By Michelle Vongphakdy on October 17, 2012 in
No Halloween costume is truly complete without face makeup. Luckily, it is very simple to transform your sweet self into a ghastly persona. We've gathered some tips from experts about how to pull off the look with relative ease.
- Become a self-trained makeup artist (almost). The internet allows you to bring a professional makeup artist to your house to train you, for free! YouTube is a great reference for how-to videos for almost any costume you can imagine. What's more: if you find a look that you like, you can create your shopping list based on the materials used in the video. Another great source is eHow.com.
- Buy the best quality makeup you can afford. Halloween makeup is available everywhere that costumes are sold, and generally comes in costume-specific kits that include everything you need. For the best results, consider using professional grade makeup from a theatrical supply store, such as Mehron.com. It costs a bit more but these stores usually have a greater selection of high-quality products. Mehron.com also offers costume-specific kits for Halloween.
- Use what's in your makeup bag. This may not work for all effects (like wounds, blood and scars) but for many costumes, a lot can be accomplished with basic eyeliner, eye shadow and lipstick. Not only can standard makeup be used over and over again for everyday use, it's gentler on the skin and more comfortable to wear.
- Use the right tools. Just like regular makeup, costume makeup goes on best with good tools. Special effects makeup artists use cosmetic brushes (although paint brushes work well too), sponges and cotton swabs to create the most realistic effects.
- Never use paint. As tempting as it may be to use paint, experts say to never do it. Paints are not made for skin and may contain toxins that can cause irritation.
- Test for allergies. A couple of days before using the makeup -- assuming it's something you haven't used before -- test it on an inconspicuous area to make sure that it doesn't cause any reactions. There's nothing like puffy, irritated eyes and a case of the hives to spoil your fun plans.
- Practice, practice, practice. Practice applying your makeup one or two times before the big night to ensure you are comfortable with the techniques. This is especially important if you are doing something very intricate detail work.
- Set with powder. Brush some translucent face powder over your finished makeup in order to keep it from smearing and rubbing off on clothes or other objects.
Your tricked out face is sure to score you (and your little ones) many treats. Enjoy your Halloween!
