Halloween makeup: From fantasy to gore, 13 Beauty Panel ideas for taking your costume to the next level

Date October 24, 2013

Is there a better holiday than Halloween? It’s the one day of the year that we have free reign to create—and live the life of!—an alter ego, the more outlandish the better. From sci-fi heroes to spooky spirits, everything is possible on Halloween, especially when you have a makeup bag full of product to help you out. As anyone who recalls a childhood full of pans of primary-coloured face paint, you’ll agree that the best costumes are the ones that come with a crazy makeup requirement.

Plus, when else do you have reason to wear your biggest false lashes, your brightest eyeshadow colours and every glitter you own? Never, that’s when! As such, we turned to the Beauty Panel to share their Halloween makeup looks, and the results range from inventive to fantastical to downright gruesome.

Challenge 33: How are you doing your makeup for Halloween? See the answers now! »

From a glam extraterrestrial that we’ll gladly take to our leader to a Twilight-worthy vampire, the Beauty Panel is definitely winning at Halloween. Stephanie Lau of Fun Size Beauty transforms herself into a glittery green alien while Aleeza Agno of Stylish and Literate looks to The Hunger Games franchise and channels her favourite Capitolite, Effie Trinket. And finally, Gerry Xun of The Bunnie Hole brings our nightmares to life with a masterfully created exposed flesh look that’s right out of a horror movie.

Though Halloween is a week away, don’t panic. Thanks to the Beauty Panel we have step-by-step tips, videos and product lists—basically everything you need to give your Halloween costume a beauty boost.

Have a beauty question you want to see the panel answer? Send it our way at [email protected]. Read on for the answers to this week’s challenge and for more goodness, get to know all contributors on our Beauty Panel hub page.

Aleeza Agno
Toronto | Stylish & Literate

Inspired by the upcoming release of the second installment for the Hunger Games series and these fabulous Paperself falsies, I thought I would recreate a look from our favourite Capitolite, Effie Trinket.

Products used: Revlon Colorstay Foundation in “Buff,” Shiseido Natural Finish Cream Concealer in “Light Medium,” Annabelle Quad Eyeshadow in “Pink-a-Boo,” Lise Watier Waterproof Eyeliner in “Blanc,” Annabelle Smoothliner in “Black,” Annabelle Lipliner in “Fuchsia,” M.A.C lipstick in “Lustering,” Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in “Pink Pop” and Paperself Paper Lashes in “Antique Jewelry”

JJ Cowan
Toronto | Secrets From Your Girlfriends

For a large portion of the population, including myself, Halloween is a national holiday. Often times, I have already picked out my costume for my next Halloween adventure before the current one has passed. Over the years my costume selection has extended from one end of the spectrum to the other. From prom queens to dressing up like Superman, I’ve pretty much done it all but one costume has alluded me over the years, the Vampire.

Now one would think that a vampire would be a natural choice, especially for someone like me who naturally sports the pale skin and dark hair, but no, not here, never! Even with the onset of the Twilight franchise I had yet to go down the road of “glamping” up the vampire – well, until this year at least.

Creating the perfect Vampire is actually an easy and inexpensive task. Aside from the purchase of contact lenses and fangs, I had everything I needed in my makeup stash. I just layered powder foundation to enhance my pale skin and contoured my cheekbones with some rose cheek blush mixed with brown eye shadowed to give the allusion that I was a bit sickly. Flowing this, I gave myself a smoky eye for a more sultry appearance but added a few extra layers of shadow for some added drama. However, the real transformation came with the addition of my contact lenses and fangs, which finished off the look nicely. I recommend investing in Halloween contact lenses – they are affordable, will last several seasons and complete any costume. You can find them at any specialty Halloween shop.

Products used: Dracula House Sexy Bite Fangs, Glamp Contact Lenses, M.A.C. Studio Fix, M.A.C Eye Shadow in “Espresso” and Nars Blush in “Orgasm”

Stephanie Lau
Toronto | Fun Size Beauty

No doubt that Halloween is a special occasion. It’s the only day during the entirety of the year that you can transform yourself into whomever you want to be without being questioned about how crazy, gory, scary, or ridiculous you may look. This year, I’ll be a glam alien.

