4 Last Minute Halloween Makeup Looks 2023

Let’s cut right to the chase: you don’t have a costume and I have solutions. These low effort, last minute Halloween makeup looks are inspired by this year’s pop culture moments and trends.

Look #1: Barbie

Of course she made our list. The summer movie painted the world pink and became top of mind for everyone. Don this doll-inspired look with an all pink get up. If you have a cowgirl hat, even better.

What You’ll Need:

• Pink champagne eye shadow
• Black eyeliner
• Fluttery false lashes
• Candy pink lip gloss

Swipe a creamy, pink champagne color, like Charlotte Tilbury’s Jewel Pots in Pillow Talk onto your lids. Add a flick of black winged liner, preferably Velour Beauty’s Lash & Go Eyeliner since it doubles as lash glue. Pop on a set of vegan false lashes, like the Clouded set from Auric Cosmetics. Finish off with Charlotte Tilbury’s non-sticky Lip Lustre formula in Candy Darling to drench your lips in cotton candy pink gloss.

Look #2: Mermaid

“Mermaidcore” definitely had a moment this year—from The Little Mermaid movie premiere to fashion trends like sequins, shell details, and ocean-inspired colors. Here’s a shimmery eye and glossy lip look to go with a beachy ensemble.

What You’ll Need:

• Shimmery turquoise eye shadow
• Silver metallic cream color
• Neutral high shine gloss

Begin by blending a deep turquoise shade into your creases. I like the shade “Life of the Party” from the Dominique Cosmetics The Moment Eyeshadow Palette. Add a glass-like, metallic reflection to the center of your lids and lower lash line with a swipe of ColorFix 24-Hour Cream Color Liquid Metals in Platinum from Danessa Myricks Beauty. Lastly, add a high shine gloss to lips. My favorite: Wayne Goss The High Shine Gloss in Petunia.

Look #3: Spider-Man

Are we ever not talking about Spider-Man? This year, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse premiered, and now, the current obsession is Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PlayStation 5. With its red accents and web details, this smoky eye and red lip look is sure to get spidey-senses tingling.

What You’ll Need:

• Sparkly red eye shadow
• Charcoal eye shadow
• Black liquid liner
• Black mascara
• Classic red lipstick

Start by adding a dash of charcoal shadow to your lids and blend well. If you’d like to build out your smoky eye, go for the collection of shades in Charlotte Tilbury’s Luxury Palette in the quad called The Rock Chick. Smudge a sparkly red shadow, like the shade Asylum from Sugarpill Cosmetics along your lower lash line. Then, layer black mascara onto your lashes to create spider eyes. Optional: create a spider web detail on the outer corner of your eyes using black liquid liner. Go for the Natasha Denona Macro Blade Liquid Liner—it’s great for drawing clean lines.

Last but not least, apply a classic red lipstick. I recommend the Hourglass Confession Ultra Slim High Intensity Refillable Lipstick - Red 0 for a saturated, satin finish.

Look #4: Super Mario

This year, The Super Mario Bros. Movie hit theaters with a star-studded cast. Movie or not, a Mario-inspired costume is always a fun and easy look to pull off for Halloween. Pair it with a red long sleeve shirt and denim overalls and channel the iconic video game character.

What You’ll Need:

• Red eye shadow
• Blue eye shadow
• White eye shadow
• Eyeliner brush
• Bright red lip gloss

For this look, it’s best to find a palette that holds all of the colors needed, so you have ‘em all in one place. Be sure to wet your eyeliner brush before dipping it into the shadows for added pay off. On one eye, swipe the red eye shadow pigment on your lid to create a winged liner. On the other eye, do the same but with the blue eye shadow. Add white shadow to your tear ducts. Complete the look with a wash of bright red lip gloss, like this one from Charlotte Tilbury in the shade Red Vixen.

Illustrations by Megan Badilla