You probably haven’t started thinking about your Halloween look, but you may already be assuming the easy options of cat or vampire, which require no more than a liquid liner or a little fake blood.
This year however, there are some viral looks from cinematic references to snatched skeletons that are perfect – and just as easy – for your 2025 Halloween make-up.
Celebrity make-up artists share their top picks of the trending looks to try this year.
Wednesday’s gothic glamour
Pop culture has a way of steering our costumes – just remember the Barbie-mania of 2023.
“Matte skin, sharply defined eyeliner, dark berry or brown gothic lips and sculpted cheekbones contribute to that moody aesthetic,” says Cosmetify’s head of beauty Franchesca Villar.
Celebrity make-up artist Bryony Blake also thinks this season will lean into old-school horror. “I think the Wednesday Addams’ make-up look is one of my favourites to recreate at home,” she says.
By Terry Hyaluronic Pressed Hydra-Powder 8HA, £42, Look Fantastic
Wicked witch
Few looks are as versatile as the witch – but it needn’t be boring.
“Witchy glam is super-easy to do at home all you need is some black shadow, an eyeliner, red or berry lips and a bit of sparkle,” says celebrity make-up artist Mira Parmar.
Kay Beauty EyeKanvas Eyeshadow Palette, £15, Space NK
Coquette clown
Not all of 2025’s trends are inspired by the big screen. The bows, frills and ‘coquette-core’ of TikTok are also influencing our Halloween looks.
The ‘coquette clown’ is set to be the cool new take on the classic spooky clown this year. “The pastel-spooky aesthetic, sometimes called ‘pinkween’, still going strong,” says Villar. “Pink and candy-coloured decor is feeding into make-up trends.
To create the ‘coquette clown’, Boots’ senior beauty specialist Leanna Elisha Feryn says to “start by finding a flattering pink blush shade, in either a powder or liquid format, and build your look around that.
“Apply a flush across the bridge of your nose and cheeks, then blend up to your temples.
Tatti Lashes Lash of Honour Eye Lash, £7.95, Boots
Shimmering skeleton
Metallics have also been spotted all over fashion week runways this season – from Roberto Cavalli’s ‘Gilded Age’ show to Louis Vuitton’s dazzling front row.
It’s unsurprising then that the trending Halloween looks have taken inspiration – and this year, it’s the skeleton.
For the base of the look, focus on shading in stages.“Follow the lines of your cheekbones, temples and jawline to create the hollows, and mark just like you would a contour,” advises Feryn.“Don’t rush it; take less onto the brush and it’ll be easier to blend out. Always opt for a cool-toned contour for definition and depth. To make sure the look is a bit cooler and more elevated, avoid the white paint – it’s giving fancy dress!
To finish the look, face gems are an easy way to elevate the whole look. Parmar says to opt for “futuristic metallics and pearlescent colours”.
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Iconic London Sculpt & Enhance Powder Contour Palette, £19.60 (was £28)
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Sugar Skull Face Jewels by Moon Terror, £6.99, Amazon