and you’re good to go! I’m always a vampire of some description. In fact, all of the following looks could work with a vampire.
This Halloween, will you opt for a modern alien inspiration, AI robot-chic or something more spooky? I’ve been scouring social media to find the most fun and expressive makeup looks for Halloween 2024. Which one will you recreate?
Halloween Makeup Tutorials For 2024
Victoriana Vampire
Inspired by Val Garland’s 2011 Vivienne Westwood catwalk makeup, this super-chic take on a gothic vampire could be created just like Carol Barragana does in her tutorial, or with red instead of black for a head-turning twist.
HOW?
Start with an all-white base and then use a fan-shaped brush and your statement face paint colour of choice to create bold stripes from the mouth outwards.
Alien Chic
This Alien-inspired design can be recreated exactly as this artist does it, or you can get playful with the colours and patterns to make your own mark.
HOW?
Use a fine liner brush and face paint or cream eye colour to create your design, working from the inner ear outwards in a pattern up one side of your face. Add a softer touch with sultry smokey eye makeup with a metallic finish, or toughen it up with spooky contacts.
Robot Girl
As the AI revolution continues, there’s never been a better moment to go robot-chic with a metallic makeup masterpiece.
HOW?
Not for the novice, this monochrome masterpiece involves slicked-back hair and a carefully-crafted black and white paintwork design, shaded with grey to create a 3D finish.
60s Model
If you prefer to go sexy over scary, try an ultra feminine graphic 60s liner on for size. If you want it to be scary, try adding in blanked out contacts to complete the look.
HOW?
Read the full makeup guide, including which products to buy, here.
Lightning Bolt
Be a natural disaster victim and work up a storm with the easiest effect technique I’ve seen on Instagram this year.
HOW?
Once you’ve perfected your base makeup, apply a hot red eye colour to a crumpled piece of tin foil and press it onto your cheek to make your mark. Touch up using liquid eyeliner to create your lightening-perfect design.
Futuristic Pin-Up
If you want something classic but with a seasonal twist, I love this statement blue eye by Daniel Sallstrom for W Magazine.
HOW?
Take your blue shadow outward from beyond the eye area and use along the hairline in the same spots as you would usually bronze for a sun-kissed finish. Finish with a blood red matte lip.
Scorpion Lips
Don’t want a full-face look? Add a statement lined lip and make your Halloween pout perfect.
HOW?
Either use a transfer tattoo design to create this lip-lining statement style, or if you’re feeling artistic, create a matte canvas and draw your own spider or scorpion lips using a waterproof liquid liner.
TOP TIP
This is the time to go all-out and be experimental, don’t be shy to go bold. Once you’re happy with your look, set it in place with a setting spray, check out the best ones in my edit here.
MORE HALLOWEEN: Makeup Ideas | The Perfect Dark Red Lip
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