Bent witch's hat beside a sliver of moon, on one cheekBlack, purple, yellow. A bent hat with a purple band on one cheek, a thin yellow moon by the cheekbone.
Cauldron witch with bubbles up the cheekBlack, green, purple. A small pot on the jaw, green bubbles rising to the cheekbone, purple steam curl.
Forest witch with a moss and toadstool brow bandMoss green, red, white. A band of stippled moss over the brows, three spotted toadstools at one temple.
Good witch with a star ring on one cheekSilver gray, white, deep blue. Nine small stars in a circle on one cheek, one larger star in the middle.
Good witch with frost swirls on the cheekbonesWhite, silver gray, pale blue. Two curling lines on each cheekbone with dots at the ends.
Good witch with seven stars around one templeSilver gray, white, pale blue. Seven stars in three sizes curve from one temple around to the cheek.
Good witch's wand and a looping dot trailSilver gray, white, lilac. A wand on the cheek, its trail of dots looping over the cheekbone to the brow.
Green witch with a hooked brow lineGreen, black, purple. Green sponged on cheeks and forehead off the lids, brows redrawn black with a hook.
Kitchen witch with herb sprigs on the cheekGreen, brown, black. Three small leafy sprigs tied with a line of string on one cheek, black lips.
Witch with a broomstick flying over the browBlack, brown, yellow. A tiny broom and rider cross the forehead above one brow, yellow moon behind.
Witch with a cobweb at the temple and a beauty spotBlack, green. A quarter web at one temple, a round spot above the lip, black lips.
Witch with striped-stocking bands on the cheeksPurple, black, green. Three purple and black bands on each cheek like stockings, a green star above each.
The face is the costume 12
Cactus with spine ticks and a hairline flowerGreen, white, pink. Green cheeks and chin, white spine ticks, a pink bloom at the hairline. Wear: green top and tights.
Chef with a curled mustache and flour smudgesBlack, white. A thin curled mustache, white smudges on one cheek and the forehead. Wear: apron, paper hat, a spoon.
Gingerbread face: wavy white lines, pink cheek dotsWhite, pink, brown. Wavy white lines on brow and cheeks, pink cheek dots, chin buttons. Wear: brown clothes.
Gnome with rosy cheeks and white beard strokesRed, white, pink. Pink nose and cheeks, white beard strokes on the chin. Wear: red pointed hat, belt, boots.
Marionette with round cheeks and string lines at the templesRed, brown, black. Red cheek circles, a string line from each temple to the hairline. Wear: suspenders, shorts, strings.
Old-time aviator with pushed-up goggle ringsBrown, tan, gray. Two goggle rings on the forehead, freckles, a drawn chin strap. Wear: scarf, jacket, boots.
Painter with color blobs and a nose smudgeMixed bright colors. A palette of five blobs on one cheek, a smudge on the nose and chin. Wear: apron, beret, a brush.
Rag doll with round cheeks and a button noseRed, black, white. Red cheek circles, a round button nose, stitched smile ends. Wear: patched dress, odd socks, bows.
Storm cloud on the forehead, blue drops on both cheeksGray, white, blue. Cloud across the forehead, blue drops falling over both cheeks. Wear: gray sweater, yellow boots.
Strawberry: red cheeks and chin, leaf-green hairlineRed, green, white. Red on cheeks and chin, white seed dots, green leaves at the hairline. Wear: red top, green hat.
Toy soldier with a gold strap line along the jawRed, black, gold. Red cheek circles, black brows, a gold strap line along the jaw to the chin. Wear: jacket, tall hat.
Wizard with stars and a painted beard lineDeep blue, silver gray, white. Stars on the temples, white curls along the jaw. Wear: bathrobe, paper cone hat.
For two 12
Bat and belfry windowBlack, purple, gray. One has a bat across the nose, the other an arched window on the cheek with tiny bats leaving.
Candy corn halvesYellow, orange, white. Each paints one tilted candy corn on the outer cheek, tips pointing toward the other person.
Cat and mouse, one face eachBlack, gray, pink. One wears cat whiskers and ear points, the other round gray ears on the forehead and a pink nose.
Cat ears on one, a moon forehead on the otherBlack, yellow, white. One wears the cat's ears and nose, the other a yellow moon on the forehead with a cat shape in it.
Cloud forehead and star forehead, same layoutBlue, white, deep blue, yellow. One forehead of clouds and a sun, one of stars and a moon, same layout on both.
One toothy pumpkin grin shared across two cheeksOrange, black. Each paints half a toothy grin on the cheek that faces the other; it joins when they stand close.
One wears the web, the other wears its spiderBlack, white. One wears a web from the nose bridge outward, the other a spider on the cheek with a thread up.
Owl brows on one, bark and a knothole on the otherBrown, tan, black. One wears owl brows and a beak, the other bark lines on the forehead with a dark knothole.
Rays at one hairline, a crescent down the other faceYellow, orange, silver gray, blue. One wears rays around the hairline, the other a crescent down one side and stars.
Scarecrow and crowTan, orange, black. One has stitched cheek circles and a triangle nose, the other a beak point and feather brows.
