They take on new roles when combined with the right techniques, creating frightening images
Halloween parties, a tradition born in English-speaking countries, are gaining more and more space in Brazil. The mix of fantasy, intense colors and play with the look has won over those who love makeup as a form of expression. And the best thing is, you don’t need to build an appointment-exclusive arsenal: many products used daily take on new roles when combined with the right techniques.
According to Chloé Gaya, make-up artist and artistic director of the Jacques Janine beauty salon chain, objects such as eyeliner, dark lipstick or highlighter can take on unexpected functions. “With a good choice of shades and a strategic application, a red lipstick turns into fake blood, a shadow brown creates a cadaverous depth and a rosy blush turns into a burn,” he says.
Next, check out 11 everyday products to use for Halloween makeup!
1. Foundation, concealer and contour
On a daily basis, the foundation evens out the skin, the concealer corrects specific areas and the side accentuates or shapes the face. For Halloween, Chloé Gaya teaches, “apply a layer of foundation in a lighter tone all over your face for a ‘death’ effect, or darken specific parts — like the temples and sides of your nose — to create zombie, skull, or vampire depth.”
From there, simply balance the highlights and shadows: light concealer in the areas you want to highlight and dark contour where you want to create a sunken look. The softer the smoke, the more realistic the effect: sharp lines work well for more graphic productions.
2. Compact or translucent powder
For daily use, powder is an ally for sealing makeup and controlling shine. For the Halloweensays the makeup artist: “concentrate the powder on the cheeks and forehead to leave the face pale and dull, with a ghostly appearance.” Extra layers in the central regions create a matte, artificial finish that’s just the right amount for darker looks. If you want an aged texture, like that of a broken doll, press the powder into skin moistened with thermal water.
3. Dark brown or gray eyeshadow
In everyday life, the brown eyeshadow It is used to mark the crease and create depth smoothly. For Halloween, the expert recommends: “use under the eyes and on the temples to create deep dark circles, bruises or cadaverous contours”.
The more smoked the product, the more realistic the appearance of tiredness or decay; Applied in concentrated layers on the natural hollows of the face, it helps to visually sink certain regions, such as the sides of the nose and under the cheekbones.
In more dramatic looks, combining brown with touches of purple, yellow or green creates advanced bruises, while finishing with translucent powder on top leaves the result drier.
4. Black eyeshadow
Black eyeshadow is a great tool to intensify your look or create striking smokey tones in your everyday makeup. For Halloween, Chloé Gaya jokes, “apply it smeared for a ‘crying’ look or use it as a base for designs of skulls, stains and burns.”
From there, it all depends on the finish:
- Sunken eyes or looking exhausted: concentrate the eyeshadow in the crease and blend downwards to the dark circles;
- Skulls and more structured looks: use as a base to draw the hollows of the eyes and nose and then blend the edges with a soft brush;
- Burns and bruises: deposit black in the center and mix with red or orange tones at the ends to create an inflammatory effect.
Strokes made with a stiff brush are more graphic, while a soft or wet brush provides realistic, organic stains.
5. Red lipstick
This makeup classic, red lipstick, is traditionally used to highlight the lips with intense color and end sophisticated. For Halloween, the makeup artist suggests: “use a thin brush to apply and simulate fake blood or bruises, letting it run down the corners of the mouth. Mix with lip gloss for the fresh blood effect.”
The secret lies in the layers: the lipstick alone acts as a base for the “blood”, but by darkening the edges with a brown or black eyeshadow, it gains depth; and when the gloss goes on, it creates that viscous shine typical of freshly opened wounds. The same feature works for cuts, scrapes and widespread wounds on the face or neck.
6. Dark lipstick (wine or brown)
Out of the fantasy atmosphere, dark lipsticks color the lips with intensity and elegance. For Halloween, explains the expert: “it works like a creamy eyeshadow to create dark contours, dark circles or imperfections on the face or body.”
Applied directly and blended with a brush or even with fingers, it creates barely formed bruises or intense bruises; If diluted with a little moisturizer or primer, it turns transparent and becomes an aged, burnt or irritated patch of skin. Sealing with translucent powder helps keep the texture more opaque and realistic.

7. Liquid eyeliner or black pencil
THE eyeliner the liquid or black pencil is used daily to draw precise lines and define the look. For Halloween, the art director encourages: “draw cobwebs, stitches, cracks, dark tears or thin veins around the eyes, playing with the intensity of black to create shades of gray.”
The more irregular the strokes, the more natural the result; for the seams, spaced stitches connected by horizontal lines work well, while for the grain it is sufficient to trace thin branches and then blend slightly to soften the contours. Finishing with a reddish eyeshadow on the ends helps create the effect of irritated skin.
8. Pink or peach blush
In everyday life, blush provides a flushed appearance on the cheekbones. For Halloween, Chloé Gaya recommends: “concentrate the product on the cheeks for the ‘haunted doll’ effect or use it in strategic areas to simulate light burns”.
Applied in marked circles and without too much softening, it creates caricatural and childish characters; already spread at the edges and combined with brown or purple eyeshadow in the center, it turns into burning or irritated skin. With an ash-colored outline under the dark circles and on the temples, it also easily creates a sickly Victorian look.
9. Mascara
Mascara is generally applied to lengthen and add volume eyelash. For Halloween the make-up artist recommends: “apply only to the lower lashes or blend specifically for a shadowed and dripping effect“. The more product you pile on and drag around with a damp cotton ball, the more convincing the look of fresh tears or loose eyes becomes; in the more radical versions, removing small pieces of the mask once dry creates defects and irregularities that suggest neglect or decay.
10. Highlighter
Highlighter is used to highlight facial highlights and add vibrancy to makeup. For Halloween, the expert explains: “combine it with silver or lilac eyeshadow to create the look of a dark fairy, alien or ethereal witch.” In addition to the temples and the top of the apples, it is worth expanding on the chest, shoulders and eyelids to create reflections that change depending on the light; versions with lilac or bluish particles leave a more mystical shine, ideal for it seems galactic or magical.
11. Transparent shine
In common use, clear polish imparts a wet shine lip. For Halloween, Chloé Gaya suggests: “mix with a red lipstick to simulate fresh blood, or apply to eyelids and temples for a wet, dramatic touch.” Applied sparingly on fake or ready-made wounds, it gives a moist appearance that completely transforms the result; on the eyelids or cheekbones it creates a sweaty or feverish effect.
By Denyze Moreira
Source: Terra

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.