Cartoon zombie with one big round eye ringGreen, white, black. A wide white ring on brow bone and cheek around one eye, small ring around the other.
Dusty zombie with dirt smudgesGray, brown, moss green. Gray base, brown smudges on the nose bridge, chin and one cheek, green at the edges.
Frozen zombie with frost-white brows and blue lipsBlue-gray, white, blue. Blue-gray base off the lids, white dabbed along the brows and hairline, blue lips.
Moss-patched zombieGray, moss green, brown. Gray base with green stippled patches on the forehead, one cheek and the jaw.
Sleepy zombie with one drooping browGray-green, purple, black. One brow drawn low and slanted, the other high, purple bags on the upper cheeks.
Zombie grin of square painted teethGray-green, white, black. Square teeth drawn above the top lip and below the bottom lip, black gaps.
Zombie on one half, bare skin on the otherGray-green, purple, black. One half painted zombie green with a sunken socket, the other half left bare.
Zombie with cracked dry-earth skinGray-green, dark brown. Brown crack lines spread from the temples and chin like dried mud.
Zombie with dark gray under the cheekbones and jawGray-green, dark gray, white. Dark gray sponged under the cheekbones and down the jaw sides.
Zombie with dark veins from the templesPale gray, blue gray, purple. Thin branching vein lines creep from both temples onto the cheekbones.
Zombie with gray-green skin and sunken socketsGray-green, purple gray, black. Green-gray base off the lids, purple shadow on brow bone and upper cheek.
Zombie with patchy mold spotsGray-green, yellow green, white. Clusters of dots in three sizes on the forehead and along one jawline.
Skeletons and skulls 12
Cracked skull with a split over one browWhite, black, gray. A crack runs from the hairline to one socket shadow and forks twice.
Full skull with a row of teeth over the lipsWhite, black, gray. White base, black nose triangle, sockets on brow bone and cheek, teeth across the mouth.
Half skull, left side onlyWhite, black, gray. Skull painted on one side of the nose line, the other side bare, jagged edge between.
Pirate-flag skull and crossed bones on a cheekWhite, black. A small skull above two crossed bones on one cheek, black outline, nothing else.
Skeleton in gray shadows, no white baseGray, black. Bare skin; gray sockets, black nose triangle, gray cheek hollows and thin tooth lines.
Skeleton teeth along the jawline onlyWhite, black. A row of long teeth follows the lower jaw from ear to ear; the rest of the face is bare.
Skeleton with forehead suture linesWhite, gray, black. A zigzag seam across the forehead and one down the middle, gray sockets, black nose.
Skull with a second tooth row on the chinWhite, black, gray. Teeth across the lips, then a second jaw curve with teeth on the chin, as if the jaw hangs open.
Skull with cheekbone arches drawn inWhite, black, gray. Two black curved lines hollow each cheek, gray blended below, teeth at the lip corners.
Skull with hinged-jaw lines at the earsWhite, black. Jaw outline drawn from each ear to the chin with a small hinge circle below the cheekbone.
Smiling skeleton with heart-shaped nose holeWhite, black, gray. An upside-down heart on the nose tip, wide tooth row, soft gray socket shadows.
X-ray skull in blue and whiteDeep blue, white, pale blue. Blue base off the lids, white skull lines on top, pale blue cheek hollows.
Vampires and ghosts 12
Bat-winged vampire browsBlack, purple. Each brow becomes a small bat wing that spreads over the brow bone to the temple.
Chain-rattling ghost with links down one cheekWhite, gray, black. Pale cheeks, a line of five gray chain links from the temple down to the jaw.
Ghost in white with long gray hollowsWhite, gray. White base off the lids, long gray ovals on brow bone and cheek, a stretched gray mouth.
Ghost with a wailing mouth shapeWhite, black, gray. A tall black oval painted around the lips down onto the chin, gray rings above.
Haunted portrait with a cobweb veilWhite, gray, black. Pale base; fine web lines hang from the hairline over the forehead and one cheek.
