If there’s ever a season when putting things off is perfectly fine, it’s October 31. Even if you forget to buy a whole Halloween outfit until the last minute, you can always save the day by having a makeup bag loaded to the brim. All you need is a solid, straightforward lesson on how to apply Halloween eye makeup, some reliable black eyeliner, and a steady hand, and you’ll have yourself a scary, cute, or otherwise unique costume in no time.
We have included a wide variety of Halloween eye makeup techniques to meet the needs of people of all ages and skill levels, whether they want to go all out with face paint and go as the Joker or just want to chill with some fake vampire blood. In this article, you’ll find some of the best, creepiest, and most fashionable Halloween makeup ideas for the year 2022.
The Best Halloween Eye Makeup Ideas
This Halloween, you’ll want to look your absolute best, so stock up on long-wear makeup and a good makeup remover.
Clown
A scary clown impression would be fun to try. Add some gore to a simple rhythm by drizzling it with blood and cutting it up. For more examples, search Google with the hashtag #ClownCore.
Cyber Punk
Anyone interested in hacking or perfect, symmetrical cosmetics, please read on! When coupled with matte black lips, the addition of a few structural lines to this otherwise simple smokey eye really pops.
Angel
Make your face look like an angel’s before you put on your improvised halo (or the one you grabbed at the last minute from Party City). The application of eyeliner is quick and easy no matter what your eye shape is. On the other hand, who can resist a pretext to decorate their face with glittering jewels? Not us!
Joker
This is the perfect look for a Halloween clown if you want to spook people out without going overboard. Here, YouTuber Jasmine Brown gives a new twist on the notorious Batman world villain by applying shimmering face jewels(opens in new tab) above her eyelids.
Ghost
Our go-to for these kinds of looks is the Kevyn Aucion Emphasize Eyeshadow Design Palette in Magnify ($46). (opens in new tab). Putting some fake spiders in your hair will earn you extra points, so grab some clips right now.
Scarecrow
This scarecrow by suezochan is not the normal friendly fellow you’d find in a pumpkin farm. She suggests using more of a sloppy, rather than a proper, application of makeup to give yourself an edge this Halloween with the help of light oranges and blues. You can utilize any of your existing eyeshadows.
Unicorn
There is no such thing as too much glitter this Halloween. Look at how great Alex Faction’s (opens in new tab) eyebrows look in this super simple Unicorn tutorial if you need some inspiration. A Bodyography Glitter Pigment ($24)(opens in new tab)(opens in new window) would be a better choice for achieving the same chromatic effect as the pale purple hue he uses from Star Crushed Minerals(opens in new window).
Euphoria-Inspired Makeup
Makeup artist Doniella Davy is responsible for the show-stopping cosmetics(opens in new tab) on the addictive HBO series Euphoria (opens in new tab). This glitter tears look, shown in the episode dedicated to Halloween, is a great way to draw attention to yourself without resorting to face jewels. You can go all out with the glitter as Jules did.
Pumpkin
Is Halloween even Halloween if you don’t try out a Promise Phan (opens in new tab)YouTube tutorial? She has been astonishing people for seven years with her mind-bending recreations. On the other hand, she insists that this melting pumpkin doesn’t call for a lot of equipment or time and is therefore suitable for novices.
Salem Witch
Smoky eyes are easy to do, and the NYX Star Studded Face Mask ($9) adds the perfect amount of grunge to complete your Euphoria look (opens in new tab). That settles it; you’re a witch.
Spider
Make use of your stockpile of liquid liners by drawing on this eerie eye. If you have the time for it, you can do this badass eye on your own. You should draw lines on your lid freehand and then fan out your eyelashes for effect.
Poison Ivy
An extreme case of raised eyebrows is the epitome of Halloween spirit. If you want an excuse to smudge on some bright green eyeliner, pretending you’re recreating poison ivy is a great one. YouTuber Charisma Star gives the classic Gotham a fresh spin in reds and yellows, ditching the classic greens.
Catwoman
A painted eye mask has one distinct advantage over a store-bought plastic one: You won’t feel the need to rip it off your head half an hour into the night, ensuring that you never have to resort to wearing nothing but cat ears and appearing like a simpleton.
Mermaid
Light glitter, rhinestones, and iridescent scales will help you channel your inner mermaid, which is always in style (just ask Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah(opens in new tab)).
Classic Cat
Having a cat around may be simple, but at least you can count on it. While the traditional recipe calls for three whiskers, Lucy Oriole amps it up a notch. She looks amazing with her signature cat eyes, matte black lips, and natural freckles. Get out your middle school era ears and you’ll be set.
Barbie
There’s no denying that Barbiecore is all the rage right now; why not celebrate Halloween in the trend? Put on your favorite pink dress and a blonde wig, then read on for a comprehensive guide on creating the look. Just have your significant other dress up as a heavily bronzed Ken à la Ryan Gosling for Halloween.
Fairy
OK, how about we simplify this for a second? You can’t go wrong with a traditional fairy outfit. Take a cue from Mei Yan and get a little bit creative with your glam instead of just throwing on a set of wings from Amazon. You should add lots of shimmers and, if you’re feeling very bold, some floral appliques to really make a statement.
Frankenstein
Putting on some face paint is a quick and easy way to fool people into thinking you spent a lot of time and effort on your appearance if you forgot to acquire a costume but still want to attend the party in question. This Frankenstein how-to guide comes into play. With all that fake blood and stitches, you’re sure to get some attention. Leave yourself at least 48 hours to order the necessary items on Amazon Prime.
Harley Quinn
This Halloween, try out Harley Quinn’s easy-to-follow makeup tutorial for a look that’s perfect for those who are new to applying makeup. You may get away with sloppy application of eye makeup, liner, and lipstick if you dress as the Marvel character because they are naturally messy.