I used a white shadow pencil as a base to cover my entire face. I chose a colour palette of cool-toned colours – greens, blues, purples, and silvers – to create extraterrestrial features. First, I contoured with a forest green cream shadow along my forehead, under the cheekbones, on the sides of my nose, and down the neck. Then, I followed the forest green contouring with a lighter Tiffany blue pigment along the same areas and also covered my eyes with a fuchsia pigment. I also added six dots of a dark green-purple above the eyebrows and under the eyes. Next, I did my brows with a gold shadow pencil and then outlined them with a shimmering crystal white. Lastly, I patted a holographic silver glitter on the tops of the cheekbones and over the lips for an intergalactic sparkle.

The beauty of makeup is that you can use everyday products to create a look that is far from the everyday normal makeup look. To transform yourself into a glittery, green, and glam alien, all you’ll need is a few colourful eyeshadows, some glitter, and a little creativity.

Products Used: NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in “Milk,” Lise Watier Ombre Soufflé Suprême in “Tartan Magique,” Madison Street Beauty Eyeshadows in “Amethyst,” “Azure,” “Tiffany Blue” and “Wisteria,” Covergirl Flamed Out Shadow Pencils in “Crystal Flame” and “Gold Flame,” BA Star Holo Silver Glitter and SPLAT Hair Chalk in “Violet Sky”

Gerry Xun
Vancouver | The Bunnie Hole

Halloween is the perfect time to let out your alter ego and it’s also the perfect excuse to get a little grungy. There’s no need to get fancy with prosthetics for this easy and dramatic exposed flesh look.

1. Find a zipper (flesh tones are best) and trim it to match the length from forehead to chin. Double check it again unzipped and trim off excess. Use liquid latex or eyelash glue (like DUO) to adhere the fabric of the zipper to clean skin, making sure to hold it in place as it dries, adding more to the edges and on top if needed for a firm hold.

2. Wetting small pieces of gift-wrap tissue with glue cover the cheeks and forehead making sure to create wrinkles and texture, paying special attention to the edges. Repeat this on the “exposed” part of the face as well, especially effective around the nose and edges of the lips. Don’t forget to overlap the sides of the zipper.

3. With a pale foundation (here the thicker, pastier the better) apply to face heavily with a latex sponge, taking care to reach all the crevices and blending the tissue into the skin as much as possible.

4. Colour the “exposed” part of the skin with red cream face paint, adding to it a bruised colour lipstick and darkening the contours with dark eyeshadow around the nose, mouth and under the edge of the zipper for dimension.

5. Shade the eye area with variations of dark purple, red, burgundy and brown eyeshadow, making sure to go well under the eyes and the entire eye socket.

6. For extra effect, pick and rip small parts of the tissue covering the face and drip with fake blood.

FYI: Eat ahead of time or prepare to drink with a straw, talking can be difficult with your zipper face on but it’s definitely worth it for the scares.

Products used: Liquid latex, Duo lash glue, Skin79 Vital Orange BB Cream, zipper, white gift wrap tissue, Ben Nye F/X Creme Colour in “Black & Blue,” “Dark Crimson” and “Fresh Cut,” NYX lipstick in “Bruised,” red face paint and Laura Mercier Eye Colour in “Black Smoke”

Christa Potter
Kawartha Lakes| Perilously Pale

I decided to just “wing it” when it came to this Halloween look. I went in with the idea of an Autumn Fairy but aside from knowing I wanted to use fall shades I didn’t have a plan. First I created a blank canvas by using an almost white foundation. I set it with transparent powder and then illuminated my complexion with some highlighting powder. I used a dark shimmering green eyeshadow to create a very exaggerated winged eyeshadow look. I then took a dark burnt copper matte shade and a shimmering gold eyeshadow to create a graduated effect radiating out from the temple. I used gold and copper liquid liners to trace out some designs that worked with the winged out look. I added a heavy dose of glitter to the temple area and completed the look with the same copper liquid liner, glitter on my lips and some crazy fun lashes.

Products Used: Inglot eyeshadow in “Pearl 414,” “Matte 335” and “Pearl 403,” Lancôme Artliner 24H in “Gold” and “Copper,” Lit Cosmetics Glitters in “Soul Sister Shimmer #3” and “Cowgirl Solid #3” and Illamasqua Eyelashes

Alexa Lowe
Montreal | Stealing Beauty

Products used: Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet in “35,” Rimmel Stay Matte Powder, Rimmel Sun Shimmer Bronzer, NYX Jumbo Pencil in “Milk” and “Black Bean,” Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eye Liner, M.A.C eyeshadow in “Concrete,” “Carbon,” “Rice Paper” and “Bisque,” Nars Larger Than Life Eyeliner in “Rue Bonaparte,” M.A.C paint pot in “Quite Natural,” Smashbox eyeshadow in “Nude,” Inglot eyeshadow in “326” and “360,” Ardene and Quo false lashes and Lancôme Hypnôse Brow Shaper

Joyce Wong
Toronto | Sparkly Playground

Since Halloween is my birthday, I never dress up as anything horrifying (superstitious? A little.) I deserve my rights to be a princess for the day right?! YES!!
Growing up with Disney princesses all my life, my favourite has got to be Snow White!

