10 Ghoulish and Glamorous Halloween Makeup Looks to Try

Makeup lovers, now is your time.

The countdown to Halloween is on, and all October long, you’ve got permission to unapologetically paint your faces with the most haunting and glamourous Halloween makeup looks you can dream up. Though, with endless costume possibilities and plenty of Halloween soirees to attend, it can be tough to narrow it all down.

Here, we’ve taken cues from our social media feeds and Pinterest’s 2024 Halloween Trend Report to bring you ten options to get inspired by. From main characters in pop culture to reimagined interpretations of timeless Halloween figures, scroll on for our favourite Halloween makeup looks to recreate this year—no matter your skill level.

Glinda from Wicked

Though we’re still several weeks out from the premiere of Wicked, we predict the film’s main characters Glinda (Ariana Grande) and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) will be two of 2024’s most sought-after Halloween costumes and makeup looks.

For Grande’s take on Glinda’s glam, the “Good Witch” keeps her skin fresh and soft with hints of pink glitter over the lids and lips.

Packed with micro-fine glitter flecks, E.L.F. Cosmetics’ all-new Fine As Fleck Glitter Eyeshadows make any eye look sparkle. This “White-Hot” shade is totally Glinda’s style.

Something shiny for the lips? Grande’s beauty brand r.e.m Beauty has just launched an exclusive Wicked-themed makeup collection, which includes this glittery So Popular PH Adaptive Lip Oil that every good witch needs.

Elphaba from Wicked

More of a green than a pink gal? Try Elphaba’s monochromatic makeup. While this look requires you to tap into your inner artiste with a little face painting, you’ll only need one colour as your base, so it’s practically foolproof! Overtop, add some dimension by using dark green eyeshadows on the eyes and hollows of the cheeks to shape and contour.

Lastly, paint on a few faux freckles and a jade green lip to pull it all together. Wickedly cool, right?

Use MAC Cosmetics’ Paintstick in “Landscape Green” in place of foundation for a true Elphaba look. With a stick applicator, this highly pigmented product is easy to use and blends well on both the face and body.

For a Halloween party-proof lip, opt for KVD Beauty’s Everlasting Hyperlight Liquid Lipstick in “Medusa’s Head.” Matte but never dry, it’ll last you all night long.

Chappell Roan

If you’re looking to flex your makeup muscles this Halloween, let Chappell Roan‘s iconic glam serve as your inspiration. With her signature white base, glittery eyelids and over-the-top blush, Roan’s makeup is all about fun and self-expression. So the more extra you go with sparkly eyeshadows and heaps of colour, the better.

Take one look at Roan’s Instagram feed and you’ll find that she loves a blue eyeshadow moment. About Face’s “Next Caller” Fractal Glitter Eye Paint is the perfect lid topper for recreating the pop star’s glam.

Pack on the rouge! Nars’ “Dominant” shaded powder blush will give you the intense pigment you’ll need to achieve hot pink, Chappell-level cheeks.

Beetlejuice

Beetlejuice beauty is bound to be majorly on trend this spooky season. While a white face base with touches of purple eyeshadow, black and white eyeliner, and slime green accents are the foundation of a true Beetlejuice-inspired makeup look—one viral TikTok trend has taken things a step further.

On the app, fans of the mischievous spirit have hacked "Beetlejuice lips" by applying a solid shade of lipstick to the lips, then pouting and tapping on black eyeshadow on top to create a crackle effect when you smile. Clever and creative.

Begin this eye look with a purple base like Urban Decay’s “Free Bird” 24/7 Eyeshadow. With a 12-hour promise, it won’t budge no matter what you get up to come Halloween night.

Fresh from NYX’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice collection, the brand’s Pin Stripe Dual-Ended Eyeliner lends itself perfectly to this ghoulish look. Use the black side to draw on your winged liner, and the green chrome side to pencil in those fresh-from-the-dead green accents.

Sabrina Carpenter

It’s official: pop stars have taken over this year’s Halloween beauty trends. And Sabrina Carpenter’s bubblegum makeup is one of the sweetest looks to try for a more soft glam approach to getting dolled up this season. Two things every Sabrina look needs? Just-pinched pink cheeks and a juicy, well-defined lip.

A swipe of glassy highlighter over the cheekbones and doll-like lashes are encouraged, too.

