Top 10 Halloween Makeup Looks of All Time

It's that time of year again: spending weeks planning your makeup and costume ready for Halloween. But where do we even get started? Well, whatever you pick, you better get practicing now.

Here at Cosmetify we’re showcasing the 10 best looks for Halloween. Whether you’re experimenting with something new this year or looking to perfect your usual go-to classic, we’ve got you covered with the top Halloween makeup ideas of all time.

1. Zombie Bride

It’s true: hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. For that perfect blood-bathed-beauty look, you can basically just get all dressed up – tiara and all – and then go nuts with the fake blood. But some ghostly bridal-esque makeup is the best place to start!

2. Pumpkin

Halloween just wouldn’t be complete without a pumpkin – and if that means you’ve got to take one for the team then so be it. This look is so easy to achieve, just grab yourself some orange and black face paints or makeup palette and you’re on your way. And of course, your pumpkin look wouldn't be complete without matching nail art, check out our Top 10 Halloween Nail Art Inspirations to find out how to nail the pumpkin look.

3. Wednesday Addams

She’s a Halloween legend, need we go on? This deadly look is how we feel most Monday mornings anyway, so it’s pretty easy to pull off.

4. Reptile

No one likes a snake…but Halloween is different. This scaly look is still a makeup favourite, and the secret to remarkably real-looking reptile skin is simply a good eyeshadow palette and a pair of old fishnets! Better still, a pair of yellow contacts will definitely win you 'Best Dressed'.

5. Harley Quinn

When in doubt, channel your inner Harley Quinn. We can bet our bottom dollar that this look will make an appearance each and every Halloween season, for years to come - it's just so timeless. It's super easy, nor does it require a tonne of props and preparation, making it the perfect last minute Halloween idea.

6. Cat

Simple Halloween makeup is great if you don't have all day, and this feline look is always a Halloween hit - mostly because it's so easy to achieve and can look really effective. Once you've got your hands on some ears and a choker, it's just a case of getting that cat eye just right. For more Halloween cat inspo, check out The Best Cat Halloween Makeup Looks from Pinterest.

7. Vampire

Old reliable. A sultry vampire look never goes out of style for Halloween, but you’ve got to get it right. Too little, and it just looks like you’re on a night out; too much, and it looks like you’ve been in a horrible accident. But, with the right inspo, you can get your vampire Halloween makeup just right!

8. Clown

Done well, this look can be pretty damn creepy. Clowns are so varied, so you can really play around with this one. From gem-decorated eyes to full-on Pennywise, clowns really can steal the show. Why not mix it up a bit and experiment with some Joker Halloween makeup? Discover our Favourite Clown Halloween Makeup Looks.

9. Doll

Ah, that old horror movie classic. Creepy dolls never get old, and this Halloween doll makeup look is super easy to achieve.

Just get your hands on a white and black eyeliner, pink blush and red lippy for good measure. Go on, add some fake blood if you feel like it too.

You can keep it mellow if you’re feeling playful - check out our Easy Halloween Doll Makeup - but if you’re aiming to scare then going full Annabelle will definitely do the trick.

10. Skull

The pièce de résistance has got to be the skull. Probably the most time-consuming option of them all, this look requires some serious patience and precision. That said, it’s literally a masterpiece – definitely worth taking the day off work to produce…

If you’re strapped for time (or don’t want to look too scary) then just apply your Halloween makeup to half or a quarter of your face. Alternatively, if you’re looking to vamp it up, you can even go all out and add makeup to your hands too! What's more, these looks are the basis for pretty much all bloody or ghostly Halloween makeup looks, so why not experiment with a devil, angel, zombie or scarecrow look?

If you'd like to see how the YouTube pros do it, take a look at our edit of the best Halloween YouTube Makeup Tutorials – and don't worry if any of this seems to complicated! We have you covered with our list of Easy and Simple Halloween Makeup Ideas.