Queen of Hearts
This one calls for some artistic skill as well as knowledge of cosmetics, but the result is well worth the effort. Absolutely everything in the above video is perfect in my eyes, but it may be altered to suit your tastes. Remove the fake blood and put away the chest makeup if you so choose. Please don’t give the deck of cards headband to anyone else.
Butterfly
This fluttery Monarch look is set to go with just a touch of black liner and orange shadow. The fact that it’s restricted to one side of the face is great, too. What’s the point in trying to repeat success?
Alien
Want to feel like an extraterrestrial without actually being one? This is the solution: Highlights around the eyes, cheekbones, and forehead in vibrant hues; polka dots à la Avatar.
Cruella De Vil
Nothing bad can happen to you if you’re not scared of her. A deceptively easy-to-accomplish (perhaps requiring no additional resources) style that makes a major statement. Lips of satin, eyes of envy, and brows smeared with swirls of suspicion.
Bratz Doll
People can be roughly divided into two camps: those who grew up with Barbies and those who preferred Bratz. If the latter describes you, then this makeup style is a way to show your appreciation for the most stylish set of dolls ever. The lip colors these ladies wear are instantly recognizable, so go for something bold like Lancôme’s Game Berry Juicy Tubes Original Lip Gloss.
Comic Book Character
This Halloween, try out MaggieA’s pop art makeup tutorial and see how you can make a statement (opens in new tab). There is no need for any CGI gore to accomplish this. Only reliable eyeliner and a lot of face paint are required. Just remember to use a q-tip to wipe up any messes you make when applying the dots, as Maggie suggests.
Space Cowboy
Kacey Musgraves (opens in new tab) It’s time for us to take center stage, hive. You get the most out of both worlds with this costume. This extraterrestrial from outer space stands in stark contrast to the Western glam cowboy. Therefore, now is as good a time as any to give it your all. Bedazzle your eyes with long-forgotten glittering eyeshadow colours, then apply a coat of lipgloss with a metallic sheen, like Stila’s Beauty Boss Lip Gloss in Payday (opens in new tab)($15), and you’ll be ready to take on the day.
Devil
Don’t assume anything just because you’re wearing horns on Hallow’s Eve, whether you’re working with an angel or not. Think outside the eyebrow box, so to speak, and give your look a unique twist. Use ColourPop’s BFF Liquid Liner in Bright Red ($8) to draw on your horns. If you happen to have a red lipstick laying around, YouTuber An Knook suggests using that instead and applying it with an eyeliner brush for accuracy.
Masquerade Mask
Even if you’re not attending a masquerade ball on Halloween, you may still dress like a noble. If you’re a queen from the 15th century and you want to take the most Instagram-worthy Halloween photo of all time, then you need this mask.
Shattered Baby Doll
Wow, what a strangely lovely freak she is! This white liner really jumps out. Makeup Geek’s White Lies Eyeshadow(opens in new tab) and MAC’s best-selling Pure White Chromaline(opens in new tab) may be mixed to create the perfect icy white for your liner.
Skeleton
Bring the smoke back with this seductive skull costume for Halloween. It’s the perfect ‘do for when you only have a few seconds to get ready; all you need are a few straight lines to achieve the “stitched mouth” impression. A fluffy, medium-sized eyeshadow brush will make blending much easier.
Princes Shuri
As a purger, you might terrify everyone, but what’s Halloween without a good scare? This appearance may be achieved in no more than ten minutes if you have a steady hand for tracing shapes and contours.
Bear
This outfit is too cute to resist. What’s even better? You can wear the makeup with your pajamas (ideally, a onesie) for a cozy night in.
Vampire
Add some red novelty contacts(opens in new tab) and a thick, smudged, smoky eye to this Vampire Diaries look to make it even scary for Halloween.
Candy Corn
Actually, I don’t think it’s even Halloween without candy corn. A gradation of white, yellow, orange, and red creates a vibrant but understated statement eye in this style.
Cheetah
With good reason, I’ve been a cheetah for the past five Halloweens. You don’t have to bother with the ears, but if you do, the makeup will make you look like a pro. The video above does a great job of explaining things, but if you want the cliff notes, here they are. Get some eyeliner that won’t smudge and make some wide squiggles around your temple. Then, use a champagne eyeshadow to cover any blemishes (I like the Iconic London Glaze Crayon, which will open in a new tab) and finish off the look with a swipe of black lip liner.
Zipper Face
Although this appears complex, it is actually quite simple to duplicate. A zipper (or a narrow piece of fabric salvaged from an old pair of pants) is all you’ll need, and other than that, this project is suitable for beginners. Though we’re partial to the glittering night sky seen above, you’re free to go crazy with the CGI blood if that’s more your style.
Wednesday Addams
You can bet your bottom dollar that there will be a multitude of Wednesday Addams’ this Halloween, now that the show has made its way to Netflix. Add some on-trend makeup to your braids and black dress to take it to the next level. You don’t have to be an expert to follow along with this guide. Eyeliner is optional, but if you want to look more put together, apply a thicker line.
Witch
Clear the cobwebs off your old witch’s hat and watch the above video in preparation for Halloween. You can use this video as a reference, but feel free to adjust the volume, speed, and other aspects as you see fit. If you want to be Sarah Jessica Parker from Hocus Pocus, all you need is a blonde wig.
Scar
After 15 viewings, this film still leaves me in awe. There isn’t a single difficult step here, yet the finished product will have you convinced you spent hours perfecting your makeup. The pupils! Wow, look at that wound! I mean, look at that nose! If you’re planning on recreating this Lion King-inspired outfit for Halloween, a trial run before October 31 is highly recommended.
