Witch Makeup Ideas for Halloween

Incorporate some of these witch makeup ideas for Halloween and you might just end up giving Dorothy Gale's arch-nemesis a run for her money!

Halloween Makeup Ideas

Once you've narrowed down your costume choice to that perennial Halloween favorite; the ever-frightening witch, you'll want to narrow it down further by choosing the type of witch you want to masquerade as.

After all, there's more to a witch than the stereotypical green skin, warty chin, crooked nose and pointy hat. These are all spooky details that are sure to garner you some much-deserved attention and praise for creativity, but there's another type of witch out there, too.

Consider one of the following for your Halloween costume:

• The Scary Witch

Straight out of the Wizard of Oz: she boasts all of the common witchy traits and looks an absolute fright.

• The Good Witch

Also straight out of the Wizard of Oz, but she tends to take inspiration from Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. She is essentially every little girl's fantasy – a fairy tale princess character with magical powers.

How is Halloween makeup different from run-of-the-mill, everyday makeup? One glance at the white face paints and otherworldly, glittery substances is probably enough of an answer. Individuals with sensitive skin should also note that novelty makeup can be irritating to the skin, so proceed with caution. A patch test at least 48 hours prior to the day you plan to use the makeup is recommended.

By law, color additives used in cosmetics must be approved by the FDA. This requirement includes novelty makeup and theatrical stage makeup. If you have any doubts about the ingredients in your Halloween makeup, you might pay a visit to the FDA's Summary of Color Additives. Here, you'll find a list of additives added to cosmetics. Your Halloween makeup's ingredients should be on this list. If they are not, your product is not FDA-approved and may be considered harmful to the skin.

You know you want to be a witch, and hopefully you've chosen the type of witch you want to be, too. Now that the hard part is out of the way, it's time to move on to more important – and definitely more enjoyable – matters.

Your costume is probably the first thing passersby will notice, but your makeup should be equally emblematic of the character you are portraying. Whether you're a protagonist from a popular film or book, or you're planning to be the most unique-looking person at the party, you're bound to make a strong impression with the right makeup. Get started with a few of these witch makeup ideas for Halloween!

She's the nasty, cackling lady who eventually melted into a giant puddle on the floor, but before she met her demise she was responsible for instilling plenty of fear into Dorothy and company. She accomplished that with her brow-raising features! You'll need these cosmetics to achieve her ghoulish look:

• Green Base Makeup:This is used in lieu of your regular foundation. Make a really scary impression by dabbing it on with a facial sponge. Be sure not to cover the entire face. Let the makeup dry before going over the face again (very lightly) with a different sponge dipped in dark brown, white or red liquid makeup. The effect is haunting!
  • Note that your evil witch face makeup doesn't have to be green. If the idea of spreading this color over your face is not appealing, stick to a regular foundation in the lightest shade possible. A porcelain-like color, intensified by a layer of light-reflecting lotion, like Smashbox's Artificial Light Luminizing Lotion in Luminous Pearl, will set a stark white tone that's absolutely stunning.
• Dark Red Lipstick: Red should be the undertone for your lipstick shade, but the color itself can be as extreme as black or purple or as basic as a bold, in-your-face red. The Wet n Wild annual Halloween makeup collection is full of witchy lip colors.
• Black Eye Pencil: You'll use this to create wrinkles on your face. The black stands out strongly against the green background. Be sure to capture the deep frown lines and brow furrows so typical of witches.
• Black Mascara: Sensing a theme here? Plenty of black eye makeup creates a deep, dark look. Use the mascara to brush in sparse eyebrows, too.
• Accessories: You'll need warts and long black nails (you can paint these yourself or apply artificial talon-like nails).

Grown women can have just as much fun being the good witch as younger girls can. Good witches are typically ornamented with sparkly accessories, frilly clothes and plenty of ethereal makeup applied with a light hand. Achieve this fun look with these cosmetics:

• Pink Lipstick: The good witch is a true lady! She sports the most feminine of colors, pink, in abundance. Paint your pout with a shade of pink that really pops, and top it with gloss for a shiny, updated take on the look. Try these colors to really make a statement:

1. Estee Lauder Pure Crystal in Berry Fizz
2. Chanel Rouge Allure in Darling
3. MAC Lipglass in Malibu Barbie
4. Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss in Pink Penny

• Pink Blush: A pretty blush in a shade of pink is perfect for this look. Sweep one of these colors onto your face, or for a more exaggerated look, make perfect circles on each cheek – the color will stand out for miles.

1. Laura Geller Pink Grapefruit Blush 'n' Brighten
2. L'Oreal Blush Delice in Pink Marshmallow
3. Pout Flush Blush in Flushed Pink
4. Lancome Blush Subtil in Pink Pool

• False Eyelashes: Dramatize your eyes with thick false lashes accented by glitter or rhinestones. This will add just the right amount of sparkle to your peepers! Try one of Ardell's Glamorous Faux Lashes.
• Accessories: Don't forget the tiara, jewelry and fancy dress. In this day and age, your dress doesn't need to poof out like something from another era; update your look with a few edgy elements (like a short dress and sky-high heels) for a truly memorable costume.

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