According to Carpenter’s makeup artist, Carolina Gonzalez, the singer’s current tour blush combo involves Armani Beauty’s Luminous Silk Cheek Tint in “Bold Pink”. Infused with Micro-fil technology, it blends flawlessly into the skin for a seamless finish.

Outline your lips with a warm nude pencil like Make Up For Ever’s Artist Color Pencil Longwear Lip Liner in “606 Wherever Walnut”. It’s a wearable shade that you’ll reach for long after the Halloween festivities die down.

Glam Vampire

You can never go wrong with a classic vampire look, but according to Pinterest, inspiration for “soft vampire makeup” is in high demand. Stripping back the usual white face paint and fake fangs, this look calls for a glowy skin base à la Edward Cullen, a subtle smokey eye and a moody red lip.

By opting out of the usual blood and gore, this look is surprisingly easy to recreate and more wearable than most supernatural glam.

Achieve a luminous base with the viral L’Oréal Paris’ Lumi Glotion. Formulated with hydrating glycerin and shea butter, this glowy moisturizer leaves the skin looking flawless.

Refy’s limited-edition Plum Liner and Gloss Collection was practically made for wannabe vampires. When worn together, this lip combo creates the perfect just bitten—er, just bit—lip look.

Charli XCX Brat

2023 was the year of Barbie, but 2024 is undeniably the year of the Charli XCX brat. Since we’ve transitioned from Brat summer to Brat autumn, it’s well within reason to keep the party going and be a brat for Halloween this year. Sure, you could do a slept-in eyeliner look that leans indie sleaze to match this messy aesthetic, but our favourite Brat-themed makeup looks take cues from the album cover itself.

Channel Charli XCX with Brat (or, should we say Apple?) green-shaded makeup for a more colourful look.

False lash clusters that accentuate the eyes but don’t do too much? Very Brat coded. In other words, these Kiss imPress Press-On Falsies will do the trick.

Whether you go for green eyeshadow, green eyeliner or even green blush, all that matters is that it’s Brat-coloured. Use Freck Beauty’s Shadow Slide Long Wear H20 Shadow Stick in “Algae Babe” to nail that near-neon look.

Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn

With Joker: Folie à Deux now playing in theatres, there’s no time like the present to channel Lady Gaga’s version of Harley Quinn. Gaga has gone all in on method dressing and method makeup for the film’s press tour, and fans are loving the bold glam look pictured above.

Painted by Sarah Tanno, the look requires Quinn’s signature blue eyeshadow with a crystal teardrop beneath one eye and a feathery red lip.

This “Oasis” coloured pigment from Danessa Myricks Beauty is giving pure Harley Quinn. Swipe it over both eyelids with a winged edge to replicate Gaga’s look.

As told by Tanno on Instagram, the MUA applied this Haus Labs Colour Fuse Powder Blush in “French Rosette” to Gaga’s lips with her fingers to create a velvety finish. No lipstick needed.

Leopard

Between “beastly beauty” trending on Pinterest and leopard print ruling the runways, it should come as no surprise that this feline look is one we’ll spot (ha!) everywhere this Halloween. And it’s easier to recreate than you’d think.

Simply use a black eyeshadow or liquid liner to draw “spots” around the perimeter of your forehead, and use a sculpting bronzer for a dramatic, contoured effect.

Maybelline New York’s Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner allows you to pencil in your spots like a true artist. With an ergonomic grip and a felt precision tip, you can’t mess them up.

Create your cat-like contour with Makeup by Mario’s SoftSculpt Cream Contour & Bronzer stick. Choose a shade thats darker than your usual bronzer to amplify the look.

Romantic Goth

Similarly to the soft vampire look, the “romantic goth” makeup trend scales down the usual black-drenched gothic makeup and adds more glamorous elements. A smoked-out, grey eyeshadow look with subtle flecks of glitter on the lids to soften things up paired with razor-thin brows and a berry lip are all you need.

What’s more romantic than spoiling yourself with Dior? This 9-shade palette is complete with all the tones this look calls for.

Draw on a dramatically thin brow with Merit’s Brow 1990 Ultra Fine Eyebrow Gel Pencil. When Halloween is over, don’t be surprised if this micro pencil sneaks its way into your everyday makeup routine.