27 Scary (Yet Pretty) Halloween Makeup Looks to Try This Year

Close up of a woman in skeleton Halloween makeup — Stocksy

Halloween is the one time a year when you can paint your face like a skeleton, vampire, or some other monster without garnering a second look. Even better, you can get super creative with your look so that it's more than just a scary face, featuring touches of pretty rhinestones or a fierce bold lip color that a nightmarish creature probably wouldn't wear.

For those who enjoy spooky season and are masters of the craft, the options for makeup looks are endless. From classic skeletons and vampires to dramatic ice queens and spaced-out aliens, Halloween makeup is the star of the show. If you're looking for ideas that balance gore and glam, check out these 27 scary (yet pretty) Halloween makeup looks to wear this year. And trust us, each one is an artistic masterpiece.

01 of 27

Glam Skeleton

Woman with skeleton bones makeup, brown eye socket shadow, lashes, and red lipstick — @_monicamakeup / Instagram

A glammed-up skeleton will undoubtedly catch your eye thanks to its artistic black-and-white design. The red lips and voluminous eyelashes give the right touch of glam to an otherwise frightful sight.

02 of 27

Ice Queen

As frigid as they come, this ice queen makeup look is certain to blow a chill through the room at any Halloween party. The contouring detail highlights the cold, unapproachable stare of ghost-like royalty.

03 of 27

Masked and Mysterious

Woman with realistic porcelain half-mask makeup look — @janellemyh / Instagram

Find out what's lurking behind this mysterious masked makeup look—the details show you can't always trust what meets the eye. While pretty on the outside, it raises the concern that what's underneath might be much spookier.

04 of 27

Red Riding Hood

Or should we say Dead Riding Hood? This post-wolf encounter look is glam-meets-gore in the best way. All you need is your favorite red lipstick and some fake wound prosthetics.

05 of 27

Masterful Eye-llusion

Woman with monocle optical illusion eye makeup with detailed eye on lens — Mimi Choi/@mimles / Instagram

Paired with a soft, delicate makeup look, the optical illusion of the hanging eye can cause some serious feelings of terror when looked at closely.

06 of 27

Rocker Chic Vampire

woman in blood dripping red vampire makeup and leather beret — @sarinanexie / Instagram

We love this unique interpretation of a vampire. It says rocker chic, but not afraid to slay. A red eyeshadow like NARS Single Eyeshadow ($19) in Fatale and a creamy black liner like the Kajal Longwear Eyeliner ($22) in Deep Black from Laura Geller will help you achieve this look. And don't forget your vampire teeth.

07 of 27

X-Ray Vision

Makeup artist wears half-full glam look with blue eyeshadow, half-X ray blue face paint — @sarinanexie / Instagram

X-rays have never been the most comforting of images, yet paired with a pretty and colorful abstract eye, you have the makings of a Halloween masterpiece that's both scary and sweet. The blue shading brings everything to life so perfectly, it looks almost too realistic.

08 of 27

Cat Woman

Turn up the volume on an otherwise standard black cat costume with some red bedazzling rhinestones and winged eyeliner. Not your typical cat eye, you'll be the one to decide when your claws will make their debut.

09 of 27

Fetching Feline

Woman with glamorous cat-inspired makeup look and ears headband — @ellie35x / Instagram

A feline look with just the right amount of highlighter gives this glam look a touch of fright, while whiskers and ornate gemstones bring it home. What really takes the cake are the cat eye contact lenses, though. Meow.

10 of 27

Mysterious Accents

Makeup artist wears purple eyeshadow, blush, and lipstick, long lashes, and white spider web over one eye — @kaddsta / Instagram

Take in the mysterious spider web around the eye finished with bright jewel tones of purple—this creation is pretty and daunting. It's a safe bet when wanting to wear something beautiful that fits within your comfort zone.

11 of 27

Spooky Skull

Woman with soft glam eye makeup, red lipstick, and half-skull outline makeup — @mollyiles_makeupartist / Instagram

Bones and all, this skull look is delicate yet determined to instill some fear. Paired with glamorous makeup on one side of the face, it gives the ultimate look of Halloween makeup that's pretty and scary all at once.

12 of 27

Divine Demon

Makeup artist with red body paint, eyeshadow, and lipstick, black facial hair lines, and face gems — @enrica_fox / Instagram

If the devil's in the details, this look is the definition of soulless, as this mischievous devil is adorned with jewels and perfectly red lips. The line-drawn mustache paired with glittery eyeshadow balances the overall look for a devious finish.

