The most popular Halloween makeup looks for women are a witch, a vampire, a skull, Black Swan and the Corpse Bride. Most take under an hour, using everyday makeup plus white face paint and a dark lipstick.

Looks10Time20 to 60 minutesBasicsWhite face paint, dark lipstick, eyelinerDateSaturday 31 October 2026

What do you need for women's Halloween makeup?

Most women's Halloween makeup needs three additions to an everyday makeup bag: white face paint, a dark red or black lipstick and black eyeliner. The dark shades in an eyeshadow palette are enough for shading. When choosing face paint, pick products made for use on skin.

What are the best Halloween makeup looks for women?

Witch

A woman with dark eye makeup, a crescent moon on her forehead and painted hands.
Dark eyes and symbols on the forehead for the witch look. · Photo: Diego Monteiro, Pexels

The most classic Halloween makeup, to finish a witch costume.

  1. Do smoky eyes in black and dark purple shadow.
  2. Extend the outer corner with eyeliner.
  3. Apply a dark red, purple or black lipstick.

Vampire

A woman in a red cape and black dress baring fangs in a vampire costume.
Fangs, pale skin and a dark red cape make the vampire look. · Photo: giovanni, Pexels

Pale skin and a dark lip for an elegant horror look.

  1. Use a foundation a shade lighter than your skin.
  2. Put dark red shadow around the eyes and define the lashes.
  3. Apply a dark red lipstick and draw a thin drop of blood from the corner of the mouth.

Skull

A woman with white skull face paint and black eye sockets in a red top.
White face paint with black eye sockets and a drawn-on jaw. · Photo: Elīna Arāja, Pexels

Applied to the whole face, one of the most striking Halloween looks.

  1. Cover the face in white face paint.
  2. Fill in around the eyes and the nostrils in black.
  3. Hollow out under the cheekbones with grey and draw the teeth from the lips across the cheeks.

Black Swan

A ballet dancer in a pale blue tutu and a dark headpiece sitting in a studio.
Pale ballet clothes and a dark headpiece, the Black Swan styling. · Photo: Israyosoy S., Pexels

The black swan makeup from Black Swan (2010), finished with a black tutu.

  1. Apply a pale, matte foundation.
  2. Draw black, wing-shaped makeup around the eyes, sweeping out towards the temples.
  3. Apply red lipstick and put the hair in a tight bun.

Corpse Bride

A woman in a white veil with skull-like bride makeup holding blue flowers.
Pale blue-toned makeup and a white veil for the Corpse Bride. · Photo: Israyosoy S., Pexels

A blue-toned look inspired by Emily in Corpse Bride (2005).

  1. Apply pale blue or grey-blue face paint.
  2. Deepen around the eyes with dark blue shadow.
  3. Draw fine stitches on the cheek and colour the lips a dark blue.

Cat

A woman in a black leather cat mask with winged eye makeup holding a whip at night.
A cat-ear mask and winged eyes, a dramatic take on the cat look. · Photo: Marco Alhelm, Pexels

The quickest option, ready in ten minutes.

  1. Draw a thick, flicked line at the outer corner of each eye.
  2. Paint the tip of the nose black.
  3. Draw whiskers on the cheeks.

Cleopatra

A woman in an Egyptian-style gold headdress with bold eye makeup.
Bold eyeliner, gold and a headpiece for Cleopatra. · Photo: Jimmy Elizarraras, Pexels

Bold winged eyeliner and gold, finished with a black bob or a gold headpiece.

  1. Apply a warm base and a gold or bronze shadow across the lids.
  2. Draw a thick black wing from the inner corner of the eye out past the outer corner, towards the temple.
  3. Add a bold gold or deep red lip and finish with a gold headpiece.

Harley Quinn

A woman in a Harley Quinn costume with pigtails holding a baseball bat on a city street at night.
Pigtails and a red and white costume for Harley Quinn. · Photo: Márcio Silva, Pexels

The character who first appeared in Batman: The Animated Series in 1992, with a white face and red and blue accents.

  1. Cover the face in white face paint or a pale foundation.
  2. Add red and blue shadow on the eyelids, and draw a black mask shape around the eyes.
  3. Finish with red lips and pigtails with red and blue ends.

Devil

A woman in a black and red devil costume with horns and feathered wings.
Horns, red and black for the devil look. · Photo: Larry Jenkins, Pexels

A red-toned look with sharp brows and a dark red lip, finished with horns.

  1. Apply a red or bronze shadow on the eyelids and blend it up towards the brow.
  2. Draw sharp, upswept black brows and a winged line at each eye.
  3. Add a deep red lipstick and finish with a horn headband.

Zombie

A woman with grey zombie makeup and wounds in a dark forest.
Pale grey skin, dark hollows and wounds make the zombie look. · Photo: Errich Cross, Pexels

A pale, tired face with wounds, finished with torn clothes.

  1. Cover the face in a pale grey or greenish base.
  2. Smudge dark purple and grey under the eyes and along the cheekbones.
  3. Add wounds in red and brown on the cheek and forehead, and a trace of fake blood at the corner of the mouth.

How do you make Halloween makeup last all night?

To make makeup last all night, moisturise the skin first and then apply a primer. Build face paint up in thin layers, since one thick layer cracks. A setting spray at the end reduces smudging at a crowded, warm party.

How do you remove Halloween makeup?

Take face paint off at the end of the night with an oil-based cleanser, then wash the face as normal. Do not put products not made for the eyes on the eyelids or lash line. Test a new product on a small patch of the inner wrist first.

Where to buy Halloween makeup

Tahtakale sells face paint and makeup supplies at wholesale prices. For a ready-made costume to wear with the makeup, Istanbul has Kostumpartim, where the code SAUCY gives 5% off. All the addresses are in where to buy a Halloween costume in Istanbul.

Quicker looks are in easy Halloween makeup, and costumes to match in Halloween costume ideas for women.