Halloween is right around the corner, and you know what that means! Time to get crafty with your makeup brushes and show off some major spooky skills. 🎃 Whether you’re heading to a Halloween party or just hanging with your friends at home, this is the time of year where you can go from subtle mystical vibes to full-on glam monster realness.
In this post, I’m breaking down two killer looks: one for those who like to keep things chic but kinda mysterious (perfect if you’re not feeling super extra) and one for my go-all-out horror queens who aren’t afraid to get wild with it. So, grab your makeup bag, your BFF, and let’s get our glam spook on! 👻💄
The Subtle Witchy Glam ✨ (For The Not-So-Over-The-Top Vibes)
Okay hear me out. Not all of us want to go full Dracula. Some of us might just want to look cute and witchy, with a sprinkle of drama, without turning into a complete creature of the night. So, if you’re like, “I still wanna look bomb, but don’t want to scare small children,” this one’s for you.
STEP 1: The Base – Soft But Sultry
Start with your favorite long-lasting foundation or BB cream. Halloween means LOTS of pics, so make sure your base can last a few hours. We’re not doing heavy contour here, but let’s add some light definition. Use a bronzer just to warm up your face, focusing on the hollows of your cheeks and your temples.
Pro tip: Go for a luminous setting powder that keeps the glow alive while keeping the oil at bay. Stay away from anything too matte!
STEP 2: WITCHY BROWS 🖤
Eyebrows are EVERYTHING for this look. We’re going bold but not blocky! Take a darker-than-usual eyebrow pencil (nothing too crazy, maybe one to two shades darker), and fill in your brows with small strokes. Make them strong, slick, and a tiny bit arched. Sharp brows combined with sultry eyes are basically the “modern witch” vibe.
STEP 3: Spooky Eyes For the Win 👁️
Girl, the eyes are where it’s at!
We’re doing an eyeshadow look that taps into mauve, burnt orange, and a little plum to give a mystical vibe without looking too gory. Start with a soft mauve base in the crease using a fluffy brush. Then, take a more vibrant burnt orange and blend that into the outer corner for dimension. Add just a touch of purple or plum to deepen the look on the outer corners.
Lashes? Yes, please! Curl those bad boys and slap on a voluminous black mascara. If you’re EXTRA like me, toss on a pair of wispy lashes. They make all the difference!
Also: Don’t forget to smudge a little eyeliner on your lower lash line to bring the look together. Smoked out liner = witch vibes unlocked.
STEP 4: Glowy, Mystical Cheeks
A witch isn’t complete without a glowing complexion that looks a bit otherworldly. Use a highlighter with a slight iridescent or cool-toned sheen. Think icy pearl or lavender! Pop it on the tops of your cheekbones, your nose, and a smidge on your brow bone.
Highlight tip: Keep it soft, but make sure it catches the light from those costume party candles! 💡💫
STEP 5: Dark Lips = Major Witch Energy 🔮
Okay, this is where we get a little more dramatic. Instead of your typical nude or pink lip, we’re going for a dark berry or deep plum. If you’re not used to dark lips, don’t worry! Just apply it carefully using a lip brush to keep it precise. It’ll pull the whole look together without being Halloween-overkill.
Boom. Soft witchy glam = achieved.
The Full-On Spooky Queen 🔥
Alright, now for my bold baddies who show up to EVERY Halloween event with the most intense makeup looks. If you’re here for the drama and want to stop traffic (or cause people to cross the street 👻🖤), this level of glam is totally your thing. We’re talking zombie brides, vampire queens, and American Horror Story status scares.
STEP 1: The Pale AF Base
Yep. Being pale is literally the key. Grab the lightest foundation you can find (possibly one even lighter than your natural shade) and use a sponge or brush to apply it evenly and smoothly.
Don’t forget the neck, ears, and chest! We’re going full ghost mode.
Bonus tip: Skip cream contour. Instead, use a gray-toned eyeshadow or powder to create that hollowed, gaunt effect. Focus on the cheekbones and actually bring it down a bit more than you normally would. You wanna look undead, right?
STEP 2: Sinister Eyes 👀
Get ready to pull out all your black, burgundy, and red shadows! You’ll want to build the eye look layer by layer.
- Start with a black shadow and smudge it into your crease toward the outer corner. Blend it like your life depends on it! Remember, messier looks more haunting.
- Next, add some deep red on top of the black and blend down to the lower lash line.
The lower lid is getting so much attention in this look too. Smudge that burgundy out and trace it close to your lashes.
Pro tip: Take a dark purple liner and line your waterline to make it even spookier. Add falsies to amp everything up and voilà. Eyes on point.
STEP 3: Bloody Cheeks or Hollowed Out Contour
You can either do a gaunt contour like we talked about earlier OR (and this is where things get fun) get that bloodstained blush effect.
Basically, instead of using blush on your cheeks only, drag it upward to your temples and apples of your cheeks in a diagonal motion. You want it to look like you’ve been out hunting. Creepy, right?
If you want definition AND bloodstained cheeks, blend them together for that ultimate undead beauty!
STEP 4: All About Those Spooky Lips 💀
The lips for a full-on spooky queen look can go two ways:
1. Vampy Red: Think classic red, like you-just-sucked-someone’s-blood red. Apply it crisply for that perfect glamour look.
2. Black Matte: If you’re going full horror, black lipstick is the way to go. Make sure it’s fully matte for that eerie, almost inhuman vibe.
If you really want to get crazy, blend some red around the upper and bottom edges to make it look like you’ve been up to no good.
STEP 5: Finish With Some Blood Splatter or Fake Scars 🩸
Okay, okay, you made it to the end, and if you REALLY want to go pro-level spooky, this last step is epic. Fake blood or a little scar wax are the perfect way to add some next-level eeriness to your look.
Take a small brush with fake blood, and artfully splatter it around your face or lips for something realistic but still stylish. Or for scar horror vibes, blend the scar wax on your forehead, cheek, or near your mouth!
It doesn’t have to be perfect—the messiness makes it even more #iconic.
Wrap Up & Pro Tips 🎃👑
Honestly, whether you’re feeling the more low-key witch vibe or the full-on spooky queen energy, makeup is all about having fun, showing off your creativity, and just doing you! I might rock a subtle dark lip with a mysterious eye one day, and the next day be a full-blown vampire monster—you can do both! Flex on them with your skills.
I’d LOVE to see your recreations too (tag me, please!). And remember:
Halloween makeup isn’t about being perfect; it’s about owning your look and having fun with it!
Seriously, don’t stress about making it flawless. Makeup comes off at the end of the day. So just slay while you can, spooky queens!! 💀✨