Here are some super easy tips to get her look!

1) Black Short Hair – I can’t bare to chop it off so I sport out a wig!
2) Porcelain Skin – Use 1-2 shades lighter as your foundation, not anything more as that would be too much.
3) Rosy, Red Cheeks – Cheek/Lip tints and stains are the perfect way to get that natural, rosy skin pigmentation that we all want to be born with!
4) Red Lips
5) Sweet, Tender Eyes – Brown Neutral smokey with Cris-Cross Lashes. These lashes gives you innocent, sweet looking eyes which is a super adorable finish!

Happy Halloween, dolls!

Products used: CoverFX CC Cream in “G Light-Med,” Benefit Cosmetics BeneTint, M.A.C Lipglass in “Viva Glam Cyndi,” L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner in “Black,” Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Treatment Corrector in “Light,” Clarins Ombre Minérale 4 Couleurs in “11 Forest” and M.A.C False Eyelashes in “#41”

Shayna Wiwierski
Winnipeg | A Pop of Colour

I’m feeling a little magical this Halloween! For this fairy makeup look I chose to stick with colours of the forest. Make sure you have some greens on hand and most importantly, glitter! You can go a little crazy with this, but I chose to keep it simple and then spice it up with glitter eyebrows (it’s not Halloween unless there’s some glitter) and a green lip (you can rock a red lip instead and you can be Poison Ivy).

Pop on some wings, false lashes and if you want, a little glitter dust to throw at anyone who comes your way.

Products used: Make Up For Ever Flash Color Case in “Leaf Green 008,” Sephora Color Anthology Palette, Marc Jacobs Magic Marc’er in “Blacquer,” Make Up For Ever Smoky Extravagant mascara, Make Up For Ever Holodiam Powder in “302” and “303” and Covergirl Flamed Out Shadow Pencil in “Red-Hot Flame”

Anna Raponi
Oakville | Vanity Presse

Cleopatra’s regal look is a classic Halloween costume, and easily attainable to recreate with products you use everyday. Start by perfecting your complexion with some foundation, then powder the face to achieve a matte finish. Then contour your face by applying bronzer with a fluffy brush. To achieve a defined, and sculpted look, contour the face with a heavy hand, guiding your brush in a three shape–starting at the top of the forehead, tracing along the hairline onto the cheekbone, then down along the jawbone. Brush a final swipe down the bridge of your nose.

If, like me, you’re looking slightly ghostly even after the summertime, add some bronzer across the t-zone as well to mimic Cleopatra’s beautiful sun kissed olive skin.

Cleopatra was way ahead of the trends with her strong brows–fill yours in with a matte black shadow, taking care to accentuate your arch. Back with your bronzer, blend it right into the crease of your eye to both define and add a bit of a glow. Now I know blue eyeshadow isn’t typically found in most makeup bags, but if you do have it, a wash of this tone across the lid will bring this look to the next level (think glamorous Elizabeth Taylor).

For her signature exaggerated kohl, use a black liquid or gel liner for a crisp, saturated line. Paint it on along your lash line, getting thicker towards the outside, and then extend in a diagonal line to the end of your brow. Fill it in to make a nice curve and then thicken the very ends.

Finish off the eyes with curled lashes and a few swipes of mascara. On the lips, apply either a clear or baby pink gloss, then dab on your concealer to your sticky lips. Smack your lips a few times to disperse the skin-toned colour for a DIY nude lip.

Products used: Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet Foundation, Rimmel Stay Matte Powder, Nars Bronzer in “Laguna,” Make Up For Ever Matte Eyeshadow in “Black,” Maybelline Line Stiletto Liquid Liner in “Blackest Black,” Elizabeth Arden Crystal Clear Lip Gloss, Clarins Instant Concealer and M.A.C eyeshadow in “Steamy”

Jennifer Francis
Durham | Spiced Beauty

Halloween can be an expensive time for some. New outfit! New Makeup! Money spent! In college, I did a video that needed a lot of “special effects” makeup. I had nothing but a broken black shadow, tube of red lipstick and a plum gloss. I made do! I decided to recreate the look I did for the shoot.

