It’s the night of nights for zombies, vampires and sugar skulls – the one night of the year where “too much” eye makeup doesn’t exist and blood red lips are an understatement. Halloween is dawning; do you have your costume sorted?
We bring you a Guide to Gore, with some DIY shortcuts to transform your face into whatever creepy creature takes your fancy. But if you want some professional help, we have that too!
The DIY Guide:
Ghostly complexion
Use a blusher brush to dust plain white flour onto your face; move the brush in circular motions and continue to layer. Watch your complexion transform into that ghostly, “just-risen-from-the-grave” hue.
Weeping wounds
Who knew raspberry jam can be more than a tasty condiment? Mix some chunky raspberry jam with some cooking glycerine to make your painted-on wounds weep.
Rotting teeth and burns
Vegemite smeared on the gums and teeth makes for a gruesome smile – if you can handle the taste. Otherwise, apply some on fake wounds to replicate congealed blood.
Fake blood
Mix corn flour, water and red food colouring for some blood splatter action.
Warts and boils
Use peppercorns covered in peanut butter to create grisly witch-like warts and boils. Eyelash glue is the perfect adhesive to help them stick to your face and neck.
Veins
Use blue eyeliner to draw a web of veins on your white “translucent” complexion. Start from under the jawline and expand onto your cheeks, heading into your hairline.
Hollowed eyes
Use black or maroon eye shadow to hollow out your eye socket. Use it as a normal eye shadow (albeit a bit heavier!) and then extend to under the eye – where you would usually put concealer. Keep it darker in the corners, and “fade out” for effect.
Tie all this together with blood red lipstick to complete the deadly theme!
Scare ’em like a pro!
Maria Yousif’s guide to the iconic Suicide Squad Joker look is to die for!
To achieve her look, Maria has replicated The Joker’s smudged red lipstick, green eyebrows and facial scars.
Some of our other faves:
L’Oreal True Match Liquid Foundation – 43 Shades | RRP $30
Depending on the look you’re going for, the first step in creating the appearance that you are, ahem, dead, is to dull down your skin. The simplest way to do this is by using a foundation or concealer that is three to four shades lighter than your skin tone. For those with fair to medium skin tones, find a foundation or concealer that also has the opposite undertone to your skin.
Ciaté London Christine Quinn Colour Flip Lip Cream – Ca$h Fetish | RRP $27
Ciaté London has recently collaborated with Selling Sunset star, Christine Quinn to unleash some of the best transforming cosmetics. This colour flipping, soft, matte lip cream will spook them all when your body temperature controls the colour to turn your lips from light to dark red. Lightweight and transfer proof, this is the ultimate lip product to party all night in.
Morphe Mega Matte Lipstick – Twisted | RRP $15
Release your inner goth. Morphe Mega Matte Bold in this Twisted colour knows how to werk Halloween. Your pout will love the amazing formula and full coverage you get with every swipe. Surely you can use it more than one night a year?
Sephora Collection Sephora Collection Colorful Eyeshadow Mono – Black Lace | RRP $14
Black Lace is a bold matte black that is buildable and easy to blend, you’ll fall in love with this intensely pigmented shade. If you’re going for a witchy vibe or sultry vampire, you’ll achieve it with this shade.
Now get in the mood! Happy Halloween!
Glasshouse Fragrances Trick or Treat 380g Candle | RRP $54.95
This much loved pumpkin pie candle is the perfect scent to set the mood for all things Halloween. Full of notes of sweet cinnamon, vanilla, clove and pumpkin, this candle is housed in a smoky black vessel for the ultimate spooky flicker. If Halloween had a scent this would be it.