Halloween is the one night of the year when you can truly let your creativity run wild. It’s not just about the costume; often, the makeup is what pulls the entire look together. Whether you’re going for a full-on glamorous witch, a terrifying vampire, or something a bit more subtle, your eyes are the perfect canvas to make a statement.
For many of us, Halloween makeup can feel intimidating. We see intricate face paintings on Instagram and assume we need professional skills to pull them off. But the truth is, you can achieve a show-stopping look just by focusing on your eye makeup. With a few key products—like a reliable black eyeliner, some bold eyeshadows, and dramatic lashes—you can transform your appearance without needing a full face of prosthetics.
This year, skip the expensive masks and let your eyes do the talking. We’ve curated ten spooky and stylish eye makeup ideas that range from classic and chic to dark and dramatic. Grab your brushes and get ready to create a look that is equal parts haunting and beautiful.
Classic Black Smokey Eyes
You can never go wrong with a classic black smokey eye. It is the foundation of countless Halloween looks, serving as the perfect base for a skeleton, a ghost, or simply a dark, mysterious figure. The key to a great smokey eye is blending. You want the black to be intense at the lash line and fade seamlessly into a dark gray or cool-toned brown as it moves toward the brow bone.
Start by applying a black cream base or gel liner all over the lid to ensure the powder shadow sticks and looks opaque. Pack a matte black eyeshadow on top, then use a fluffy blending brush to diffuse the edges. For a Halloween twist, drag the shadow lower under the bottom lash line than you normally would. This creates a more hollowed-out, skeletal appearance that looks effortlessly eerie.
Spider Web Eyeliner Design
If you want a look that is detailed but achievable, spider web liner is a fantastic option. This design adds an intricate, spooky element to your makeup without requiring you to paint your entire face. It works best paired with a sharp winged liner.
Begin by drawing a dramatic cat-eye with a liquid eyeliner that has a precise felt tip. Once your wing is in place, draw three or four straight lines extending outward from the corner of your eye, like the spokes of a wheel. Then, connect these lines with small, curved strokes to create the webbing effect. You can keep it delicate for a “spider queen” vibe or make the lines thicker for a more graphic, comic-book style. To add a bit of glam, stick a tiny rhinestone at the center of the web or at the intersections.
Glittery Gothic Glam
Who says Halloween can’t be sparkly? Gothic glam combines the dark aesthetic of Halloween with the high-shine finish of a party look. This style is perfect if you want to look festive but still feel pretty.
Start with a dark base—deep charcoal, midnight blue, or black work best. Once you have your shadow laid down, apply a glitter glue or mixing medium to the center of the lid. Pat on a chunky glitter in a contrasting shade, such as silver, emerald green, or holographic purple. The contrast between the matte dark edges and the sparkling center creates a mesmerizing, dimensional look. Finish with a heavy coat of mascara to ensure your lashes don’t get lost against the dark background.
Vampire-Inspired Red & Black Eyes
There is something undeniably striking about the combination of red and black. It instantly reads as “vampire” or “demon,” making it a go-to color palette for spooky season. The goal here is to look a little undead, but make it fashion.
Use a deep red or burgundy eyeshadow in your crease and blend it high up toward your brow. Then, deepen the outer corner and the lash line with black shadow. The most important step for this look is the lower lash line. Smudge a generous amount of red shadow underneath your eyes to create a sickly, bloodshot effect. If you want to take it a step further, use a red eyeliner in your waterline. It’s a small detail that makes the eyes look piercing and intense.
Witchy Green Smokey Eye
Witches are a Halloween staple, but you don’t need green face paint to channel your inner sorceress. A toxic green smokey eye is a modern, wearable nod to the Wicked Witch of the West.
Look for an eyeshadow palette with acid greens, mossy tones, and deep forest hues. Apply a bright, lime green to the inner corner and center of the lid for a pop of color. Then, use a dark forest green or black to smoke out the outer V. This gradient effect gives the eyes a glowing, magical quality. Pair this eye look with a dark purple or black lipstick, and you have a witchy aesthetic that looks sophisticated rather than costume-y.
