Photo: tipoyock / Flickr

Halloween is all about dark, ghoulish themes, and we ladies have the added advantage of having the right make-up for recreating the mood. Dark mascaras, blood red lipstick spotches, inappropriately applied foundation and ghostly white puff are just some ideas that should be running through your mind right now. If not, don’t stress, we’ll walk you through some of the better, more timeless secrets to getting that perfect Halloween look using just your make-up.

It’s in the eye shadow and mascara

Horror movies are always dark, with a liberal sprinkling of black textures and black colours. As such, the key Halloween make-up tools are mascara, eye shadow, and eyeliner. Basically, all those emo kids you see running around are ‘pop-ifications’ of what 31 October make-up is all about. Go for deep set eyes, with deep shadows all around and plenty mascara and eye shadow to give you that rough, almost intimidating edge. Or you can even go for a gentler, soft style. With the right mascara and shadow, you can pull off most any look.

Lipstick doesn’t necessarily belong on your lips

Red is the colour of blood, and as such, works particularly well during the bewitching hour of the bewitched day. But, when in a panic, or a struggle, what tends to happen to your make-up? It gets smudged or applied haphazardly. This is a super simple Halloween make-up tip anybody can do: take your lipstick, and apply to your lips and as well as the area around them. You can simulate smudging, accidental streaks from a sudden fright, or whatever else you want to. It’s all about how creative you want to be.

Ghost make-up for a frightful hoorah

And when in doubt about Halloween make-up that requires you look rundown and messy like, well, most any of the undead would look, you can go for a more sophisticated, timeless look. The pale, ghost face never failed anybody, did it? Especially not when you add a touch of class to it. This tutorial will show you to create that effect.

The point is Halloween is a time to let your hair down and relax! Dressing down and dirty is dressing up on this day, and it’s worth taking full advantage of it.

Tags: halloween, Halloween 2010