Panicking about what to be for Halloween? Take a deep breath, I’ve got you!
I live for finding easy ways to look put-together, and Halloween is no exception. This list of 23 makeup ideas is your new best friend—each one is simple, creative, and uses things you likely already have.
Your perfect last-minute costume is just a scroll away.
1. Wednesday Addams
Source: @gothic.land
The Addams Family is just iconic for Halloween, right? For a super easy costume, you have to try channeling Wednesday Addams.
Seriously, all you need is a black dress and some moody, dark makeup to get her signature look. Just braid your hair, apply your makeup like in the picture, and you are totally set for any party.
2. Leopard Print Makeup
Source: @karenada.makeup
I couldn’t put together a Halloween list without including some animal-inspired makeup! Animals always make for such simple and cool costumes.
This next idea shows you how to create a really awesome leopard print look. Just give yourself a glam cat-eye flick, add some lipstick (black or a color like the photo works!), and draw on your pattern.
You can create the spots with liquid liner or face paint by making little “c” shapes and filling them in with a neutral shade or glitter. There are plenty of tutorials online to help you nail this one.
3. Bloody Tears
Source: @makeupbymelfialho
Our next pick is so scary but also incredibly simple. This idea just takes a normal, everyday makeup style and adds some fake blood under the eyes.
These bloody tears instantly transform your makeup into a creepy Halloween costume. It’s so easy to do; just pick your go-to makeup style and then drip the blood right underneath your eyes.
4. Cute Cat Makeup
Source: @nataliadutan
This next look shows how you can be a super cute cat for Halloween. All you really need is black liner, lipstick, and face paint, but you could honestly just use face paint if that’s all you have!
Simply create that classic cat-eye flick, add some black to your nose and lips, and then finish it all off with whiskers. This is such a simple and fun look. I’d just pair it with a black outfit to complete the whole costume.
5. Old Age Makeup
Source: @mandyshaye
How fun and creative is this next idea? It’s makeup that makes you look older! You could create a costume of your future self or use the technique for something else, like a witch.
All you’ll need is neutral makeup and some brown makeup to draw on the wrinkle lines. For a little something extra, you could add white to your hair and eyebrows.
I’ve found that baby powder works great for a temporary gray hair effect.
6. Halloween Pirate
Source: @maddienwood
Ahoy there! Our next choice is a Halloween pirate. This entire look was built around glam eye makeup, with some added scratches and a lip wound.
You could totally recreate this with your everyday eye makeup and then just add red face paint or some fake blood for the cuts. Throw on a headband, and the look is pretty much done.
I’d wear this with a little black dress to finish off the whole costume.
7. Gory Scratches
Source: @yessica.portelli
Learning how to do scratches or claw marks is such a great skill because you can use them for so many different costumes.
The face marks here could work for a wolf, a zombie, a Red Riding Hood costume, and more. There are a ton of ways to create scratches, but some face paint and fake blood will give you a quick and easy result.
These are items you can find in stores right up until after the holiday, so they are super easy to grab.
8. Creepy Doll Makeup
Source: @kimtimoneymua
Next up, we have a really scary doll makeup idea. To get this look, all you’ll need is some dark eye makeup, white makeup, and a dramatic pair of eyelashes.
For extras, you could add the pink cheeks and some freckles. You can easily create this with makeup you already own; you might just have to pick up the white makeup and lashes. I’d pair this with a dress for a perfect Halloween party vibe.
9. Jessica Rabbit Makeup
Source: simoneleaghbeauty
Are you a redhead? Then this next one is definitely for you! A super simple Halloween costume for redheads is Jessica Rabbit.
All it takes is some purple eye makeup, classic red lips, and a red dress. It’s such a fun costume and will be an absolute hit at any party.
If you happen to have a little more time and don’t have red hair, you could always grab a wig.
10. Spooky Scarecrow
Source: @ashleym.mua
Scarecrows can be either super cute or totally terrifying. The vibe you get really depends on the makeup you use.
This easy scarecrow look was created with warm orange colors and black for all the details. You could recreate this with eyeshadows and some face paint; both are so easy to buy.
If you wanted a darker, spookier scarecrow, just go for darker colors. There are plenty of tutorials online that can help you get the scarecrow look just right.
11. Sugar Skull Makeup
Source: @sharleen_hdbrowsandmakeup
Sugar skulls are such a popular idea for Halloween costumes. Not only do they look incredibly cool for Halloween, but the look is also surprisingly easy to create.
All you’ll need is a face paint crayon, or if you don’t have one, an eyeliner will work just fine. Then you just create the pattern!
There are so many tutorials available online to help you with the design. Just pick your colors, and you’re good to go.