1. Start out with red lipstick. I used Annabelle Cosmetics retractable crayon in “Flirtini” on different areas of my face. I used my fingers to blend it out so it didn’t look so harsh.

2. Get a matte black eyeshadow- I used Avon “Wrapped in Velvet” eyeshadow. Using my fingers I dabbed it over the red lipstick to simulate bruising.

3. Get a deep plum lipstick to use as fake blood. Burt Bee’s Lip Shine in “Smooth” was perfect!

How easy was that! Next time you try to plan your halloween costume work with what you have.

Products used: Annabelle Retractable Crayon in “Flirtini,” Avon eyeshadow in “Wrapped in Velvet” and Burt Bee’s Lip Shine in “Smooth”

Ellie Somfelean
Montreal | My Beauty Box

My Halloween look this year is an homage to Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” look and Montreal’s Zombie Boy. I was always fascinated with the spin they put on the good ol’ skeleton look.

The way I achieved it was by piling on the lightest shade of foundation in my stash and powdered the face to set it, focusing on the cheek and jawbone area, places where I knew I would do some heavy contouring and I needed the powders to blend well. Next I took MAC’s Fluidline in “Blacktrack” all over my lid, brows and under my eyes to create the sockets. I used a black eyeshadow to contour heavily and create the sunken in cheekbones and draw on the mouth, teeth and shadows. For fun, I applied a touch of blush to my cheeks, as I felt the look needed some dimension. Now I’m thinking next time I recreate the look, I’ll probably add a hint of pink lipstick to the lips to turn this into a skeleton girl look.

I kept the hair messy and put it into a side ponytail.

Products used: Kat von D Foundation, M.A.C Fluidline in “Blacktrack,” Urban Decay eyeshadow in Oil Slick, Revlon Nearly Naked Powder in Light, Nars blush in “Orgasm”

Kelly Freeman
Mississauga | Glitter Diaries

Mermaid costumes cost an arm and a leg these days, which is why I’m DIY-ing my costume and going all out with my makeup! This makeup did take a while for me to put together but the end result more than made up for it and I can’t wait to wear it for Halloween!

Bright pink, turquoise and purple shadow and glitter were applied to my eyes first because it was important to make sure that if I had any mistakes to fix (eyeshadow fallout), I could easily remove it without ruining the scales on my face. Then I dabbed on an opalescent white, from a cream glitter palette, on my brow bones for an added pop and then finished with lashes perfect for any mermaid. Then I began painting the outline of scales all over my forehead and cheeks with blue water activated colour, then filled them in with shades of pink, blue, purple, opalescent white and opalescent “snow flakes” that came in a Halloween makeup kit that made the scales look more realistic. Bright coral lips look great “under the sea” and were the perfect final touch.

Products used: Marcelle BB Cream in “Light to Medium,” Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser in “Neutralizer,” Wolfe Face Art & FX 12 Essential Colors Palette, Sugar Sparkle Palette, Ice FX Frost Bite Makeup Kit, NYC Taupe Brow Pencil, L’Oreal Color Infallible Innocent Turquoise Eyeshadow, Marcelle Lux Eye Dust in “Fantasia,” Too Faced Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue, NYX Glitter Mania in “Hot Pink & Purple,” Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara, Ardell Fantasy Lashes, NYX Coral lip liner, Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids lipstick in “Shocking Coral”

Genevieve Peeke
Montreal | Gen In The City

For my Halloween look, I decided to create something that was very versatile and that would work with a wide variety of costumes. This look is sexy, sultry, and vampy yet super easy to create! I used the lightest foundation that I own all over my entire face and then contoured heavily using a dark matte bronzer. I then applied a creamy black eyeshadow to my eyelids and blended it out into my crease a little to give my eyes a dark look. I used the same pencil eyeshadow to line my waterline. I then applied a generous coat of mascara to give me bold dramatic lashes. I also recommend trying false lashes if you wanna go even more dramatic for Halloween! I lined my lips with a red lip liner and applied a creamy blood red lipstick to my lips.

Products used: Elf Flawless Finish Foundation in “Porcelain,” Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Bronzer, Make Up For Ever Aqua Shadow Pencil in “0E,” Clinique Lash Power Mascara in “Black Onyx,” Trucco Lip Liner in “Perfect Red 7073,” and Make Up For Ever’s Rouge Artist Intense Lipstick in “Moulin Rouge”