Top 15 Scary Makeup Looks 2024 (#4 Is Actually Terrifying)

Are you ready to steal the spotlight at your next Halloween party but worried your makeup skills aren’t up to par? If you’re tired of the same old costume ideas and want to transform into something truly terrifying, you’re in the right place.

In this guide, we’ll reveal the secrets to creating jaw-droppingly scary makeup looks that will have everyone asking, “How did you do that?”

Scary Makeup Looks

Scary makeup looks are all about creating a striking, eerie effect that grabs attention and leaves a lasting impression.

Here are the most important aspects to consider:

1. Concept: Start with a clear theme, like zombies, skeletons, or horror-inspired creatures, to guide your design.
2. Base Makeup: Use a pale or ashy base to give your skin a ghostly or decayed appearance.
3. Contour & Shadows: Dramatic contouring and shading create depth and highlight bone structure for a more menacing look.
4. Special Effects: Incorporate special effects like fake blood, wounds, scars, or prosthetics for added realism.
5. Eyes: Focus on the eyes with dark, smoky shadows, bold liner, and colored contacts to create a haunting stare.
6. Details: Pay attention to small details like cracked skin, veins, or texture to add to the overall creepiness.
7. Finishing Touches: Seal the look with setting spray to ensure your makeup lasts through any spooky event.

With these aspects in mind, you can craft a terrifying makeup look that’s sure to scare and impress.

Creating Spine-Chilling Faces

First, apply a spooky base. This can be anything from the classic ghostly pale white to shades of green, blue, or any other eerie color that suits your character. Make sure to blend it well and cover all visible skin.

Next, let’s work on the eyes. You can create bold, sunken-looking eyes by using dark eyeshadows in colors like black, brown, or deep red. Blend it well around your eyelids and below the lower lash line. Apply eyeliner and mascara to define your eyes.

For eyebrows, you can create a variety of looks to match your spooky character. You could make them look dramatic by using dark brow pencils or gels, or even draw on unnatural shapes.

If you’re aiming for a supernatural creature look, you might choose to cover them for a more otherworldly appearance.

Now focus on the facial features that will bring your scary makeup look to life. This can include shadows, cuts, scars, or fake prosthetics. Experiment with different techniques to create the most bone-chilling effect possible.

Here are some simple steps to create creepy facial effects:

1. For shadows, use dark eyeshadows and blend them well along the cheekbones, jawline, and forehead. This will create an eerie hollowed-out effect.
2. To create convincing cuts, use red lip liners or makeup pencils to draw the lines, and fill them in with red eyeshadow or lipstick. Add dark eyeshadow around the edges for depth.
3. If you want to create scars, use a combination of lip liners, eyeshadows, and makeup pencils to draw raised or indented lines on your face. Apply foundation and some translucent powder to blend it in.

With a little creativity and practice, you’ll be able to effortlessly create spooky and terrifying makeup that will leave everyone around you petrified.

Advanced Scary Makeup Tricks

Using Prosthetics for Enhanced Effects

To take your scary makeup look to the next level, consider incorporating prosthetics into your design. Store-bought prosthetics are available in various forms such as wounds, scars, or even full-face masks.

When applying prosthetics, use a skin-safe adhesive, like spirit gum, to attach them securely. Afterward, blend the edges into your skin using liquid latex and apply matching makeup to ensure a seamless effect.

Creating Realistic Scars and Wounds

Creating realistic scars and wounds can be an essential part of achieving a convincing scary makeup look. One method is using gelatin and glycerin mixtures to simulate the texture of skin.

You can also experiment with household items like tissue paper, latex, or even glue to create the desired effect.

When painting these faux wounds, use red, black, and purple shades to add depth and resemble natural bruising and irritation.

Mastering the Art of Ghostly Pale Skin

To achieve a ghostly complexion, start with a white or very light foundation. Blend it evenly over your whole face, neck, and other exposed skin. The key to perfecting this look is building up the foundation layers for full coverage.

For a more vibrant take, try incorporating rainbow skeleton makeup to combine the ethereal with a splash of colorful whimsy.

Remember: Practice makes perfect, so don’t be afraid to try different techniques and adapt them to achieve your ideal scary makeup look.

Best 15 Scary Makeup Looks

Looking for some creepy-yet-gorgeous makeup inspiration for a Halloween party, photoshoot, or just for fun?

Here are 15 top picks that will definitely make heads turn.

Zombie Smoky Eyes: Embrace the undead look with deep red and blue tones to create the perfect dark-circle effect. Achieve the mesmerizing smoky-eyed zombie and get ready to scare and impress at the same time!

Creepy Doll: Nothing is quite as eerie as a broken doll. Try this broken face makeup which resembles a creepy porcelain figure with a touch of beauty.

Rainbow Skeleton: Get creative with your skeletal design by using a rainbow color palette.

Bloody Vampire: Create a seductive vampire look by darkening your eyes and adding a hauntingly pale complexion. Finish up by using deep blood red, matte lipstick to accentuate your lips and simulate fresh blood.

Spider Queen: Weave a stunning web with detailed black and white face paint, and cover your eyes with false lashes for a convincing Spider Queen look.

Gory Zombie: Have fun with prosthetic makeup and create realistic gashes and decaying skin.

Demon: Transform into an evil creature with the use of dramatic black and red makeup, along with some fake horns to complete the menacing look.

Pennywise Clown: It’s impossible to ignore the spine-chilling character of Stephen King’s ‘IT.’ Emulate Pennywise’s classic look with bold red and white makeup and a sinister wide smile.

Ghostly Bride: Combine beauty and horror with an eerie bridal look. Use pale makeup, darkened eyes, and tousled hair to achieve the ethereal ghostly bride appearance.

Crying Black Tears: Create a visually impactful yet simple design by painting thick black tears running down your cheeks, signaling despair but with a striking twist.

Half Skeleton: Create contrast by leaving one side of your face looking flawless and the other half revealing your inner skeletal structure.

Possessed Girl: Capture the look of being taken over by an evil force. Use dark circles around the eyes, smeared lipstick, and wild hair to give off that unsettling appearance.

Silent Hill Nurse: Recreate this recognizable character with a bloody face, dark openings for the eyes and mouth, and a vintage nurse cap.

Witch: Regardless of your choice between a classic green complexion or a more modern version, witches will always remain timeless as a scary makeup option. Finish off with a long, crooked nose prosthetic and pointy hat.

---

If you liked this blog article about the topic: “Top 15 Scary Makeup Looks”, don’t forget to leave us a comment down below to tell us about your experience.