12. Orange Halloween Makeup
Source: @junimakeup
To get a great Halloween look, you don’t always have to go for something scary and gory. You could just add some festive Halloween colors into your makeup routine.
The look featured here uses a gorgeous orange eyeshadow with pink lipstick. You could wear makeup just like this for an easy Halloween vibe.
To make it feel even more right for the occasion, you could always swap in a darker lipstick.
13. Scary Clown Makeup
Source: @hkmakeupartistry
Here’s another simple idea for a clown look. This one seems more difficult to create than it actually is. All you’re going to need is some dark makeup and face paint.
Face paint is so easy to buy since it’s in most stores leading up to the holiday. Just use this picture as your inspiration and copy the shapes you see. You could also recreate it in a completely different color palette.
14. Halloween Clown
Source: @christinabearmakeup
Clowns are always a popular choice for Halloween costumes, and here is a super easy way to get a clown look at the last minute. All you will need is some dark makeup and black face paint.
Just apply your dark makeup as you normally would to your lips and eyes, and then add some black details with the paint. If you don’t have dark makeup, you could always go for the classic clown red instead.
15. Simple Spider Web Makeup
Source: @amaterasubeauty
If you loved the spider web makeup from earlier, then you might be into this one, too. This idea shows how you can create a similar look but with darker colors and an even bigger web.
Just apply your dark makeup and add the web design over it. You can even add in that little spider! It’s such a fun, simple, and perfect last-minute makeup idea.
16. Vampire Halloween Makeup
Source: @beautybytots
Vampires are such a classic Halloween costume choice. Our next pick shows how you can simply create a cool vampire look. All you’ll need is some dark makeup and some red makeup.
Apply a dark eyeshadow and lipstick, then finish it off with some veins around the eyes and a blood drip from your lip. You could use a red pencil for the blood or add some fake blood.
No matter how you decide to do it, you’ll have a seriously cool Halloween makeup look.
17. Spooky Skeleton Makeup
Source: @loveseren
Looking for a spooky vibe? Then a skeleton is absolutely perfect for you! Our next idea shows how to create a simple skeleton look.
All you need to do is create glam eyes with eyeshadows you already have, then add some black makeup to your lips and nose.
You can use a liner, face paint, or a face paint crayon to get the black details just right. If you have some extra time, you can add shading. There are tutorials online to help you with the skeleton shapes.
18. Mermaid Makeup
Source: @perlababe3
Mermaids are such a popular choice for Halloween costumes. You can create an easy mermaid look this Halloween by just doing glam eyes, preferably with green or blue colors, and then adding some fun accessories.
This mystical mermaid has a starfish in her hair and sequins on her face. The sequins create a really cool, shimmering scale effect. You can recreate this whole look pretty cheaply and simply.
19. Spider Web Makeup
Source: @majorasmakeup
First up, we have this amazing orange eye makeup with a spider web design. This is absolutely perfect for a last-minute look.
You don’t need anything special, just the makeup you probably already have. Orange is such a great color choice for Halloween because it’s the classic pumpkin color, but you could totally recreate this web look with any color palette.
The web itself is easy to do, and there are tutorials online to help. We are obsessed with this Halloween makeup!
20. Simple Halloween Makeup
Source: @idleen
Next, we’ve got a dark makeup look that you can create with things you might already have in your makeup bag. All you’ll need is black and purple eye makeup, and then finish it off with red lips.
You could totally switch up the colors to whatever suits you. This is a great choice for anyone who wants to look spooky but not too over-the-top. It’s perfect for a last-minute Halloween look.
21. Deer Makeup
Source: @styledbyjamied
Searching for a cute makeup idea? Then you should definitely consider creating a deer look. Deer makeup has become so popular for costume parties, so it would be perfect for Halloween.
Just give yourself some glam eyes, add black makeup to your upper lip and nose, and finish it off with some little white dots. You could also add in some shading if you have extra time.
22. Surgery Makeup
Source: @face_envy
Looking for a really creative last-minute idea? Then this next one could be perfect for you. This simple makeup idea creates a cool surgery look.
You could use this technique to create a plastic surgery costume or even an undead patient. It’s a really quick and easy makeup idea that is perfect for any party.
23. Illusion Halloween Makeup
Source: @makeup.byapril
Last on our list is this incredible illusion makeup idea. For this look, all you’ll need is your everyday makeup, a black eyeliner, and some white face paint.
Apply your makeup like you normally would, then create the outline with the black liner. Make a design similar to the one in the image and use the white paint to highlight.
If you have a little more time, you could also add in the shading.
We hope you have been inspired by our easy, last-minute Halloween makeup ideas.