10 best Halloween make-up products

Ditch the tricky costume and go for a easy-to-create glamorous, vampy look this October 31

Halloween is fast approaching, but if the idea of dressing up like a voracious zombie sends a shiver down your spine, or you need a last-minute costume, we’ve got you covered. Opting for a vampy look allows you to tap into your dark side without making too much effort, and it can be recreated with very little fuss no matter your make-up expertise. Far removed from the blood dripping ghoul you see in the movies, this enigmatic look is sultry, glam and timelessly seductive; everything a vampire should be.

Creating the look consists of two major parts: a smoky eye and an ombre lip – which for those of you that don’t know, is a gradation of colour that changes from lightest to darkest, beginning at the centre of the mouth. Both elements require a hazy mix of complementary shades; for the eyes, we’ll be using a blend of shadows, mascara, liquid and kohl liner and a set of fluttery false eyelashes. The lips require a little less product with just two shades of lippie and a pencil to boot.

It might sound complicated but we’ve managed to whittle this shadowy guise down to ten lust-worthy products so you can channel your inner Kat Von D this All Hallows’ Eve.

1. Morphe Brushes 35W 35 Colour Warm Palette: £19.50, Beauty Bay

Morphe is a California-based cosmetic company that specialises in high-quality make-up and brushes, but perhaps its biggest hits are the best-selling eyeshadow palettes. It’s easy to see why shoppers are limited to just two orders per person via Beauty Bay. The set of 35 shades runs the gamut of beige to dark purple to black, making it the perfect day-to-night tool. For our vampy look we started with a nude base and worked punchy shades of burnt orange and purple into the crease. Apply black all over the centre of the lid and a lighter purple in the inner and outer corners; finish with shimmering bronze over the top of the black and smoke out the bottom lash line. The mix of colours means this palette is ideal for Halloween and beyond with the ability to create a multitude of styles with every shade accounted for. What’s more, they’re also super-pigmented so a little goes a long, long way. If you love to get creative with your make-up, this is a definite must have.

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2. Mac Cosmetics Liptensity in Burnt Violet: £15.50, Debenhams

If you’re a fan of a vampy lip, then look no further because Mac’s new Liptensity range has the perfect shade of blackcurrant. A brand with one of the biggest ranges of lip shades out there, our expectations were high but thankfully it didn’t disappoint. Burnt Violet is a blackened plum colour with cool undertones that promises to suit most complexions and although it has a satin finish, it really packs a punch so you don’t need to reapply often at all. Some glossy lipsticks can fall back on saturation but thanks to its gelled base, this one gives all-over colour in just one stroke; it’s also pretty moisturising too. One thing to mention is that it is likely to leave a slight stain on your lips but that’s nothing a little oil-based makeup remover can’t sort out.

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3. Velour Lashes Doll Me Up: £9, Beauty Bay

Looking for a pair of lashes that will really make an impact? Then Velour has got you covered with its Doll Me Up pair. Hand-crafted from 100 per cent mink, we were a little dubious at first but thankfully, despite being all natural they’re also completely cruelty-free. The mink fur is sourced from free-range zoos, recycled during the shedding seasons and sterilised to ensure they’re completely safe for use. Now you can sigh in relief that they’re animal friendly, what about the way they look? This pair are ideal for a vampy guise; they’re super-flirty with wispy long lashes, and while they do give extra length, the long short pattern makes for a fully natural look meaning they’re great for all occassions. Also, because the mink fur isn’t chemically processed or dyed, they’re a soft black-brown shade, similar to your own lashes, meaning they don’t look too intense. These do sit at the higher end of the price scale for lashes but the quality is well worth it and they can be re-used up to twenty five times; that’s just 65p per wear.

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4. Rimmel Scandal’Eyes Waterproof Kohl Liner Black: £3.99, Superdrug

Black Kohl liner is vital for achieving a smokey eye, but finding one that doesn’t disappear after a few hours wear is tricky – until now. This liner does just the trick giving eyes a heavy dose of intense colour on both the water and lash line. As it is waterproof, it is also long-wearing and lasts much longer than most standard kohl pencils. It’s also described as being smudge-proof but for us we found it blended quite easily; this isn’t a problem if you’re going for the smokey vamp look like we were but if it’s stay-put precision you’re after, take extra care. This product is really great value for money and proves that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get quality cosmetics.

