The best thing about Halloween face paint is that it can function as a costume on its own but also part of a stellar (or, for the underachievers, passable) costume. Now that Halloween is just around the corner, it's time to get those creative juices flowing. We've compiled 46 Halloween makeup ideas that are so good, you'll be running to the pro makeup store for brushes. And don't worry if your painting skills aren't up to par with the likes of Vincent Van Gogh or Leonardo da Vinci. There are myriad ways to interpret these looks and make them your own.

Some looks may require more time and practice than others, but there are plenty of makeup looks here that truly anyone can achieve. If you're comfortable safely celebrating the holiday (if Covid-19 cases are up in your area, always take proper precautions and safety measures), you're probably gonna want to go all out.

Ahead, Halloween face paint ideas that will bring out the artist you never realized was inside you. When you're done, make this spooky season really count by also checking out these Halloween hairstyles and Halloween nail ideas to bring your look together.

1. Two Kinds of Moods

Courtesy of Instagram/@pooja_sambare

If you're "Hot N Cold" like Katy Perry, consider taking some inspiration from makeup artist Pooja Sambare, who painted an elaborate outline of a skull to represent two different moods: "cool and collected" versus  a "sunny disposition." Grab your favorite set of face paints and eye shadow palettes to create this look. Of course, an eclectic roster of makeup brushes and lots of patience are also required to get all these details right. 

2. Harley Quinn

Courtesy of Instagram/@kaciscarlettbeauty

This DC Comics character has become a Halloween costume staple, but don't let that discourage you from dressing up as her. U.K.-based makeup artist Kaci Scarlett makes this look worth a try, especially since she executed it without Harley's signature ghost-white face paint. It's as simple as recreating the character's tattoos, eye shadow, and bold red lip. If you're a beauty buff, chances are you already have the tools in your makeup stash to do this look at home. 

3. Cruella De Vil

Courtesy of Instagram/@tina_topic

Cruella De Vil, the infamous villain from 101 Dalmations, has been in the limelight quite a bit this year. Disney gave her her own origin story film, Cruella, and MAC came out with a makeup collection in honor of the new movie. Perhaps Chicago-based makeup artist Tina Nezic's full-on Cruella ensemble can persuade you that dressing up like the villain should be your Halloween move. I mean, come on, look at that green eyeshadow and red lip. Fabulous, right? Pay homage to MAC by topping off this look with the brand's iconic Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo.

4. Scary Snow White

Courtesy of Instagram/@kyahevenmua

5. The Ghost of Christmas Present

Courtesy of Instagram/@artbybmazz

6. "Planet Her" Alien

Courtesy of Instagram/@rowisingh

Based on the number of "Planet Her" (an album by Doja Cat) aliens that appear on our Instagram feeds these days, it seems that makeup artists the world over are ready to leave Earth and start anew on another planet. Take us with you! 

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Until that happens, let Doja's extraterrestrial makeup from her "Need To Know" music video serve as a little Halloween inspiration. Makeup artist Rowi Singh's rendition of the look is seriously out of this world. The red-tinted eyebrows and the thin tail of her winged eyeliner seem so otherworldly, you'd think she teleported down from a UFO. 

7. PennyJuice

Courtesy of Instagram/@bayleemadisonmakeup

We love a portmanteau! Especially in costume form. Makeup artist Baylee Madison's Pennywise meets Beetlejuice look proves that it's entirely possible to combine the features of two different characters to create one unique look. It appears that some intense detail was involved in painting all the teeth on this face, not to mention the black-and-white lines that snake above and below each of the eyes. 

8. The Red Queen

Courtesy of Instagram/@ellycatt

Helena Bonham Carter's look for the Red Queen in the 2010 film, Alice in Wonderland, can apparently be done beyond the hair and makeup trailer on a movie set. Minnesota-based makeup artist Elly Supalo is pretty much a dead-ringer for Carter, even down to the blue eye shadow. Supalo absolutely nailed the character here. 

9. Scarecrow

Courtesy of Instagram/@addybeauty

Makeup Artist Addy Sanchez tells Allure she was looking for a simple but effective Halloween look to do, and she settled on this scarecrow. "I did [it] out of the blue. I just let my imagination run wild," she says. "I [wanted] to do a look that could be easy to recreate, and, most importantly, to fit any age range using just basic makeup." 

10. Rainbow Cheetah

Courtesy of Instagram/@makeup_toyz

Spotted: Another easily executed Halloween face paint look. "This was inspired by the leopard print dress I was wearing that day," Atlanta-based makeup artist La Toya tells Allure. "I also wanted to find ways to incorporate my freshly-shaved head, so I knew I had to make it extra."

You can certainly recreate this look on your own with some bright neon face paints and eye shadows in all the colors of the rainbow. You can even take it up another notch by adding a little glitter on a few of the spots.

11. Bikini Bottom

Courtesy of Instagram/@brushedbyirene

A SpongeBob Squarepants costume will always be dope, but we love how makeup artist Irene Clarencia painted visions of the cartoon character's home, Bikini Bottom, onto her face. And just to make sure everyone gets the reference, she added the one and only pineapple under the sea to the look.

12. Classic Alien

Courtesy of Instagram/@chayeimodel

13. Avatar: The Last Airbender

Courtesy of Instagram/@issheblackorazn

14. Doe, a Deer

Courtesy of Instagram/@paintedmina

One thing's for sure about London-based makeup artist Mina Shireen's deer look: Recreating it is going to require some serious contouring and blending skills. Luckily, several of the products she used to create the look, such as Benefit's Hoola Bronzer in Caramel and Huda Beauty's Overachiever Concealer in Granola, are not too hard to come by on store shelves. 

15. Frankenstein

Courtesy of Instagram/@cheyennemonaress

Ahh, yes, another Halloween classic: Frankenstein. Makeup artist Cheyenne Monares recreated the look after seeing Instagram user @spookylilpeach post this interpretation of the green monster. Before diving headfirst into this freaky-deaky beat, make sure you have lots and lots of green face paint on hand and a powder — like BareMinerals' Mineral Veil Finishing Powder — to lock the look in place.