Top Trending Halloween Makeup Ideas & Look

To do your makeup for Halloween, start by choosing a look that matches your costume and skill level, whether you want something quick and simple or bold and dramatic. The best thing about Halloween (aside from the candy, obviously) is that you can be whoever—or whatever—you want to be. For easy Halloween makeup ideas, explore our step-by-step tutorials featuring character-inspired favorites like our Kitty Kat makeup look, sultry Vampire look, regal Royal Queen, or even a cute-but-creepy vibe with our pink Clown makeup look that you can create using your favorite NYX Professional Makeup products. If you need more inspiration, head to our YouTube channel—we have countless Halloween look tutorials to help you achieve your Halloween dream.

Yes, you can absolutely use your regular makeup for Halloween, and many products in your everyday kit work perfectly for building creative Halloween makeup looks. When it comes to regular makeup vs. Halloween makeup, the difference often lies in intensity and staying power. Your favorite NYX Professional Makeup longwear lip colors, eyeliners, and eyeshadows can easily double as costume makeup to create bold eyes, dramatic lips, or statement details. If you want to take your Halloween transformation further, use the SFX Face & Body Paints for more vibrant pigments, striking special effects, and long-lasting results that hold up through every Halloween moment.

Whether you should wear foundation under face paint depends on the type of look you’re creating: you should wear foundation under face paint if you’re only covering part of your face, but skip it when applying full-face Halloween base makeup. No matter what your look is, don’t skip makeup primer, though!

For complete transformations where you’re applying face paint all over your face, foundation isn’t necessary: the face paint itself acts as your main base. If you’re only applying face paint to certain areas for partial looks or designs (like a half-skull, vampire, or scar accent details), then you can start your look as usual, applying your usual foundation and concealer to help even out your skin tone and create a polished backdrop. To maximize wear, start with a gripping primer and follow with a longwear foundation formula such as Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Foundation before layering on your Halloween face paint. This helps your look stay smooth, vibrant, and photo-ready all night long.

To get face paint to stay on, you need to prep with a comfortable, long-wearing makeup primer, set your look with setting sprays, and layer products strategically for long-lasting Halloween makeup looks. A good primer grips pigment and keeps your look comfortable all night. Try The Marshmellow Smoothing Primer for a blurred, soft-focus finish and to extend makeup wear for up to 16 hours, or The Face Glue Gripping Makeup Primer for a 24-hour makeup hold and hydrating feel. Once your Halloween face paint is applied, lock it in with a setting spray, such as The Face Glue Setting Spray or Matte Makeup Setting Spray. For maximum wear to make your face paint last, spritzing your face with setting spray between layers of product can help extend makeup wear and keep your Halloween look vibrant and fresh-looking.

You can make your face white for Halloween by using a white makeup base like our SFX Face & Body Paint in the shade Giving Ghost, which is perfect for creating a bold, opaque canvas.

1. First, prep your skin with the makeup primer of your choice.
2. Apply the pigment-packed white Halloween face paint to your skin, blending it out with your fingertips or a makeup brush.
3. Continue adding layers of face paint until you achieve your desired opacity, then pat a bit of translucent powder on top to help set the face paint.
4. Lock your white makeup base with a setting spray before continuing on with the rest of your Halloween look.

This technique creates the ideal base for classic Halloween transformations like ghosts, skeletons, and vampires, ensuring your look stays striking and fresh all night long.

You can make your skin look old for Halloween by using old age Halloween makeup techniques like contouring wrinkles, deepening shadows, and adding under-eye circles. Realistic wrinkle effect makeup looks are especially good for undead or soon-to-be-dead costumes, like zombies or corpse brides! You can draw wrinkles on with a gray-toned contour powder or cream (we recommend using a thin brush for this, as it’ll allow for the most precision).

Layer neutral and gray shadows to exaggerate hollows and creases, then build in dimension with under-eye shading with our Jumbo Eye Pencil in the shade Black Bean to draw dark circles under your eyes. To complete the look, use red and purple eyeshadows to add in some veins and add more details with a dark purple or grayish eyeshadow, and voila—your old, undead look is complete.

You can make Halloween makeup last all night by using long-lasting Halloween makeup products like makeup primers, setting powders, and smudge-proof setting sprays to keep everything in place.

