23 Halloween Eye Makeup Looks Inspired By Pop Culture

Halloween is an opportunity to get into character—any character. And while a head-to-toe costume is, of course, a welcome option, certain personas can be captured through eye makeup alone. The point is proven by pop culture moments past and present, many of which can be distilled to a striking application of makeup at lid level.

Makeup artist Jo Baker—known for her character-driven makeup—asserts that the best seasonal beauty is more glamorous than gimmicky. "You don’t have to slap theatrical green paint all over your face to get gore-worthy glam," says Baker, who suggests exaggerating everyday details to create a holiday makeup moment. Baker suggests an excess of lashes and liner, along with more contour, to up the intensity of your Halloween makeup.

Still, the forthcoming premiere of Wicked means that green face paint is on the table, too. "A costume-ready eye moment has depth, long-wearing power, and inspiration," says makeup artist Neil Scibelli. "My non-negotiable would be using the best formulas and pigments possible to bring the eye look to life and make it waterproof for a long evening ahead." No matter your chosen look, Scibelli recommends Ben Nye's Final Setting Spray, often used for theater and film sets. "If you're setting your look with a translucent powder, you can add this on top as a final step," he says.

From Chappell Roan's Renaissance gaze to Lady Gaga's harlequin, these 25 Halloween eye makeup looks prove that the best costumes call for major eye contact.

Crybaby Gems

While Lady Gaga’s turn as Harley “Lee” Quinn is sure to inspire (we’ll get to that later), Gaga’s real-world celebration of the role boasts major costume potential. “The Gaga London premiere was a perfect blend of Hallow-glam but keeping it extra fashion forward and wearably cute,” says Baker of the emotive makeup moment. Makeup artist Sarah Tanno used BAKEUP’s teardrop gems to create the look, each adornment featuring self-sticking adhesive for easy application.

Emerald City

Go green or go home. Those channeling Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba in Wicked should plan on a green-painted complexion (“Mehron is known for their professional water-activated makeup, and they offer a range of highly pigmented colors for the eyes, face, and body,” says Scibelli) punctuated by a deeper emerald pressed over the lid. E.l.f. Cosmetics Liquid Metallic Eyeshadow in Aurora is buildable, saturated, and shimmery enough to supplement the monochromatic makeup.

Roan Renaissance

Chappell Roan is the moment, and her penchant for period dressing provides fodder for costume-ready eye makeup. "I think we’ll be seeing lots of Chappell Roan-inspired eye looks with adhesive gems, colorful metallic smokey eyes, and graphic eyeliners," confirms Scibelli. This look relies on glued-down brows replaced with an ultra-thin 1920s take, matte mauve eyeshadow, and touches of soft metallic. Use a spoolie to apply a liquid gold shadow—like Iconic London’s Glaze Crayon in Goldmine—to lashes, and complement the eye look with an ombré berry lip.

Celestial Lids

One of 2024’s most show-stopping makeup looks came courtesy of Pat McGrath. Created for Maison Margiela’s spring couture show, McGrath’s neo-1930s dolls boasted glass skin, thin brows, and celestial lids. To get the look, layer matte violet with an azure metallic (or make use of Pat McGrath Labs Dark Star 006 V4 shadow duo), both pulled to the brow. Emulate the Margiela moment in its entirety or use the eye makeup as an excuse to honor the midnight magic of the night sky.

Funny Girl

Barbara Streisand’s iconic Fanny Brice in 1968’s Funny Girl is all about the graphic wing. Reach for your favorite liquid liner—we recommend Stila’s Stay All Day—and create a similarly striking wing, best served with a bouffant updo.

Frosty Dolly

One cannot talk about Halloween 2024 without considering Sabrina Carpenter’s visual impact. Though the bulk of her beauty is down to her blonde and bangs, frosted eye makeup concentrated at the inner corners communicates the soft, Old Hollywood meets dolly meets bombshell feel that’s quickly becoming synonymous with the pop star.

Greasy Gaze

A greasy, full-face interpretation of raccoon eyes makes Furiosa’s makeup entirely worthy of a Halloween look. Opt for an affordable charcoal-colored shadow (you’ll want a product you can apply with no constraints) and blend with Aquaphor or Vaseline for a greased-up, post-apocalyptic effect.

Witchy Pastels

Witches come in many forms—including 1960s sirens. The retro aesthetic featured throughout The Love Witch turns the tables on the classically dark details associated with witches. Touches of Glossier No 1. Pencil Creamy Long-Wearing Eyeliner in Rich Black, Muse, and Lapis and lush and feathered lashes combine for a spellbinding visual effect.

