Halloween is creeping up, so if you haven’t yet sorted out your costume, there’s no time like the present to gather inspiration. Luckily, some of your favorite stars serve up creative looks year after year — and not all of them require you to have a professional stylist and glam team at the ready. In fact, there are a ton to choose from that rely mostly on what you do from the neck up. Some of the best celebrity Halloween makeup ideas from the past can be recreated with what’s already in your cosmetic bag, while others require a few more supplies and advanced techniques. So whatever your skill set, you’re bound to find a look you can master by diving into the archives.
Celebrities like Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Kaia Gerber, and J.Lo get invites to the most exclusive Halloween bashes, so this time of year they pull out all the stops to put together totally memorable costumes. But that doesn’t always mean going for traditional glam — through the power of makeup, A-listers can transform into anything from ghastly ghouls and spooky skeletons to cartoon characters and beyond. Of course there’s no shortage of sexy costume inspiration, too, if that’s what you’re going for.
To help narrow down the options, TZR has selected 19 past celebrity Halloween makeup looks that range from beginner-friendly to fairly advanced and cover a wide variety of vibes. Vampiress? Yup. Pop princess? That’s in here too. Keep scrolling for these creative makeup ideas and many more.
Dove Cameron
But it’s the ombre lips that really drive them insay-ya-yaaaane! For Halloween 2025, Cameron “Time Warp”-ed right back to 1975, rocking a serious smoky eye and red-and-black ombré lips to portray Frank-n-Furter, the alien mad scientist famously played by Tim Curry in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. (Her now-husband, Damiano David, went as Riff Raff.)
Winnie Harlow
Harlow was ready to feel the heat with somebody in 2025. All it took was a vibrant pink makeup look and sky-high curls to transform the top model into Whitney Houston in the “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” music video.
Barbie Ferreira
As Ferreira demonstrated, all you need is a powdered base and plenty of blush and eyeliner to nail a White Swan makeup look. Don’t be afraid to go bold with your eyes and brows for this one — it is stage makeup, after all.
Kourtney Kardashian
While Kourtney and husband Travis Barker went maximalist with their Jack and Sally couples’ costume, the reality star pared things back a bit — by Kardashian standards, at least — with this Bride of Frankenstein costume. Straight, pencil-thin brows, a dark, defined lip (no covering that cupid’s bow!), and heavy contour will get you the look — along with the signature silver-streaked wig, of course.
Sabrina Carpenter
Take some inspo from Carpenter and dress up as Sandy from Grease this Halloween. The best part? You probably already own the black liner, eyeshadow, and red lipstick it would take to try out this look.
Chloe Bailey
Bailey’s transformation into Jessica Rabbit includes thin brows, lilac eyeshadow, fluttery lashes, and a bold red lip to complete the sultry costume.
Camila Mendes
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For Halloween 2024, Mendes went as Kim Possible villain Shego. She paired a bold green smoky shadow with lips lined in black for a dramatic look that’s still easy to recreate.
Paris Hilton
Are you a bad witch or a good one? Hilton opted for the latter when she went as Glinda, complete with long, dark lashes, rosy cheeks, and a light pink lip color.
Ashley Graham
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Want more of a gothic-glam vibe? Dress up as Lydia Deetz from Beetlejuice, like Graham did in 2024. The over-the-top red eyeshadow, sculpted cheeks, and nude matte lip create a striking and edgy effect.
Halle Berry
If spooky is the look you’re after this year, you can never go wrong with a dark, hollowed eye and bloody mouth like Berry sported a few Halloweens ago.
Vanessa Hudgens
Prefer a punky, rocker-chic look? Follow Hudgens’ lead and top off an all-leather ensemble with spiky black eyeliner and ‘80s-inspired dramatically draped blush.
Hailey Bieber
Bieber’s vampire costume involved a classically glam makeup look with glossy red lips and soft smoky eyes. To make it more Halloween-y, she added a few drips of faux blood at the corner of her mouth and down her neck.
Jennifer Garner
Ghost costumes don’t have to be basic. For example, a few Halloweens ago, Garner transformed into a phantom from the Victorian era. Though her gauzy dress and veil did some of the heavy lifting, her pale foundation, blurry red lips, and sunken eyes added a much-needed creep factor.
Kaia Gerber
For Halloween 2018, Gerber channeled 1970s disco queens. Makeup artist Anthony H. Nguyen gave the model and actor “stardust eyes” with glittery metallic shadow (punctuated with a teeny star face gem) paired with shimmery pink lips. Add some hoops and a halter top to get an even more groovy effect.
Olivia Rodrigo
Celebrity makeup artist Lilly Keys brought classic cartoon character Betty Boop to life with Rodrigo’s Halloween look back in 2022. To try it out yourself, add a few coats of lengthening and separating mascara (or pop on some falsies) on both your top and bottom lashes for a doll-like effect. Just as essential are pencil-thin brows — which can be created with a little foundation and a brow pencil if you don’t want to over-tweeze — and a cherry red lip. Pin-curled black hair and a little red dress complete the transformation.
Jennifer Lopez
Andrew Toth/WireImage/Getty Images
Skeleton makeup looks are a Halloween classic, but J.Lo’s version from a 2016 bash was equally sexy and spooky. With strategically placed white face paint to simulate bones in the face, neck, and chest, plus a blood-red lip, messy hair, and ice-blue contacts, she brought an air of glamour and mystery to the occasion.
Adele
It doesn’t get much more chic than Morticia Addams when it comes to iconic Halloween characters. So of course, it’s a go-to for celebrities like Adele. She gave it her own little twist by swapping Morticia’s trademark white complexion and red pout for warmer tones on her lips and cheeks.
Kendall & Kylie Jenner
The Jenner sisters never let a Halloween go by without at least one epic costume. A couple years back, they tag-teamed as Batman Forever characters Sugar and Spice, with Kylie decked out in a punky purple eye, arched brows, and black-lined lips, and Kendall in soft babydoll glam.
Gigi Hadid
More skilled makeup enthusiasts might be ready to take on Hadid’s The Mask look from Halloween 2019. Makeup artist Patrick Ta helped transform the model into Jim Carey’s iconic movie character using various shades of green to create a contoured effect.
This article was originally published on Oct. 26, 2024
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