Halloween Makeup: 3 Easy Ideas Using Just 2 Products

Key takeaway: A great Halloween face paint look for kids doesn’t require professional supplies or 10 different colors. With just two products, you can create a skeleton, a spider, and a scarecrow in less than 10 minutes each: white water-based face paint and black face paint for the first two, and orange face paint and a fine black pencil for the third. Namaki eyeshadows and pencils are Cosmos Organic certified, formulated with natural and organic ingredients, and dermatologically tested. They are water-based and can be removed with warm water and mild soap, without the need for harsh makeup removers.

Table of Contents

• Why limit yourself to just two products for kids' Halloween makeup?
• How do you create a skeleton makeup look using black and white?
• How do you make a spider using black and white?
• What kind of Halloween makeup for kids can you do in 5 minutes using orange eyeshadow and a black eyeliner pencil?
• How do you choose makeup that's suitable for children's skin?
• Three duos, an entire evening

October 31 always seems to come around faster than expected. Between finishing the costume and preparing the candy, no one wants to have a bunch of products spread out on the kitchen table. Good news: the most effective Halloween makeup looks are often the simplest, because they rely on contrast rather than detail. Here are 3 ideas that have been tested on and approved by active kids, each achievable with just 2 products, a brush, and a little water.

Why limit yourself to just two products for kids' Halloween makeup?

Because fewer products mean less time in the chair, and a child rarely sits still for more than 10 minutes. Two well-chosen colors are all you need to create a Halloween makeup look that stands out: a dark shade to define and contour, and a light shade to highlight and bring out features.

Limiting the number of products also has a practical advantage: you don't have to search for the right color among 12 pans, and removing your makeup at night is faster. With water-based eyeshadows, a damp washcloth and mild soap are usually all you need.

How do you create a skeleton makeup look using black and white?

Start by applying white all over the face, then outline the recesses in black. Dampen the brush, load it with white eyeshadow, and cover the forehead, cheeks, and chin.

Next, let the black do all the work. Outline your eyes with two generous circles, darken the tip of your nose to look like a small inverted heart, then draw a horizontal line across your lips with 4 or 5 vertical lines crossing it: these are the teeth.

The 3 Mistakes That Ruin a Skeleton

• Load the brush with water until the eyeshadow runs. Wipe off the excess water on a tissue before applying.
• If you draw the eye sockets too small, they’ll disappear when viewed from a distance. Make sure to extend them well out toward the temples.
• Wanting perfect contours. A child's skeleton is better off remaining a little irregular.

How do you make a spider using black and white?

White creates the web; black draws the spider. Using a fine brush and white eyeshadow, draw a quarter of a web on one temple: 4 lines extending from the corner of the eye toward the top of the forehead and the ear, then 3 arcs connecting them, gradually widening as they extend outward.

On the black background, place a small round body on the cheek or at the edge of the canvas, topped with a smaller head, then add 8 folded legs, 4 on each side. A thin black line along the brow bone ties the whole design together and gives the impression that the web extends across the entire face.

What kind of Halloween makeup for kids can you do in 5 minutes using orange eyeshadow and a black eyeliner pencil?

The scarecrow, which comes down to just a few well-placed strokes. It's the quickest Halloween face paint design for kids in this selection, and the one that works best for the youngest children, because it leaves most of the skin exposed.

Start with the orange eyeshadow, applying it to just three areas: the entire outline of the right eye—which becomes the large patchwork piece of fabric—the tip of the nose, and a small shape above the left eye, either a diamond or a circle, like a piece of canvas sewn on crookedly. Leave the rest of the face bare.

The thin black pencil does the rest. Trace the outline of each orange area with a clean line, then add a few stitches along those outlines. Finish with the mouth: a line running from one cheek to the other, crossed by 5 or 6 small perpendicular lines. The pencil allows for a precise line without shaking, even when the child is talking.

How do you choose makeup that's suitable for children's skin?

Check the ingredients and labels before looking at the price. Children’s skin is delicate: makeup designed for adults, which is loaded with fragrance or synthetic ingredients, isn’t the best choice for an entire evening. The Cosmos Organic label guarantees a minimum percentage of natural and organic ingredients, as well as compliance with environmental standards.

Our eyeshadows are Cosmos Organic certified, natural, organic, and vegan, and have been dermatologically tested. They are water-based and solvent-free. Our 4-color Halloween makeup kit already includes the shades used here. If you’re looking to add to your collection, our organic makeup pencils make it easier to create fine lines for parents who aren’t comfortable using a brush.

When evening comes, take your time: we'll walk you through the steps for gently removing a child's makeup without rubbing or causing irritation.

Three duos, an entire evening

With just two well-chosen products, you can cover three Halloween themes: the skeleton and spider in black and white, and the scarecrow in orange and black. Each design takes less than 10 minutes to complete, is easy to touch up between visits to different houses, and washes off with warm water. What matters most isn’t the precision of the lines—it’s the time spent together in front of the mirror.

If you want to take it a step further, we also offer 5 Halloween makeup themes for kids and adults, as well as other easy Halloween makeup looks you can try as a family.