It’s just about that time of year when we freak out about what we’re going to be for Halloween. With so much anticipation comes some serious prep, especially if you’re ready to go big this year. Commence tapping through slideshows of celebrity looks from years past. Heidi Klum’s Jessica Rabbit, Rihanna’s Ninja Turtle, and Beyoncé's Storm are all contenders, but creating these looks requires a bit of help (a.k.a. an entire team of experts).
Yes, these impressive costumes aren't the handiwork of our famous friends. A makeup artist is behind the scenes with piles of Spirit Gum and false lashes to put it all together. Since none of us have that kind of entourage — or money — we asked the pros how we can do it at home all by ourselves. (Maybe with a pal or two standing by for support.)
Click ahead to see what they told us about how to master the art of Halloween makeup, as well as the products we need to have in order to impress everyone with our body-paint skills.
The Pro: Blondie
The Clients: Steph Claire Smith, Cara Delevingne, Pink
The Tip: Your everyday beauty staples are more talented than they let on.
"Eyelash glue is usually made of latex and is great for applying eyelashes and glitter. It can also be used to create scars and bullet wounds."
Photo: Courtesy of Exclusive Artist Management.
The Tip: Industrial-strength makeup removers are overkill.
"Coconut oil is great for taking off Halloween makeup. You can also use oil-based cleansers. If you need to remove glitter from your skin, don't use water — it will only make it stick to the skin. Use a little Scotch tape."
Photo: Courtesy of Exclusive Artist Management.
The Tip: Think way outside the beauty box.
"[The craziest product I've ever used was] Ben Nye blood capsules. I once dressed as Drew Barrymore in Scream. You just chew on a capsule and blood will flow from your mouth. It's pretty gross, but effective."
Ben Nye Gelatin Blood Capsules, $8, available at Stage Makeup.
The Tip: Use what you have.
"Beautyblenders are a must-have for any Halloween application. Inglot AMC Eyeliner Gel comes in a variety of colors and is great for more intricate details. It's also waterproof!"
Beautyblender Red Carpet, $20, available at Sephora.
The Pro: Michele Latch, Blushington Makeup & Beauty Lounge lead artist
The Clients: Latch (who has a private Instagram) has an exclusive and hush-hush list of fans.
The Tip: Get all the liquid lipsticks.
"Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipsticks come in lots of fun, on-trend colors, so you can experiment with the season's must-haves without the need to touch up."
Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipsticks, $24, available at Sephora.
Photo: Courtesy of Alison Brod Marketing + Communications.
The Tip: Take a lap around the dollar store.
"My secret beauty find from Halloween stores or dollar stores are faux lashes. I find inexpensive, avant-garde, and fashion-forward looks that I end up using year-round. Most of my clients are open to experimenting with makeup on Halloween, and faux lashes are my single must-have for both transformation and confidence."
Photo: Alison Brod Marketing + Communications/Michele Latch.
The Tip: First and foremost, prep your skin.
"Skin care is every makeup artist’s secret weapon. Before a photo shoot or anytime a client requires a full face of makeup, I have them prep their skin with glycolic pads or cream. My favorite is The Progressive Peel kit from BeautyRx."
BeautyRx The Progressive Peel, $69.95, available at BeautyRx.
The Tip: Don't even think about trick-or-treating without a setting spray.
"To make Halloween makeup last all night, start with a long-wear primer on the face and eyes, then finish with your favorite setting powder. Right before you walk out the door, use a setting spray like Model In A Bottle to lock down your favorite cosplay look."
Model In A Bottle Original Makeup Setting Spray, $17.50, available at Walmart.
The Pro: John Stapleton, MAC senior artist
The Clients: Kelly Osbourne, Margaret Cho
The Tip: Last-minute finds aren't too hard to score.
"Take a look in your own purse. You probably have most things to bring a look together. But for me, when I need a good base color — like Avatar blue or Wicked green — I go to a local MAC Pro. They last all night, and the color payoff is superior to what you'd get at the drugstore. Plus, I happen to know the green in Broadway’s Wicked is actually Landscape Green by MAC."