Preppy Grunge

Gwyneth Paltrow’s Margot from The Royal Tennenbaums does sophisticated prep with a grunge twist, courtesy of generous smudgings of kohl liner along the top and bottom lash line. A flat iron and a single barrette will help get your aesthetic point across.

Swan Noir

The noir appeal of the black swan (aka Odile) from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake is an enduring Halloween look, one defined by an extremely graphic eye look. Create a feathered effect with a medley of black and aquamarine shadow pencils applied to encase and extend from the eye. Bonus points if you opt for red contacts, a la Natalie Portman's possessed iteration in Black Swan.

Folie À Deux

“I am highly anticipating Gaga Joker~esque inspired makeup looks,” says Baker. Should Gaga’s premiere moment fail to resonate, her harlequin-inspired makeup from the film offers a striking and easy-to-apply alternative. Blended and blurred black eyeliner are all you need to go full-on Lee Quinn.

Bella Brows

To be fair, Bella Baxter’s beauty isn’t as much about the eye makeup (or lack thereof) as it is about the brows. The bold and brushed brows serve as an extension of the character’s absurdist mane and make a case for attempting a brow-based Halloween beauty look. That said, considering that award-winning makeup artist Nadia Stacey utilized Pat McGrath Labs throughout the film, certain products—like PermaGel Ultra Glide Eye Pencil in Blitz Blue—may enhance the moment.

Vampiric Brows

Aaliyah’s Queen Akasha—aka Queen of the Damned—proves that there’s no need to limit the power of the cat eye to lids alone. Akasha’s brows are extended to mirror the graphic shape, resulting in an unexpectedly dramatic adornment worthy of vampiric royalty.

Inky Tears

Rivulets of inky tears defined Doja Cat’s beauty look at this year’s Met Gala, the dark and dreamy moment crafted by McGrath. Pair a similar approach with any costume for an instantaneous infusion of surrealist noir glamour.

Ethereal Eyes

Mayan and African cultures inspired the beauty showcased throughout Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, resulting in a lengthy menu of looks created by hairstylist Camille Friend and makeup artist Joel Harlow. Nakia’s ethereal eye look can be achieved with the help of white liner, and furthered by a creamy floral crown.

Wednesday Gaze

We may be between seasons of Wednesday, but her school dance beauty look remains strong. The character’s smoky eye is concentrated at the outer corners, with a brightening touch at the inner corners and feathery swipes of mascara ensuring the moment remains soft.

Diamond Lashes

Look to Lucy Boynton’s diamante lashes (the work of Baker) for a Halloween eye makeup moment that’s more conceptual than literal. Rather than applying gems to lids or around the eye, opting for sets of lashes punctuated by clear gems creates the illusion of dewdrops or frost. You can pair them with white and black liner for a ’60s slant.

Witch Grunge

1990s witchy grunge takes form in The Craft’s Nancy, the look gaining traction as the character loses her mind. Kohl liner, mauve shadow, and stylized brows are set off by oxblood lips, making for a makeup look worthy of a cultish aesthetic.

Tortured Poet

Choosing from the numerous eras of Taylor Swift is a matter of personal preference—but a sharp take on her classic cat eye edged in shimmering pink shadow is all you need to be a tortured poet. NARS Hardwired Eyeshadow in Earthshine provides a near-perfect match.

Dr. Frank-N-Furter

The Rocky Horror Picture Show may have debuted nearly 50 years ago, but Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s bold and blocky eye makeup remains instantly recognizable. Kohl edges, grayscale shadow, and graphic application are mandatory—as is an air of madcap chaos.

1960s Kitten

A Brigitte Bardot-inspired beauty is a character all its own. This interpretation—worn by Anya Taylor Joy in Last Night in Soho—features a feline flick of liner played up by lashes that mirror the swooping shape.

Double Liner

Euphoria beauty is a genre all its own, thanks in large part to makeup artist Donni Davy. Alexa Demie’s Maddie’s makeup tends toward sleek drama and exaggeration, and this sharp double-wing is an encapsulating example. Wear with a slicked updo and an aggressive amount of attitude for an authentic representation.

Blue Romance

Blue is back, and this mid-'90s eye look is an ideal way to match the moment. Angelina Jolie's cornflower blue in Hackers remains relevant, particularly when augmented by neofuturistic details like multiple flicks of liner and extended brows.

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