You guys know how much I love a good Halloween theme, and zombies have been a personal favorite of mine forever. There’s just something so fun about going all in with the blood and gore!
If you landed here, you’re probably on the hunt for some killer zombie makeup ideas for Halloween. I hope this inspires you!
I’ve pulled together 21 scary and fun looks that are sure to be a hit.
1. Half Zombie, Half Glam
Source: @jacquelinekmichael
I’m absolutely obsessed with this idea because you get the best of both worlds. It’s the perfect answer for when you want to look both scary and pretty.
As you can see, she’s kept one eye and the area around it totally glam, which creates such a cool contrast. The rest of her face is a masterpiece of fake blood, gruesome wounds, and a striking red contact lens.
It’s such a unique take, and you could easily put your own spin on this half-dead design.
2. Super Scary Zombie
Source: @mandie.strangefx
This look is one of my personal favorites because it’s just so gory and terrifying!
The artist did an incredible job creating the illusion that her face is sunken in, just like a real corpse. Add in the bleeding wounds and the missing lips, and you have a recipe for a truly gruesome and frightening costume.
I know a look like this will take some serious practice, but trust me, the payoff is so worth it when you give everyone a good scare!
3. Simple and Creepy Halloween Makeup Idea
Source: @fx.makeup8
Maybe you’re in the mood for a zombie look that’s more simple and creepy? If that’s the case, this one is perfect for you.
For this idea, she’s created pale, zombie-like skin and added a single wound on her face. It’s a pretty easy look to recreate; you could even just paint on the bloody streak instead of using fake dripping blood.
Just pop in some contacts, perfect your zombie shuffle, and you are good to go.
4. Bloody Zombie Makeup
Source: @marinaatc.makeup
Next up, I have a seriously bloody and gory zombie to share with you. As you can tell, she has a gnarly wound on her head, and it looks like the entire top layer of skin has been ripped off around her nose and mouth.
If you recreate this, make sure to add some zombie contacts to make your makeup extra scary. There are tons of tutorials online for bloody makeup that can help you achieve a similar effect.
5. Zombie Makeup with a Bite
I think this next makeup idea is just so cool because it features a bite wound. She’s got blood drips, creepy contacts, and that classic zombie skin tone.
What really completes the look is the bite mark on her neck. It totally sells the zombie transformation story, and you can find a ton of tutorials online to help you create your own gnarly zombie bites.
6. Pop Art Zombie Makeup
Source: @makeupbyholllyyy
Are you more into the bright and fun zombie looks? If so, this pop art style is a great choice for you.
Most of her skin is painted a vibrant blue, and the artist added a cool brain illusion and missing skin on her cheek to show off her teeth.
This kind of makeup would be amazing for Halloween parties. You can find plenty of pop art zombie tutorials and costume ideas online to help you nail this look.
7. Gruesome Zombie Makeup with an Eye
Source: @lola_von_esche
This next look is another favorite of mine because it’s spooky, creepy, and fun all at once! For this one, the artist kept the zombie makeup fairly simple but added an incredible illusion eye and mouth.
It seriously looks like one eye is popping right out of her head, while her top lip seems totally out of place. This is such an awesome idea that will definitely make you stand out from the rest of the zombie horde.
8. Half Zombie Illusion Makeup
Source: @isabellasfx_
The last zombie makeup look I have for you is another half-and-half creation. You can see that half of her face is left natural with big white dots, while the other half has a green, pop art zombie vibe.
This is another fun and unique zombie design that lets you be both spooky and glam at the same time! It’s such a cool concept.
9. Horrifying Zombie Makeup with a Brain
Source: @makemeup.sb
If you’re aiming to go all out and give everyone a legitimate fright, then this makeup is the one for you. The makeup on her face is kept pretty simple with just contact lenses.
But the real horror is on her head. The artist has made it look like her brain is completely exposed, with blood dripping down her face.
It’s a gruesome and horrifying idea that is absolutely perfect for Halloween parties.
10. Illusion Makeup with Teeth
I am so into this next idea. The artist has created a wild illusion that makes it look like her teeth are bursting right through her cheek.
She also has wounds on her head and nose, and the whole look is finished off with contact lenses and plenty of blood.
This is a super scary concept, and just imagine how terrifying this makeup would look in the dark. It would definitely give everyone a scare!
