47 Halloween Face Paint Ideas So Good, You Might Even Skip the Costume

This new take on witch makeup really brings the drama. Details to note: Draw thick black lines from the corner of the each eye up across the brow; orangey-red shadow on the upper and lower lids, framed with dark purple; the yellow teeth! (Don't forget to apply makeup to all exposed skin, like hands, neck, and chest.)

SHOP YELLOW TOOTH PAINT

A simple painted on mask and an all black outfit makes for a low-life bat girl costume. Sprinkle on green glitter powder for some extra shimmer.

SHOP GLITTER POWDER

Happy clowns only, please! Go bright, bold, and colorful with a rainbow wig and makeup. Pick a different color to highlight each facial area. Here, orange circles for cheeks, yellow for eyebrows, blue around the mouth and chin, and a red dot for the nose. Trace as you wish with black pencil so features really pop.

SHOP RAINBOW MAKEUP SET

Crazy hair, plain clothes, some black and white makeup magic, and an oversize faux axe are all you need for a unique zombie Halloween look. Start with a base of white, then carefully apply black as shown, doing your best not to let them run together.

SHOP BLACK AND WHITE MAKEUP

We've all seen spiderwebs drawn around the eyes for Halloween, but here's what takes this look to the next-level: a light colorful powder base around the eyes and stick-in face gems on the "webs." Stick-on rhinestones come in all hues so you can tailor your color scheme to your overall look.

SHOP FACE GEMS

For frightening Frankenstein face paint, start with a base of dark green. Trace around eyes, mouth, and lips with black makeup and blend into the green. The finishing touch here is a hand-drawn scar across the forehead, or try temporary tattoos that mimic stitches.

SHOP STITCHES TATTOOS

Maybe it's the black eyes, the blood-red lips, that creepy gray wig, or the all-together combo that puts a chill down your spine! Graphic highlights of white and dark green on the eyebrows, cheeks, and chin bring a sort of modern flair to standard witch makeup.

SHOP GRAY WIGS

If this isn't the cutest little tiger we've ever seen! Three colors—orange, white, and black—make up this friendly, easier-than-it-looks face paint idea for kids. We suggest using face paint crayons for the white and black.

SHOP FACE PAINT CRAYONS

Magical sugar skull designs, most widely seen during Day of the Dead celebrations, symbolize life and death all at once. Meticulous details, especially around the eyes (as seen here), leave room for lots of creativity. This design is limited to black and white makeup, while more elaborate examples incorporate many colors.

SHOP FACE PAINT CRAYONS

The trick to this flawless underwater pattern is to hold fishnet stockings to your face and apply your makeup on top.

Get the tutorial at SheKnows.

SHOP MERMAID SCALE STENCILS

This not-so-good-witch look can work for all ages. An exaggerated smoky eye, dark lipstick, and a drawn-on spider under one eye takes a basic witch costume to the next (spooky) level.

SHOP BLACK LIPSTICK

It doesn't take much to pull off this kid-friendly vampire look. Create dark circles under the eyes by blending a little black makeup with pink or purple on top of a white base. Draw fangs with black eyeliner or face paint crayons and fill in with white.

SHOP FACE PAINT CRAYONS

Girls of all ages can take a kitty-cat makeup look from sweet to sassy. This design is somewhere in between, with its heart-shaped nose and black kitty-ear headband.

SHOP FACE PAINT CRAYONS

Scary monster or friendly monster? Take your pick! Trade in the swirly pattern here for straight edges for a more severe, scary appearance. A black eyeliner pencil would come in super handy for this look.

SHOP FACE PAINT CRAYONS

We love it when dads (and dudes in general!) get in on the Halloween face paint action. Paired with an orange shirt from the closet, this tiger face paint idea is just plain fierce.

SHOP FACE PAINT CRAYONS

Perfect for kids' parties or a night of trick-or-treating, this adorable Snapchat filter-inspired puppy makeup only requires a little black-and-white paint. Make it even easier to recreate by using face paint crayons instead.

Get the tutorial at Twist Me Pretty.

This pirate face paint may look super professional, but it's not as hard as it looks. Just follow the step-by-step instructions.

Get the tutorial at Atop Serenity Hill.

If you own black eyeliner, you're halfway there to recreate this bat-tastic look. It all starts with dramatic cat-eye makeup.

Get the tutorial at Marie Claire.