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5. L’Oreal Paris Color Riche Exclusive Reds, Blake: £6.99, Boots

A classic red lippie is something every girl should own and Blake is the best shade of ruby red that we’ve seen in a while. The colour is a super-intense, matte formula with a soft, velvety finish that gives you the impression of a full pout. Because of its high pigmentation, it glides on almost effortlessly taking just one swipe to coat your entire lip; it’s also really hydrating unlike other matte formulas which can feel dry and flaky. While it does make for a great all over colour, we like the idea of using this to create an ombre lip which uses two shades to create a gradient; after applying darker shade on the outer rim of the lips add this to the centre for a shot of intensity.

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6. Mac Liquidlast Liner Point Black: £16, John Lewis

Liquid liner is one of those things that take a while to master and even when you do sometimes they’re even more difficult to get to stay put, but this version from Mac sorts both problems. You’ll be hard pressed to find a formula that lasts as long as this one, which doesn’t flake or smudge and the brush makes application relatively easy; it has a thin flat, precision line which can be used to create the finest of lines and a defined cat eye. This is great for adding definition to the lash line of our vampy look so don’t be afraid to play with size, if you prefer a thicker, more elongated flick then go for it.

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7. Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder, Medium: £35, Cult Beauty

This is one of those cult products that you hear so much about through the grapevine but are never really sure whether they’re worth investing in. Well, after putting it to the test, we can confirm it’s a serious champ in the contour stakes making it ideal for creating a set of perfectly sullen cheeks to match the rest of your vampy look. Available in three shades – light, medium and dark – whether you like to fake some serious cheekbones or prefer to keep things subtle, this matte powder formula promises to suit all. It doesn’t have the same orangey tones you come to expect from a bronzer though; instead there are grey-tone shades which look almost undetectable when applied to skin. This means you’re left with what looks like natural definition. For best results, apply with an angled contour brush and make sure to blend, blend, blend.

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8. Barry M Lip Liner in Wine: £3, M&S

Lip liners tend to go one of two ways; they’re either really hard, causing lack of pigment, or they’re so soft that they smudge all over the place. Fortunately, Barry M has answered our beauty woes with its version that successfully combines the best of both worlds. The formula is super creamy and intense, leaving a soft, velvety smooth layer on your lips. It’s also hard-wearing enough that it doesn’t transfer. It’s great for outlining the lips and filling in gaps, but for a more intense look you can apply all over the lip before a lipstick; this will also increase your shade’s longevity. The shade wine is ideal for any vampy lip-lovers and promises to compliment most blackcurrant hues; use the pencil to define your lip shape and then layer with your choice of lippie.

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9. Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Lashes Mascara: £25, John Lewis

Make-up maestro Charlotte Tilbury has taken the beauty world by storm, but if you haven’t tried any of her products yet, this masacara is a great place to start. As far as high-end mascaras go, it’s pretty affordable and delivers on all of its claims. The formula promises to extend out the lashes and hold them there with 13x more volume in just three coats. That’s a bold statement to make but it’s well founded. We found that lashes looked visibly longer and fuller, even after just one coat, and what’s more, there was no fall out on the face. The brush itself is packed of multi-bristles to ensure the most fine and short lashes are caught and coated too. While we used false lashes for our look, if you find them hard to manage this mascara will do just the trick; either way it’s amazing at defining the bottom lashes which, with a smokey eye, can be easily overshadowed.

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10. Rituel De Fille Ash and Ember Eye Soot: £30, Cult Beauty

This cult beauty brand is headed by the Ramos sisters who together scale the skills of make-up artistry, fashion and fine art; a mix which is evident in the uniqueness of their products. Although this product is technically a cream shadow, we found it also works perfectly as a smooth, creamy liner on the bottom lash of a smokey eye. We also love the fact that it can be applied in a multitude of ways using your fingers or a dense brush to pick up the most product. Made with pure pigments and natural seed oils, the Eye Soots are made with as few ingredients as possible; they’re cruelty free and free from wax too, meaning they won’t melt from the warmth of your skin. Available in six mesmerising hues, our favourite is Obsidian, a smith rich black with a metallic sheen.

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Verdict

For us the Morphe 35 palette comes out top. The colour scale matched with the high-intensity pigment is a winning combination that means you can create a variety of different looks with just one affordable tool. We also have to give a mention to Mac’s Liptensity lipstick. Despite having a satin finish, the formula has just as much intensity as a matte lipstick and the depth of colour was stunning. If you’re looking for a dark lippie this autumn, this is our pick.