11. Simple Zombie Makeup
Source: @beauty.mark.x
Is all the complex makeup with over-the-top blood and gore just not your thing? If so, take a look at this idea. Here we have a much simpler take on a zombie.
She has pale skin, a few wounds, some blood, and tattered clothing. It’s a classic zombie costume, and you could easily whip up a version of this for any last-minute events.
12. Retro Zombie Makeup
Source: @deadgorgeousmuah
If you’re a fan of vintage hair, fashion, and makeup, then you are going to love this 50s-inspired retro zombie look. As you can see, she has the classic curled hair, along with 50s-style eyes and lips.
But of course, the artist has added blood, gore, and contacts to give it that undead zombie vibe. This is such a cute and quirky idea, and it would work with any time period. You could even be a zombie hippy!
13. Stage 1 Zombie
Source: @alexandrabayless
Any zombie enthusiast knows that in a lot of movies and books, the transformation happens in stages. This makeup look was inspired by that first stage.
So, in Stage 1, the person has just been bitten and is starting to feel sick as the change begins. This is such a unique idea, and it’s a great option for anyone who wants to do zombie makeup without a ton of blood and gore.
14. Half Face Zombie Look
Source: @creative.cliche
This next idea lets you have the best of both worlds. This makeup artist has created a half-dead look by splitting her face right down the middle with a bloody, stitched line.
On one side, she’s totally glam, and on the other, she looks like a full-on zombie. This is such a cool and unique idea. You get to be both scary and pretty at the same time.
You could recreate this exactly or try your own version of the half-dead look.
15. Spooky Zombie Makeup
If you’re looking for scary makeup with a lot of blood and gore, then this is definitely for you. The makeup artist has created the illusion that the skin all around her mouth has been torn off.
This look is finished off with contact lenses and dead-looking skin. It’s such a terrifying and gruesome look. It’s also a great choice for fans of Resident Evil, as this is a zombie version of Claire Redfield.
16. Gory and Scary Zombie Makeup Look
Source: @loli.lea_fxmakeup
If your goal is to give everyone a major fright this Halloween, this makeup will definitely do the trick. This artist went all out, creating realistic wounds, and there’s even one with maggots inside.
Her skin is an unsettling color, and she’s also wearing contacts to complete the look. This is an absolutely amazing makeup creation, and it’s guaranteed to scare everyone!
17. Vibrant Green Zombie Makeup
Source: @maddskully
The first zombie makeup idea on the list is fun, vibrant, and perfectly spooky! For this look, the artist painted herself a neon green and created an illusion mouth with missing bits of skin.
Makeup like this will definitely take some practice, but it’s the perfect choice for anyone who wants to try something a little different.
You can find illusion makeup tutorials online to help you recreate a similar look.
18. Gruesome Makeup Idea
Source: @tinassauro
Next up, I have another gruesome idea for you. This time, her face is totally covered in bloody wounds, and she’s wearing stark white contact lenses.
It’s a scary and gory zombie look that would be amazing for any Halloween event. You could pair any zombie costume with this makeup.
Feel free to recreate this exactly or try a simpler version with fewer wounds.
19. Zombie Makeup with Stitches
Source: @semboyssss
This next makeup idea uses a few different Halloween elements to create a really unique zombie look. She has those classic zombie eyes, but she’s also added stitches on her face and lips.
The addition of stitches is so unusual, and it’s giving me major Whisperer vibes. Anyone who’s seen The Walking Dead will know what I’m talking about with those creepy masks.
20. Creepy Illusion Makeup Idea
Source: @alina_evgrafovaa
Next up is another creepy illusion zombie. For this one, the makeup artist has created a sagging skin effect, complete with a gory mouth that’s missing its lips.
This look is simple because it doesn’t rely on a ton of wounds or over-the-top blood. Even so, it looks incredibly zombie-like.
I can just imagine her shambling after a survivor. This is so cool!
21. Amazing Illusion Makeup
Source: @ferlaland
If you’re a fan of the illusion makeup ideas, then this one is for you. This makeup artist went all out to create a really amazing and bold zombie look.
The makeup features a visible brain, a missing eye, and so much more. This is a scary and awesome idea that would be perfect for parties.
You’ll definitely need to practice illusion makeup like this, but it will be totally worth it when you win best costume.
We hope you have found a scary zombie makeup idea to try!