When it comes to dressing up for Halloween, the little details such as hair and makeup can be overlooked. Small details like these hold the key to a cool, fun look even if you don’t have the time or money for a full costume. Chances are you already have the supplies you need for these easy but high-impact finishing touches.
*Scars & Scratches *
Scars, scratches and other injuries are pretty standard costume accompaniments, but getting them just right can be a challenge. Make your scars small and in a place they won’t likely get rubbed away – your face, upper arms and neck work best. Note that these scars don’t necessarily photograph well, but to the naked eye they look shockingly real.
A small assortment of eyeliner and lip liner pencils, available at every drugstore for 99 cents, will do the trick. Try Wet ‘n Wild – they’re waxy for lasting scars but blend well.
You’ll need one lip liner pencil in a deep brownish-red, an eyeliner pencil in soft brown or taupe
and a matte red-based powder blush or eye shadow (look for “rusty” shades). I used supplies from my everyday makeup case – Covergirl Outlast Smooth wear lip pencil in 120 Berry, Wet ‘n Wild Kohl
Brow/Eyeliner pencil in 648 Taupe and L’Oreal True Match blush in Sweet Ginger.
Draw a thin line with the red lip pencil. Using the soft brown pencil, draw a slightly wider line all the way around the red line. Using a wedge-shaped makeup sponge or clean fingers and lightly blend just to diffuse the shape.
To set the powder and give an “infected” look, use a big fluffy brush to very lightly sweep a little blush or eye shadow over the scar (tap off excess color on the brush before using.) If you’re really into the festering wound look, replace the reddish powder with an olive green or purple eye shadow.
Pop-Art Nails
Realistic may be the goal with some costumes, but why not take the opposite approach and make yourself into a comic-book heroine, at least on your nails?
Bright colors, block shading and highlighting are the key to pop-art illustrations – and your nail look. You only need three colors that are probably already in your nail polish collection, plus some time and patience. A partner doesn’t hurt either, especially for painting your dominant hand.
Quick-dry polish will help speed up the process. I used Wet ‘n Wild Fastdry nail color in 230C Saved by the Blue, Sally Hansen Insta-Dri nail color in 210 Presto Pink, and Sally Hansen French Manicure polish in Natural White (from a French manicure kit – has a nice narrow brush for doing the highlight).
You’ll need very dark nail polish, a hot pink polish and a white polish. All should be very opaque and a satin finish (no glitters or shimmers). Paint your entire nail black and let dry completely. Take the pink polish and very carefully paint only the center of each nail, leaving about 1/8 inch around each side black. Let dry completely. Dip a fine tipped paintbrush or use a handy nail art pen in white polish and paint a bean-shaped “highlight” into the lower right corner of the pink part of each nail. After nails are completely dry, add a clear topcoat to seal.
Play up the look with red lipstick, huge eyelashes and fun clothes for a “non-costume” costume, or search online for professional tutorials on comic book girl makeup (very cool, can be as elaborate or subtle as you want).
Masks
There’s almost no faster way to make an outfit a costume than a mask. Whether you’re channeling the Phantom of the Opera, the Lone Ranger or an old-school superhero, masks can be made that fit your theme and your face.
I used a blank “decorate your own” mask from the craft store, available for $2, and made a glittering fancy masquerade style mask. You could easily attach feathers, rhinestones, lace or bright colored paint for more embellishment.
You’ll need a mask, tacky glue – a spray-on glue would be fabulous – and loose glitter, which is more intensely sparkly than glitter paint. If needed, use scissors and cut the mask to fit your face – expand the eye holes, eliminate the nose, etc. Use a disposable foam brush to paint the mask with the glue, then immediately sprinkle glitter liberally over the entire piece. Let dry overnight.