Photo: Courtesy of MAC.
The Tip: One single product can make a lot of looks.
"[The one product I need is] MAC Shivering White Studio Fix. It's a compact of powder and foundation that's white, which can instantly pale out skin for a vampy look, but still has a sheerness and is comfortable to wear."
MAC Full Coverage Foundation in Shivering White, $34, available at MAC.
Photo: Via @johnstapleton/Instagram.
The Tip: Find gems in your kitchen.
"Being resourceful, I've used sharply cut fake nails so many times for messed-up teeth. Also, working with the master of horror Rick Baker, I have learned to mix up Knox Gelatine, hot water, and sheer food coloring to create some great snot-dripping scenarios. It's an ugly world out there! I'll use anything. Tin foil, feathers, chewing gum wrappers."
Knox Gelatine, $2.27, available at Walmart.
The Tip: Be wary of cheap products.
"Good-quality products can save you a headache. Some pigments should not be used on eyes or lips, and cheaper brands won't disclose that information. For instance, use glitter from a cosmetic counter only. Craft glitter is sharp, sometimes contains scraps of aluminum, and can scratch your cornea and cause major damage to eyes. Cosmetic glitters tend to be plastic, rounded, and much gentler."
Make Up For Ever Glitters, $15, available at Sephora.
The Pro: Morgane Martini
The Clients: Madison Headrick, Cora Emmanuel, Mélodie Monrose
The Tip: Shop where the Broadway stars do.
"My favorite pro makeup store is Alcone for the essentials. Halloween Adventure has a great selection of prosthetics, stage makeup, and contact lenses. Ricky's is also great for last-minute needs."
Photo: Courtesy of The Wall Group.
The Tip: Forget pretty; get creative.
"I used gelatin and glycerin to create a fake jelly heart for Mélodie Monrose. You can find videos on YouTube on how to create wounds, burns, or body parts with ingredients you find in your kitchen. It was pretty funny to do and the result was realistic without spending too much money."
Photo: Via @morgane_martini/Instagram.
The Tip: Break out the big (spray) guns.
"Halloween is usually the time I break out my Temptu Pro Airbrush. I like it specifically for body or special-effect makeup. I have a couple of Temptu Dura sets with colors to create bruises, burns, and frozen looks. You can also use it to create fake tattoos with stencils."
Temptu Pro Air & Airpod Pro Kit, $220, available at Temptu Pro.
The Tip: Replenish your skin post-witching hour.
"I use Bioderma Crealine H2O with a few drops of almond or jojoba oil to help remove stubborn waterproof makeup. Then, I use Joanna Vargas Vitamin C Face Wash for perfectly clean and glowing skin."
Bioderma Sensibio H20, $16.90, available at Beautylish.
The Pro: Sir John, brand ambassador for L'Oréal
The Clients: Beyoncé, Olivia Culpo, Margot Robbie
The Tip: Budgets aren't boundaries.
"Hit the drugstore. You can find amazing picks at the drugstores these days, and you don’t have to spend a lot to get an awesome look for the night."
Photo: Courtesy of Alison Brod Marketing + Communications.
The Tip: Repurpose fabric as a beauty tool.
"I am loving the whole fishnet-stocking and mermaid look right now. You actually put the fishnet stocking over your head and contour or highlight right over it. When you remove the stocking, you get a scale-like effect."
Photo: Via @sirjohnofficial/Instagram.
The Tip: Get your skin right.
"To prep your skin the night before, I would use an exfoliating mask like the Pure-Clay Mask Exfoliate and Refining Treatment Mask. After you rinse away, follow up with an emollient moisturizer to hydrate the skin."
L'Oréal Pure-Clay Mask Exfoliate and Refine Treatment Mask, $12.99, available at L'Oréal.
The Tip: Look beyond beauty products.
"A really weird hack — and one I wouldn’t recommend unless it was Halloween — is to use a tiny bit of antiperspirant or milk of magnesia dabbed on your T-zone. This locks in your look, but it's definitely not an everyday makeup setter."
Phillips Milk of Magnesia, $6.29, available at Walgreens.
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