13 of 27

Venom

Digital creator Adedunmola gave us serious comic book vibes with this slime green venom look. The pop of green makes this look fun, but the blind white lens screams villain.

14 of 27

Broken Glass

A shattered mirror is said to bring upon the worst luck, and that might be true, but this makeup look seems to be hitting all the right angles. With carefully crafted sharp-edged details, this look is both terrifying and mesmerizing.

15 of 27

Heavy Metal Skull

Woman with metallic skull makeup look and heavy copper choker — @the_wigs_and_makeup_manager / Instagram

Metallic accents and sharp edges put a twist on classic Halloween glam. Art Deco and metals come together to elevate the concept of a creepy skeleton mask.

16 of 27

Cool Cat

Makeup artist with Catwoman-inspired mask design and red lipstick — @maritza_alis / Instagram

Agile, intelligent, and a talented swindler, Catwoman is the ideal image of scary-meets-beauty and strength. Paired with a smoky eye and creepy stitches, this look is the cat's meow for Halloween.

17 of 27

Black Widow

Woman with glam eye makeup, pink lipstick, and spider makeup design — @laratilley / Instagram

If a spider crawling across your arm makes you want to scream, this recreation of black widows crawling across a face will raise all the hairs on the back of your neck and then some.

18 of 27

Patchwork Bride

If you're not getting Tim Burton vibes from this look, you need to go watch The Nightmare Before Christmas for Sally the Ragdoll's sake. Artistic creator Sarina Nexie took this interpretation of what would happen if Frankenstein's monster left his bride at the altar.

19 of 27

Prickling Thorns

Model with copper eyeshadow, burgundy lipstick, and thorn decals around eyes — @face_lace / Instagram

While thorns might be tiny, all it takes is one prick to draw blood, and these sharp decals that adorn the eyes give off major untouchable vibes.

20 of 27

Slithering Snake

Woman with radiant skin, blush, and green snake eye makeup — @charbarker / Instagram

The simple flick of a snake's tongue is enough to send us running, yet this daintily painted snake is almost too pretty to strike fear. Accents of green eyeliner and full eyelashes make this an unforgettable look.

21 of 27

Entangled Web

Makeup artist with red contacts, smoky spider web eye makeup, and spider design on cheek — @ksasko_makeup / Instagram

The intricate design of the under-eye webs along with the perfectly placed spider crawling up her cheek gives off the right amount of detail for a perfectly skin crawling beauty look.

22 of 27

Jack-O-Lantern

Nothing signifies Halloween like the flickering flames in creepily carved jack-o'-lantern—the added detail of skin melting here adds a slight amount of gore, while the pumpkin spice colors on the eyes and face bring features to light.

23 of 27

Humanoid

With AI on the rise, we are constantly questioning what's real and what's bot-generated– sort of like this futuristic look. Grab a palette of some moody grays, blues, and purples, and get to work on making yourself a metal monster.

24 of 27

Smoky-Eyed Zombie

Makeup artist with red and black smoky eye makeup and blue lipstick — @nataschap / Instagram

Zombies can be absolutely terrifying, yet this dead-eyed, dark-circle beauty look adds all the right eeriness with a balance of beauty. The red and deep blue tones create something mesmerizing to look at, even if it's still a little scary.

25 of 27

Terrifying Tarantula

woman with furry tarantula makeup on her eye — @vivis_makeup / Instagram

If you look closely at this elevated tarantula look, you'll see furry details and a deep shadow give it a 3D quality, achieved by the expert use of white and black eyeliner. For more oomph, add a dramatic false lash to really enhance those spider vibes.

26 of 27

Creepy Clown

With some black and red face paint and your favorite black lipstick, this creepy clown look is easy to recreate. Take it a step further with red contacts and some splotches of blood on your décolletage.

27 of 27

Eyes on You

woman with blue hair and eyes makeup — @sarinanexie / Instagram

We're most frightened by the oversized black contact lenses, but the crying blue eyes all over the face is both emotionally stunning and visually creepy. If you have the patience to paint on each eye, more power to you. If not, temporary tattoos like these will work just fine.

27 Scary (Yet Pretty) Halloween Makeup Looks to Try This Year