These Halloween Face Paint Ideas Are So Good, You Might Even Skip the Costume

Halloween is all about the costumes (well, and trick-or-treating for the best Halloween candy). And even though we are all in on going all out with DIY Halloween costumes for guys, DIY Halloween costumes for women, and best Halloween costumes for kids, sometimes we just don’t have the time or energy to pull off a full-on, elaborate getup. Enter face paint, that can transform your entire look while barely spending any money on a costume (maybe even none at all). In fact, face paint may just be the Halloween hero we’ve all been waiting for!

Magical sugar skull designs, most widely seen during Day of the Dead celebrations, symbolize life and death all at once. Meticulous details, especially around the eyes (as seen here), leave room for lots of creativity. This design is limited to black and white makeup, while more elaborate examples incorporate many colors.

It doesn't take much to pull off this kid-friendly vampire look. Create dark circles under the eyes by blending a little black makeup with pink or purple on top of a white base. Draw fangs with black eyeliner or face paint crayons and fill in with white.

We love it when dads (and dudes in general!) get in on the Halloween face paint action. Paired with an orange shirt from the closet, this tiger face paint idea is just plain fierce.

Perfect for kids' parties or a night of trick-or-treating, this adorable Snapchat filter-inspired puppy makeup only requires a little black-and-white paint. Make it even easier to recreate by using face paint crayons instead.

Get the tutorial at Twist Me Pretty.

Is it even Halloween without a scary witch at the party? Channel your inner witchy side with this classic (and oh-so-frightening) witch makeup. Top it off with a pointy black witch hat.

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This pirate face paint may look super professional, but it's not as hard as it looks. Just follow the step-by-step instructions.

Get the tutorial at Atop Serenity Hill.

Halloween is more magical with unicorns. Little ones will love to top off the look with a unicorn horn headband that they can (and will!) wear all year long.

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If you own black eyeliner, you're halfway there to recreate this bat-tastic look. It all starts with dramatic cat-eye makeup.

Get the tutorial at Marie Claire.

Animals are a favorite pick for Halloween face-painting, and pandas are a particularly popular for their sweet, two-tone face.

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Need a last-minute Halloween costume? You can create this spooky spider-inspired look in less than 20 minutes. Throw on an all-black outfit that you already have, and you're done!

Get the tutorial at Cosmopolitan UK.

Whether your child wears this face paint with a dinosaur costume or rocks it all on its own, we have a feeling he or she will love this fun, prehistoric look.

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This Halloween, channel your inner rock star, inspired by the one and only David Bowie.

Get the tutorial at Camille Styles.

Create a not-so-scary scarecrow using simple shapes and a colorful palette.

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Simply cut up an old makeup sponge and dip it into brown face paint to get perfect giraffe spots. A pair of small loose top knots mimic giraffe horns.

Get the tutorial at Cosmopolitan.

Become a mime in just a few steps by following this tutorial. It's an instantly recognizable look that's not short on drama, creativity, or flair.

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Rhinestones in various sizes make this ferocious look sparkle and shine.

Get the tutorial at Good Housekeeping.

She will feel like a princess with fancy swirls framing her face, and a sparkling tiara is a must. This design would be a beautiful complement to a fairy or princess costume.

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Don't have a face-paint kit at home? Opt for some black eyeliner and orange lipstick to transform into a cute scarecrow.

Get the tutorial at Cosmopolitan.

Skull face paint has become a classic Halloween look over the last few years, and it's easy to see why. This half skull design leaves your eyes and the upper portion of your face untouched for a creepily fun mix. Apply smoky eye makeup for even more drama.

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A little flick of the wrist is the key to nailing these painted whiskers.

Get the tutorial at Today's Parent.

This face paint look gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "day-to-night." Beginners might want to schedule a practice session before the big night.

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No happy jack-o-lanterns here. Try a black hoody with this two-toned take on a Halloween classic.

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Throw on a crazy wig and some dramatic makeup, and consider this bold clown look done.

Get the tutorial at Brit.co.

The trick to this flawless underwater look is to hold fishnet stockings to your face and apply your makeup on top.

Get the tutorial at SheKnows.

This tutorial features not one, but three (pretty creepy!) looks in one.

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Use brown eyeliner to customize this sweet puppy dog look.

Get the tutorial at Twist Me Pretty.

This rainbow fish-inspired masterpiece is perfect for anyone who loved the classic kids' book.

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Pair this face design with a lion's mane and tail set and consider your kid's costume done.

Get the tutorial at Today's Parent.

Pro tip: Use a sponge (instead of a paint brush) to create the softer, lighter effect for this foxy look. Smoky eye makeup makes for an extra sly mood.

Get the tutorial at Wonder Forest.

This easy butterfly tutorial requires just a few colors—and it can even be done at the last minute.

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Paired with a big polka dot bow, those red lips and black nose are iconically Minnie. Add white highlights for a cartoon-ish look.

Get the tutorial at Now That's Peachy.

Give your face some dimension and make this doe-eyed look really pop by adding bronzer to your cheekbones. And it's easy to add a deer headband for a finishing touch.

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A little orange eyeshadow and black liquid liner can go a long way. Add some mascara to make this look really take flight.

Get the tutorial at Style by Cat.

Perfect for best friends or mother-daughter duos, these quintessential Frozen styles might take a little more time to pull off but are totally worth the effort.

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Channel the iconic '50s pop art pieces made famous by Roy Lichtenstein with this playful look.

Get the tutorial at Brit.co.