TRICK on one cheek, TREAT on the other person'sOrange, black. One wears TRICK in block letters on the cheek, the other TREAT, each with a small wrapped candy below.
Two halves of one autumn leafRed, orange, brown. Each paints half a maple leaf along the jaw on the side that meets the other face.
For adults 16
Brow-width web in fine line with one tiny spiderBlack. A thin web the width of the brow, anchored at the temple and the nose bridge, with one tiny spider.
Cracked-porcelain forehead above the browsWhite, gray, black. Pale forehead only, three fine cracks from the hairline; nothing below the brow line.
Cream wax drips running down to the brow lineCream, pale yellow. Long and short drips run down the forehead and one temple and stop at the brow.
Fine-line black cat arched on the cheekboneBlack. A cat in one continuous outline, back arched, tail curling up to the temple.
Five barred feathers on the upper cheek, by the templeBrown, tan, white. Five small barred feathers fan from the temple over the upper cheek, above the beard line.
Half face of autumn leaves, stopping at the jawRust, orange, gold. Leaves overlap on one side from the hairline to the jaw; the other side stays bare.
Half face of bare branchesBlack, gray. A tree trunk rises from the jaw on one side, its branches spreading over the cheek and brow bone.
Haunted-house skyline along the jawBlack, yellow. Rooftops, a crooked tower and a fence along one jawline, three yellow window dots.
Lantern light on one cheekOrange, yellow, black. A small iron lantern outline on the cheek, yellow sponged around it in a soft ring.
Masquerade band of fine swirls on brow bone and cheekboneBlack, gold. Scrolls above each brow and below each eye, lids bare, joined at the temples.
Pumpkin vine along the hairlineGreen, orange. A curling stem with five leaves and two small pumpkins from temple to temple, clear of beard and glasses.
Raven wing in long strokes from one temple, up and backBlack, deep blue. Long feather strokes from one temple up and back; stops above the beard line.
Row of candles above the brows, clear of a beardCream, orange, yellow. Five small candles stand on a line above the brows, flames leaning one way; the rest is bare.
Seven moons, new to full and back, above the browsSilver gray, white. Seven small moons from new to full and back in a row; clears glasses and stops above a beard.
Stained-glass bat wing on the upper cheekBlack, purple, deep blue. Wing panels outlined in black and filled in two colors, tip at the temple.
Thorn vine along one cheekboneBlack, dark green. A fine curving stem from the temple to the nose side, a thorn every finger-width.
Classic 16
Bat and yellow moon on the foreheadBlack, yellow. A round moon above one brow with a single bat crossing it.
Bat colony rising from the jaw to the templeBlack. Seven bats from large to tiny fly up one side of the face.
Black cat paw prints stepping over the nose bridgeBlack, pink. Five paw prints step from one cheek over the nose bridge to the other, a pink dot in each pad.
Carved-pumpkin face: brow-bone triangles and a tooth grinOrange, black, green. Orange off the lids, triangle patches on brow bones, wide tooth grin, green stem.
Cat with a white muzzle and a pink heart noseBlack, white, pink. White muzzle ovals, a pink heart on the nose tip, three short black stripes on each cheekbone.
Cat with its back up on a cheek-wide fenceBlack, yellow. A fence along the cheek and a cat with its back up on top, small yellow moon behind.
Cheek-wide web pinned at nose, jaw and templeBlack, white. A web anchored at the nose, the jaw and the temple, a spider at its outer edge.
Hanging bat on the cheekBlack, purple. One bat upside down from a line under the cheekbone, wings folded, two purple eye dots.
Jagged black grin outlined in orange, mouth onlyOrange, black. Only the mouth: a jagged black grin outlined in orange across the lips and both cheeks.
Pumpkin patch along the jawOrange, green, brown. Five pumpkins in different sizes sit along one jawline, joined by a curling vine.
Scarecrow with a crow on the foreheadBlack, tan, orange. A small crow perches above one brow; below it, stitched cheeks and a triangle nose.
Scarecrow with a triangle nose and thread smileOrange, brown, red. Orange triangle on the nose, red cheek circles, a brown smile of short stitches.
Scarecrow with straw at the hairlineYellow, tan, brown. Straw strokes poke down from the hairline and out at the jaw, brown patch on the chin.
Spider family walking over the nose bridgeBlack. Three spiders in a row from one cheek over the nose to the other, the middle one largest.
Spider with long legs wrapped around the cheekBlack, red. Body on the cheekbone, legs reaching to the jaw, the nose side and the temple, red back spot.
Winking pumpkin on the foreheadOrange, black, yellow. One pumpkin above the brows with one triangle eye, one curved wink line, a yellow halo.
Cute, for small children 16
Baby bat with a bowBlack, pink, white. A round bat with stubby wings and a pink bow on one cheek, white dot eyes.
BOO in bubble lettersWhite, black, orange. Three round letters across one cheek, dot eyes inside the two Os.
Bubbling pot with a spoonBlack, green, purple. A small round pot on the cheek, three green bubbles and a spoon handle sticking out.
Candy apple on a stickRed, brown, white. A round red apple on the cheek with a stick and a white shine curve.
