Halloween is just around the corner!!
And if you REALLY want to impress with your costume this year, face paint is a fun and effective way to get into character.
We’ve decided to round up four fierce celebrity-inspired makeup looks and teach you how to create each of them yourselves with inexpensive tools and cosmetics!
So if you wanna look like Jennifer Lawrence‘s Mystique from X-Men, Johnny Depp‘s Edward Scissorhands, Kim Kardashian‘s Catwoman, or Hilary Duff‘s version of a Dia de los Muertos skull, go ahead and follow the instructions (below)!
First, let’s tackle Mystique!
While this blue, scaly look appears to be complicated, it’s actually not! As long as you have a steady hand and the ability to resist touching/rubbing/itching your face all night, this face paint can be a total show-stopper without too much of a hassle.
Here are the materials you would need:
1. Temporary Hair Color Spray in Red, $2.99 — Buy it HERE!
2. Cream Makeup in Blue, $1.99 — Buy it HERE!
3. OPTIONAL: Mystique X-Men Movie Contacts, $27.95 — Buy it HERE!
4. Flesh Latex, $4.99 — Buy it HERE!
5. Navy Blue Face Paint Pod, $2.01 — Buy it HERE!
First, you need to create elevated Mystique-esque scales on your face. You can do this using a small brush and some Flesh Latex (4); just paint on the latex and mimic Mystique’s scale pattern as closely as possible on your forehead and cheeks.
Once the latex is dry, use a large brush or sponge to dab on some of the Blue Cream Makeup (2). Make sure to evenly cover your entire face, including your lips and eyelids!
Then, to make your scales stand out more, use a small brush to paint dark blue or navy blue face paint (5) on top of the scales.
Finish up the look with a heavy dose of temporary red hair color spray (1)! Or if you’re more of a wig person, you can invest in a fiery red wig.
Finally, if you REALLY want to take things to the next level (and if you’re comfortable with sticking things in your eyes) you can wear some yellow contact lenses (3) to complete the look!
Next, Edward Scissorhands:
Once again, this stand-out look can be yours in a few simple steps.
Here are the products you would need:
1. Temporary Hair Color Spray in Black, $2.99 — Buy it HERE!
2. Flesh Latex, $4.99 — Buy it HERE!
3. White & Maroon Face Paint $1.39 — Buy it HERE!
Edward Scissorhands also requires some texture! You can easily attain a scarred-up look like his with Flesh Latex (2).
Using a small brush, paint lines of latex on your face where Edward’s scars are. If you want your scars to be especially raised, wait for the first layer of latex to dry before applying another layer on top.
After your latex dries, use a sponge to dab a light layer of white face paint (3) on your entire face. Don’t apply too much of the white — you want to look like a pale human, not a skeleton! The only place the white should be applied heavily is on top of your eyebrows if you have darker brows.
Next, lightly apply some of the maroon face paint (3) on and around your eyelids. Note that the shading around Edward’s eyes actually forms the shape of a triangle sitting on top of a semi-circle, so try to mimic that as best as you can! Once again, the key is to not apply too much. You can alternatively use a maroon eyeshadow instead!
Now onto the lips! Edward’s lips are painted to look small, and they’re simply a darker shade of the rings around his eyes. Use the same maroon face paint to fill in the central area of your lips, and you can even create a dramatic Cupid’s bow like the one Edward has.
Finalize the look with tousled tresses and some black hair color spray (1) or a wig if you prefer.
Now for Kim Kardashian’s version of Catwoman:
As you can see, Kim is wearing a physical mask here rather than face paint. But masks can be restricting and uncomfortable, especially if you want to rock one as tight as the one Kimmy has! You can easily create a skin-tight mask look with some inexpensive face paint.
Here’s what you would need:
1. Cream Makeup in Black, $1.99 — Buy it HERE!
2. Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner Pencil in Black, $4.99 — Buy it HERE!
3. Red Lipstick, $1.99 — Buy it HERE!
4. Vampire Fangs With Case, $5.95 — Buy it HERE!
5. L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara, $6.97 — Buy it HERE!
6. White Face Paint, $1.49 — Buy it HERE!
First, do your eyeliner (2) and mascara (5). Get those steps out of the way before your mask is painted on to reduce the risk of smudging your face paint!
As you can see, Kim is rocking a pretty intense cat eye look to go with her Catwoman theme. Mimic her eyeliner by drawing a thick, swooping, extended line across your top eyelid. Heavily line your lower lids as well, then coat your upper and lower lashes with mascara!
Once you’re satisfied with your eyes, trace the outline of your mask with the black eyeliner (2). You’ll need to draw a line to define the bottom of the mask along your cheeks and nose as well as a circular shape around each eye.
Next, fill in the outline you traced with the Black Cream Makeup (1). Try to keep the outside edges as clean as possible, but don’t worry too much if you go a little outside the lines! You can always clean up your edges with a Q-tip later.
If you’re satisfied with the mask being just black, then leave it! But if you also want those white stitches Kim’s mask has, carefully remove little lines of black face paint with a Q-tip before filling them in with white face paint (6).
Once your mask is complete, add some fun fangs (4) to enhance your felinity! These fangs actually mold to your own teeth, making them realistic and relatively comfortable.
Last but not least, apply some bright red lipstick (3). Snap in a few cat ear hair clips or wear a cat ear headband to complete the transformation!
Finally, Hilary Duff’s Dia de los Muertos face paint:
This look is probably the most detailed of the ones we’ve chosen. It also requires a steady hand and a little bit of artistic ability!
But if calaveras makeup is your desire, here are the items you would need:
1. NYX Fabulous Eye Lashes Kit, $3.99 — Buy it HERE!
2. Multi-Color Face Paint Set, $3.99 — Buy it HERE!
3. Cream Makeup in White, $1.99 — Buy it HERE!
4. L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara, $6.97 — Buy it HERE!
5. Gold Body Glitter Gel, $7.49 — Buy it HERE!
Start by applying a thorough layer of the White Cream Makeup (3) to your face with a brush or sponge. You don’t have to cover your eyelids, but definitely cover your lips and eyebrows.
Next, fill in your eye region with ovals of black face paint (2). Use the same face paint to paint a teardrop shape onto your nose.
Then, using a very small brush, use the black face paint to carefully draw vertical tooth lines across your lips. Also draw some curlicue lines on your cheeks and forehead, and outline an upside down heart on your chin as well as little droplets near your eyes. Liquid eyeliner would also be effective for this step.
After that, fill in the upside down heart with red face paint (2) and fill in the little droplets with blue face paint (2).
Draw on some glittery designs above your faux eye sockets with the Gold Glitter Gel (5), the complete the look with some false lashes like Hilary’s (1). Blend the fake lashes with your real lashes with some mascara (4).
Add some big ‘ol fake flowers to your hair for the full effect!
[Image via Twentieth Century Fox/AKM-GSI.]