1. Start with a base primer such as The Face Glue Gripping Primer or Pore Filler Primer to help makeup adhere smoothly.
2. After applying your foundation, face paint, or pigments, lock them in with a translucent setting powder to reduce shine and prevent creasing.
3. For the final step, mist on a longwear spray like The Face Glue Setting Spray or Matte Makeup Setting Spray, created to keep your makeup in place through every party.

For eye and lip looks, opt for waterproof and smudge-proof formulas like the Epic Ink Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner or Shine Loud High Shine Lip Color so your Halloween transformation looks flawless until the night is over.

The best way to remove Halloween makeup is to use gentle products that remove face paint and SFX makeup safely without irritating your skin.

• Start with an oil-based cleanser or cleansing balm to break down heavy layers of foundation, cream pigments, or special effects makeup.
• For stubborn glitter or waterproof products, soak a cotton pad with micellar water and gently press it onto the skin before wiping away to help lift particles without tugging.
• If you’ve layered on thick face paint, remove it in stages: first dissolve the bulk with balm or remover, then follow up with a gentle face wash to leave skin clean and refreshed.

When removing your makeup, always avoid scrubbing, since the goal is to remove Halloween makeup safely while keeping your skin barrier calm and healthy for your next glam session.

You can stop Halloween makeup from smudging by choosing smudge-proof and long-wearing Halloween makeup formulas, prepping your base, and setting each layer as you go. Start with a gripping primer to give products something to hold onto, then apply longwear staples like the Epic Ink Waterproof Eyeliner, Epic Wear Waterproof Eyeliner Stick, Lip Lingerie Lip Liner Stain, or Lip Lingerie XXL Matte Liquid Lipstick, which are designed to prevent smudging. For face products, lightly blot between layers of foundation or paint to control excess oils, then seal with a translucent setting powder. Finish with a mist of setting spray to meld all your layers together. With these steps, your Halloween makeup look will stay polished and smudge-resistant no matter how you celebrate.

The best makeup for sensitive skin on Halloween is non-irritating makeup that’s non-comedogenic, vegan, and formulated for comfort. Look for lightweight foundations, gentle pigments, and products designed to be skin-friendly, like the Bare With Me Blurring Tint Foundation, which balances coverage with hydration. For bold effects, opt for vegan eyeliners, shadows, and lip colors that deliver high impact without clogging pores or causing irritation. When creating your look, avoid heavy adhesives or latex-based products, which can be harsh on sensitive skin, and skip overly abrasive removers. Instead, use micellar water or a cleansing balm to gently dissolve makeup. With the right sensitive skin Halloween makeup, you can enjoy dramatic transformations while keeping your skin calm and healthy throughout the night and beyond Halloween.

Yes, waterproof Halloween makeup is often better for long-lasting wear, especially if you’re heading to an all-night party or spending time outdoors. Waterproof makeup formulas resist smudging, sweating, and transfer, making them ideal for costumes that need to stay flawless under any condition. For eyes, reach for Epic Ink Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner or Epic Wear Waterproof Eyeliner Stick. On lips, longwear and waterproof shades like Line Loud Lip Liner and Shine Loud High Shine Lip Color ensure bold color that won’t budge. Choosing long-lasting makeup with waterproof benefits gives your Halloween transformation the durability it needs to last through all your spooky festivities.

The best brushes and tools for Halloween makeup depend on your look, but a few essentials always stand out for creating detail, blending, and special effects:

• Fine detail brushes: ideal for drawing precise lines, wrinkles, or veins in SFX makeup.
  • Pro Angled Eyeliner Brush
  • Micro Detail Brush
  • Pro Angled Brush


• Sponges: perfect for blending foundation, face paint, or cream pigments seamlessly.
  • Marshmallow-Shaped Makeup Sponge
  • Complete Control Blending Sponge


• Flat or tapered brushes: great for packing on glitter or shimmer with minimal fallout.
  • Pro Flat Detail Brush
  • Tapered All Over Shadow Brush


• Jumbo Eye Pencils and SFX Makeup Sticks: These easy-to-use alternatives combine pigment and an applicator in one, perfect for quick, easy makeup Halloween looks.

For a full set of artistry tools designed to handle everything from blending to bold effects, explore our collection of makeup brushes and tools