Last-minute makeup ideas for your Halloween party

Somehow, Halloween is just days away. And you have no costume.

No reason to, uh, freak. And no need to spend a bunch of money on something you’re only going to wear once. With a little creativity and some makeup that you probably already have in your beauty kit, you can whip up a fun and free costume. No uncomfortable mask and itchiness necessary.

Here are some last-minute makeup ideas for your Halloween party (or candy distribution outfit) on Oct. 31:

Sweeney Todd

Makeup is the cornerstone for a Sweeney Todd costume. The wardrobe is simple: a flowy white button-up, pinstripe pants and a brown vest is all you need. On your face: Apply the lightest powder you have to make your face appear pale. Dust red or copper eye shadow (or even bronzer or blush) around your eyes, top and bottom. Apply brown shadow on top, and finish with a smoky black. Accent your brows with dark shadow and a thin, angled brush. Use that brown and black shadow on your cheeks.

Scary doll

The key to the “scary doll” look is exaggerating your eyes, using black eyeliner. Fill in underneath your eyes with white eye shadow and white liner. Tip: Make your brush wet to give the shadow more of a paint quality. Draw some cracks on your face with black liner. Either make your mouth tiny or extra large, extending it down onto your chin, ventriloquist-style. False lashes on the top and on the bottom finishes up the look, but you can also draw “lashes” on your bottom lid with liner. Check out this more detailed tutorial for creepy doll makeup.

Easy zombie

You don’t need to be an expert with liquid latex and special effects to get the zombie point across. Dust a gray-green shadow across your face and use charcoal shadow instead of blush. Line and color in your lips with your gray eyeliner. Add stitches and facial cracks with the eyeliner.

Pinup girl

When in doubt, pin it up. Apply cherry red lipstick (always line your lips first to keep it from bleeding into the tiny creases around your mouth). Many stylists believe Mac’s Russian Red matte lipstick, $16, macys.com, is the most universally flattering red, for all skin tones, and we’ve yet to find someone it doesn’t work on. Line your upper lids with thick black liquid or gel liner. Learn how to make the perfect cat eyes here. Go for a thick coating of mascara on the top lashes and nothing—no liner or mascara—on the bottom.

Comic book character

If possible, lighten your face with white eye shadow or light powder. Use red lipstick or white eyeliner to draw small dots all over your face, neck and any skin that is showing. outline your lips, brows and features with black eyeliner, after applying your lip color. Here is a great tutorial for comic book makeup with more detail.