Coin-size pumpkin with dot eyes and pink cheeksOrange, green, pink. A pumpkin the size of a coin on one cheek with dot eyes, a smile and two pink dots.
Crow in a tiny hatBlack, purple, yellow. A round crow on the cheek with a yellow beak and a small purple hat.
Floppy purple hat, yellow star on its bandPurple, black, yellow. A floppy pointed hat on one cheek with a yellow star on the band.
Friendly spider with a smileBlack, white. Round body, eight short bent legs, two white eyes and a smile on one cheek.
Kitten sitting in a hollow pumpkin, ears showingBlack, orange, pink. A pumpkin bowl on the cheek with a black kitten inside, two ears and a pink nose above the rim.
Lollipop swirlPink, white, orange. A spiral circle on a white stick on the cheek, tilted toward the ear.
Orange treat pail with colored candy dots on topOrange, black, mixed colors. A bucket with a handle on the cheek, colored dots of candy on top.
Short candle with dot eyes, flame leaning to the earCream, yellow, orange. A short candle on the cheek with dot eyes, a smile and a flame leaning to the ear.
Smiley moon and two starsYellow, white. A crescent with a closed eye and a smile on the cheek, a star above and below.
Spotted toadstool with a snailRed, white, brown. A toadstool on the cheek with white spots and a small snail beside its stalk.
Three candy corns fanned on the apple of the cheekYellow, orange, white. Three small candy corns in a fan, tips together, on the apple of the cheek.
Wrapped candy in stripesPink, white, purple. One candy with twisted ends on the cheek, three stripes across the middle.
Spooky without a creature 12
Bat-wing shape from the outer eye cornerBlack, purple. A wing outline starts beside the eye on the cheekbone and spreads to the temple; lid bare.
Cracked-porcelain cheekWhite, gray, black. A pale patch on one cheek with fine black cracks spreading from a point near the nose.
Door ajar on the cheek with a wedge of yellow lightBlack, yellow. A tall door outline on the cheek standing ajar, a yellow wedge of light spilling toward the jaw.
Fog swirls along the cheekboneWhite, gray. Three long curls drift from the ear toward the nose, sponged soft at the edges.
Iron gate bars on the cheekBlack. Five upright bars with pointed tips and one curl between each, on one cheek.
Keyhole on the foreheadBlack, gold. A keyhole shape in the middle of the forehead with a thin gold rim and a shadow line.
Old lace along the hairlineWhite, gray. Scallops and dots from temple to temple like the edge of a veil.
Pale moon over one brow, crossed by two cloud bandsPale yellow, gray, deep blue. A moon above one brow with two bands of cloud drifting across it.
Row of buttons sewn down one cheekBlack, red, white. Four round buttons in a line from cheekbone to jaw, each with a cross of thread.
Shattered-mirror lines from one cheekBlack, silver gray. Straight lines burst from a point on the cheek, some shards filled in gray.
Tattered curtain edge down one side of the faceGray, black, white. A ragged hem hangs from the temple to the jaw with three tears and loose threads.
Winter twigs reaching down over forehead and templeBlack. Branches reach down over the forehead and one temple like cracks in ice.
How it works
These Halloween face paint ideas are 96 designs sorted by who wears them: 16 for adults, 16 cute ones for small children, 16 classics, 12 witches, 12 faces that are the whole costume and 12 for two people.
Read the full guide
Halloween face painting ideas for adults
For adults holds half-face and partial designs. Several stop short of a beard and say where: Row of candles above the brows, clear of a beard stays on the forehead, and Cracked-porcelain forehead above the brows stays above the brow line. Seven moons, new to full and back, above the brows clears glasses.
Witch face paint ideas and the classics
Witches opens with Green witch with a hooked brow line and has kitchen and forest witches and four good witches in silver. Classic holds cats, pumpkins, scarecrows, bats and spiders. Skeletons, vampires, ghosts and zombies are on the scary face list, and clowns have their own.
Questions and answers
Which Halloween face paint ideas for guys with beards work best?
The ones that end above the beard line: Raven wing in long strokes from one temple, up and back, Pumpkin vine along the hairline and Five barred feathers on the upper cheek, by the temple.
Which are the Halloween face paint ideas for women?
None is set aside: every design is for whoever wants it. The fine-line ones are a common start: Brow-width web in fine line with one tiny spider, Thorn vine along one cheekbone, Fine-line black cat arched on the cheekbone.
What are easy Halloween face painting ideas for cheeks?
Quick marks 14 small designs, most of them on a cheek: Coin-size pumpkin with dot eyes and pink cheeks, Three candy corns fanned on the apple of the cheek, Friendly spider with a smile, Hanging bat on the cheek.
Which Halloween costume face paint ideas need no bought costume?
The face is the costume holds 12, each with clothes from a closet: Chef with a curled mustache and flour smudges, Wizard with stars and a painted beard line, Rag doll with round cheeks and a button nose.
Are these DIY Halloween face paint ideas?
Yes: each is painted at home with a sponge and two brushes. Use only face paint sold for use on skin and follow its label. The US FDA suggests trying a dab on your arm for a couple of days before a first use.