The best make-up for Halloween

Rebecca Gonsalves gets into the ghoulish spirit with a few tricks in her make-up bag

Lattice eye wings, £11.95, face-lace.com

I've realised there are two types of people in the world: there are those who love fancy dress and relish the chance to paint their face, don a wig and pretend to be someone else. Then there are people like me. Perhaps I just peaked too early when I went as a gravestone to a Girl Guides Halloween party, an unconventional choice for a 12-year-old I'm sure you'd agree. Invite me to a costume party and I'll inevitably do the bare minimum – if only to ensure I don't look like a party pooper.

So for me Halloween is a particularly fraught time, caught as I am between wanting to seem game for a laugh but without actually having to wear anything ridiculous – or ridiculously sexy, the go-to requirement for most female fancy dress. Luckily my friends have mostly outgrown such silliness or maybe my invitation just gets lost in the post. Still, if I had to get into the ghoulish spirit this Halloween, there are a few tricks in my make-up bag that should work a treat.

Velvet shadow stick in Flibuste

£20, narscosmetics.co.uk

Halfway between a cream shadow and pencil eyeliner, once dry this smooth matte-finish black won't budge.

Gelly nail paint in black grape

£3.99, barrym.com

A vampy rouge noir is rarely off my nails, so this so-dark-it's- almost-black blue-green makes a suitably spooky alternative.

The only 1 lipstick in Oh-so wicked

£6.99, Rimmel, boots.com

A dark lipstick can lead to dry lips, but this new line from Rimmel is designed to stay put and nourish at the same time.

Ombre couture shadow in noir sequin

£19, Givenchy, debenhams.com

Glittery yet grown up, this glides on smoothly and can be built up for a more intense look without creasing or smudging.

Lattice eye wings

£11.95, face-lace.com

This is the easiest way to up the gothic ante if you're not particularly artistic. This stick-on mask is on the simple end of the brand's elaborate offering.