Makeup has gotten a-freaking-mazing in the past few years, hasn't it? While we know there have always been incredible makeup artists out there doing their thing, it's only since the rise of the Instagram makeup artist that we have really totally understood just how magical makeup can be, and just how transformative it can be when creating a look — it can give us a completely different face, really. We're talking far beyond the skills it takes to develop a perfect smoky eye — which is a lot less difficult than any other look here, yet we still don't typically have time for. (And if we're being honest, don't really have the skills for, either). But the truth is, in this day of amazing makeup techniques that genuinely inspire us, Halloween costumes are less about the fabric and more about the paint.
We're so wowed by the incredible artists here and their phenomenal work, we can't even express how impressed with their skills we are. That said, we're not necessarily going to be able to pull off most (read: any) of these looks exactly just because our skills aren't up to the level. These are more inspiring to us and beautiful to look at, the same way paintings are beautiful but we aren't going to go out and try to make a Degas happen anytime soon on our own time. For costumes that are a little more doable for the average person with "I can't keep my eyeliner straight" makeup skills, we have some other suggestions: Halloween costumes based on your star sign can help anyone who struggles with decision-making around Halloween, while picking Halloween costumes for '90s kids brings throwback fun to the holiday. For those who are want to scale it way back, try fall-inspired manicures for the most subtle nod to the holiday.
This Amazing Purple Rhinestone Skull Look
How incredible is this jeweled skull look? We love that it combines both total creepiness and stunning beauty in one confusing — but clearly well-defined — look. Using adhesive gems on our faces for Halloween looks certainly amps up the look!
This Terrifying But Beautiful Devil
We love the details on this look — especially the fact that the artist blended her makeup into her hairline and worked the red even into her ears. As one commenter put it, "Why are u allowed to be this perf " We have to agree!
This Adorable (And Really Doable) Kitty Cat
While being inspired by so many amazing makeup looks is awesome, it's also cool to take a look at some that are more achievable by less-amazing artists (uh, such as ourselves). This one is super doable — and super adorable, too.
This Perfectly Detailed Bride of Frankenstein
This is one of those makeup looks that makes us both horrified and impressed simultaneously. As one commenter notes, "Absolutely amazing!! I love this! I love your interpretation of the Bride." We do, too.
This Adorable Scarecrow
This scarecrow beauty definitely has a brain — and a ton of artistic talent to boot. We love the red and black color scheme that still somehow manages to look very editorial despite being, well, a scarecrow. As one commenter says, "I would hire u to protect my crops any day QUEEN ♥️"
This 'Friendly Neighborhood Witch' Look
This astrology-inspired witch look is so fun for Halloween — and an at-home variation of it seems totally doable with the help of a felt-tip eyeliner pen. We like that it's the kind of look that may be thrown on for a costume party (and wiped off pretty quickly after).
This Excellent Patronus Spell
Any Harry Potter fans out there? We are — and we can't get enough of this makeup look, which is of the stag patronus. It's so cute, and it also looks a little bit like a masquerade mask. As one commenter says, "Your spell worked on us ✨"
This Edgy Trick-or-Treat Look
How cool is this full-face trick-or-treat look? The details, like the little touch-too-cold pink nose, not to mention all of the pretty butterflies, really make it something special. It's a stunning full face of makeup that totally takes the place of wearing a costume — which we're grateful for!
This Dark Clown Look
According to the artist herself, this look took a full three hours to complete — and we believe it. It's a beautiful, creepy dark clown look, and it works fully, from the color palette chosen to how amazingly symmetrical it is.
This 'Twilight'-Inspired Vampire Look
This look is fairly subtle — except the fangs, of course. Wear it with a black dress and the costume is complete — a simple look that's basically just makeup-based. We think it's totally stunning.
This Charming Pink Fawn Look
Not a traditional Halloween costume, but a completely cute one — a baby fawn! We are in awe of this beautiful makeup look, which uses really subtle techniques to create a stunning look that reads easily — and requires zero costume.
This Amazing 'Mother of Bats' Look
This whole look is like if Elvira and a vampire and a beautiful drawing of a bat had a baby together. We love that the jewelry is drawn on with makeup, too — so inspiring (and for anyone with artistic talent, way less costly than buying actual jewels).
This Harley Quinn Makeup Look
Sure, it would be cool to wear the outfit to go with this one, but honestly, it isn't strictly necessary — just pair any shorts, knee socks, and T-shirt with this makeup look, and everyone will know exactly who and what is being referenced.
This Cool Joker Look
We love a gender-bending costume always, and this sexy lime green Joker babe makes us really happy. It's exaggerated, plays the shape of the features, and is overall amazing — as one commenter says, "obsessed with that lip shape !!"
This Beautiful Greek Goddess-Inspired Makeup
How stunning is this Greek goddess-inspired beauty? All of the warm gold tones and highlights looks so beautiful — and the fact that all it takes is any white dress to go with it to really sell the full fantasy of this Aphrodite look.
This Astrology-Inspired Look
No matter what the sign on the astrological chart, there's a great costume to go with it — and all it really takes is makeup! This beautiful, simple Libra look uses both makeup and body paint to make it happen.
This Pitch-Perfect Mermaid Look
How beautiful and fresh is this mermaid-inspired makeup look? Her skin looks so incredibly dewy, while the gemstones lining her eyes simulate winged liner — adding a whole new dimension in there.
This Glittery Unicorn Look
We can't get enough of unicorn anything, and this unicorn makeup is no exception. It's absolutely perfect — the could-easily-go-wrong combination of teal blue and warm pink work so incredibly well together on this face, and the nose seems horse-y in a great way.
This Roy Lichtenstein Fantasy
Roy Lichtenstein's work — or any pop artist's, really — lends itself to mimicry in makeup form because of the bold lines and dots in lieu of more traditional coloring techniques. We think this is cool-looking — although a bit uncanny, too.
This Perfect Skeleton Makeup Look
This incredible skull makeup look is so dark and moody. This one has this warm pumpkin-orange glow to it, which we don't necessarily associate with the look — typically, it's all black-and-white. This is a beautiful variation on the theme.
