I don’t want to spend a fortune on face paint for Halloween. What can I use from my existing makeup collection?
Daniella J. emailed us at expert@sweetspot.ca, and MAKEUP FOREVER's Jacquie Jeffreys answered:
The most intricate Halloween designs come from your imagination — not from pricey face-painting kits. Using the following items from your makeup bag, you can easily create the most popular Halloween looks.
Foundation: Use an old pale shade to create dead-looking skin, top with baby powder to complete the effect.
Concealer: Use concealer to block out parts of the lips to create a new shape, like bow lips for a '20s flapper look. Concealer can also be used to block out brows. Set with powder.
Loose or pressed powder: Use to set foundation, concealer or lipstick that's being used as body paint.
Eyeshadow: Use black to smoke out an eyelid; brown to contour the face; grey to contour the face in a deadly way; plums to deepen the pocket under the eye for a tired effect; and purples and pinks to create bruising. Use any desired shade mixed with water to create body paint. When dry, use the same shadow to add definition and contouring.
Eye pencil: Use black to line eyes and smudge with a cotton tip for a smoky effect, to fill in brows, to create black lipstick and to draw designs like fangs, bite marks, beards, mustaches, whiskers, beaks, webs and spiders. A brown pencil can be used to simulate aging: follow the natural expression lines and blend. Lightly follow your natural veins with a grey pencil to create a very old vampire look. A white pencil can be used to highlight and add depth.
Liquid liner: Use for any intricate designs that require a finer edge, like Cleopatra eyes, swirls and tattoos. Tattoos can be tricky. Try printing a template and spreading black shadow on the back. Place lightly on the desired area and trace over the design using a stick. Remove the template and the design should be left behind. You can then follow the design using the liquid liner. Waterproof liner is ideal as it will not transfer or melt away.
Mascara: Use extra coats of very black mascara on smoky eyes. Hold the brush sideways to create beards, mustaches and werewolf hair.
Glitter: A must for fairies! Apply all your makeup except mascara. Using a brush, paint clear eye gel or Vaseline onto the desired area, then pat the glitter on top. Use a latex sponge to wipe away excess. Only cosmetic-grade glitter should be used near the eyes.
Faux lashes: Trim lashes to fit your eyes. Line the eyes with a black pencil or liquid liner. Apply mascara. Apply lash glue to the strip, adding a little extra on the corners. Lay lashes down at the lash line, starting at the outside corner. Apply mascara to blend natural lashes into faux. For added drama, glue extra lashes to the lower lash line or into the crease.
Lipstick and lip pencils: Use for adding blood and bruising detail. Use red lipstick to smear blood from fangs or bite marks, and use burgundy to add depth to the inside of a wound. Lipstick is also an alternative to body paint if you have the desired shades, like red for a devil. Apply a thin layer all over, blending with a sponge. Use a deeper red or burgundy shade to add in contours, and set with a translucent powder.
Jacquie Jeffreys has been working with MAKE UP FOR EVER for the last 11 years. From retail makeup artist to regional manager, Jacquie enjoys working with some of the world’s most creative makeup products, which allows her to mix business with artistic pleasure. If you are in need of new makeup, try the MAKE UP FOR EVER Make up Trick and Treats Set. Face charts, instructions and tips and tricks included. Exclusively at Sephora.
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