Skull-Inspired Eye Makeup
Skull makeup is a Halloween classic, but doing a full face of bones can be time-consuming and difficult to get symmetrical. Instead, focus the skeletal details around the eyes. This creates a mask-like effect that is both creepy and cool.
Start by creating a very dark, rounded smokey eye—think “panda eyes” but purposeful. Use black shadow to circle the entire eye socket, following the natural hollows of your bone structure. Use a small detail brush and black face paint or liquid liner to draw small cracks and fissures radiating from the dark circles. You can also shade the inner corners of your eyebrows upward to mimic the angry brow bone of a skull. It’s a simplified version of a skull face that still packs a punch.
Cat-Eye with a Spooky Twist
We all know the standard cat costume: ears, a tail, and whiskers drawn on with eyeliner. But you can elevate this cliché by turning the “cat eye” into a literal interpretation. This look focuses on elongating the eye shape to look truly feline.
Extend your eyeliner into a very sharp, long point at the inner corner of the eye (the tear duct). This mimics the eye shape of a cat. Then, pull the outer wing out straight and long towards your temple. Use a white pencil in your waterline to open up the eye, and outline the bottom rim with black liner to connect the inner and outer points. The result is a fierce, predatory gaze that pairs perfectly with a sleek black outfit.
Dark Purple & Plum Glam
If black is too harsh and red is too gory, purple is your perfect middle ground. It evokes themes of magic, royalty, and mystery. Plus, purple eyeshadow is universally flattering, making brown, green, and blue eyes pop.
Build a gradient using lavender, plum, and eggplant shades. Keep the darkest purple focused on the outer corners and the lash line. To make it Halloween-appropriate, don’t be afraid to take the shadow quite high, almost touching the eyebrow. This dramatic shape gives a theatrical feel. For a final touch, add a bit of shimmer to the center of the lid. This look pairs beautifully with a Maleficent-inspired costume or a dark fairy ensemble.
Graphic Liner for Halloween
Graphic liner is a huge trend in the beauty world right now, and Halloween is the best time to experiment with it. This style uses sharp lines and geometric shapes to create an artistic, avant-garde look.
You could draw floating bat wings in your crease, creating a silhouette that is only visible when your eyes are open. Another option is to draw “stitches” across your eyelid or brow bone, giving the illusion of skin that has been sewn together. You need a steady hand and a high-quality liquid liner for this. If you make a mistake, don’t panic—just use a Q-tip dipped in micellar water to clean up the edges. The beauty of graphic liner is that it looks intentional and high-fashion.
Dramatic Lashes with Dark Shadow
Sometimes, the lashes are the costume. If you aren’t confident with eyeshadow blending or intricate liner work, false lashes can do the heavy lifting for you. There are countless fantasy lash options available during October, from feathers to rhinestones to spider-leg designs.
Create a simple wash of dark gray or black shadow over your lid to act as a background. Then, apply the biggest, most dramatic false lashes you can find. Look for pairs that are dense and spiky for a scary look, or long and fluttery for a glamorous vibe. You can even apply false lashes to your bottom lash line to create a wide-eyed, doll-like appearance that can look quite unsettling in the right context.
Final Words
Halloween is the ultimate excuse to step out of your comfort zone and play with makeup in a way you wouldn’t on a typical Tuesday. Whether you decide to weave a delicate spiderweb with your eyeliner or smudge out a grungy red smokey eye, the most important thing is to have fun with it.
Remember, makeup washes off. If your first attempt at a cut crease doesn’t look perfect, you can wipe it away and try again. Use these ten ideas as a starting point, mix and match elements, and create a look that is uniquely yours. With a little patience and a lot of blending, you’ll have a spooky, stylish look that turns heads all night long.