Misty ghost fading at the jawWhite, pale blue. White on the forehead and cheeks, sponged thinner toward the jaw until it disappears.
Pale vampire with a black point at the hairlineWhite, black, gray. Pale base, a black point painted down from the hairline, gray cheek hollows.
Three little ghosts chasing over the foreheadWhite, black. Three teardrop ghosts fly from one temple to the other, each with two dot eyes.
Vampire fangs drawn over the bottom lipWhite, black, dark red. Two long white fangs start at the top lip and end on the chin, dark red lips.
Vampire with purple shadows and a bat broochPurple, white, black. Purple on brow bone and upper cheek, a tiny bat painted on the chin like a pin.
Vampire with tall collar points up the jaw sidesWhite, black, dark red. Two tall collar points painted up each side of the jaw toward the ears.
Vampire's sharp brows and pointed sideburnsBlack, white, gray. Sharp black brows angled up to the temples, pointed sideburn lines by each ear.
Monsters and creatures 12
Gargoyle in stone grayGray, dark gray, white. Gray base, heavy brow ridge drawn above the brows, crack lines, white highlights.
Goblin with a long grin and pointed browsGreen, yellow green, black. Brows drawn to points at the temples, grin line curling up both cheeks.
Mummy with bandage bands across the faceWhite, cream, gray. Level bands across forehead, nose and chin with gray edge lines, gaps left bare around the eyes.
Patchwork monster in two greens with seam linesGreen, yellow green, black. Uneven patches of two greens on forehead and cheeks, black dashed seams between.
Purple monster with one big eye on the foreheadPurple, white, black. A big round eye in the middle of the forehead, purple spots on the cheeks.
Shadow creature with hollow cheeks onlyBlack, gray. Bare skin with deep gray hollows under the cheekbones and at the temples, nothing more.
Swamp creature with scales on the cheeksGreen, teal, yellow. Overlapping scale arcs on the cheeks and forehead, a yellow dot in every third.
Troll with two short horns at the hairlineMoss green, black, white. Two short curved horns at the hairline, pointed brows, a white fang at each lip corner.
Villain's split grin and slanted browsBlack, white, dark red. Slanted slash brows meet at the nose, the smile line forks at each end.
Werewolf with fur-stroke cheeks and a snarl lineBrown, gray, black. Fur strokes sweep out over both cheeks, a curled snarl line above the top lip, black nose tip.
Wicked sorceress with arched brows and cheek linesPurple, black, white. Tall arched brows, a hard purple line under each cheekbone, dark lips.
Yeti with frost-blue shadows and two bottom fangsWhite, pale blue, gray. White fur strokes on forehead and cheeks, blue under the brow ridge, two fangs on the chin.
Quick, black and white 12
Black nose triangle and tooth linesBlack. An upside-down triangle on the nose tip and six short lines across the closed lips.
Cracks branching from one templeBlack. One forked line from the temple to the cheekbone and one to the brow, each splitting twice.
Goblin ear points rising from the brow endsBlack. A pointed ear outline rises from the outer end of each brow toward the hairline, two short lines inside.
Jagged monster teeth under the bottom lipBlack, white. A row of white triangles below the bottom lip from corner to corner, outlined in black.
Monster brows and one fangBlack, white. Thick zigzag brows above the real ones, one white fang at a corner of the mouth.
Mummy wrap lines across the forehead and chinBlack. Four slanting lines cross the forehead and three cross the chin, like the edges of wrapping bands.
Skeleton fingers creeping over the hairlineWhite, black. Four finger bones hang down from the hairline over one side of the forehead, joints as small gaps.
Skull marks: brow arcs, nose and a tooth rowBlack, white. Two arcs on the brow bones, a black mark on the nose tip, white tooth dots along the lips.
Sponged white ghost with a black mouth dotWhite, black. White sponged over forehead and cheeks, a black oval on each upper cheek, black mouth dot.
Two fangs and a widow's peak, nothing elseBlack, white. A point at the hairline and two fangs on the lower lip; the rest of the face stays bare.
Wolf nose tip and four fang marksBlack, white. A black nose tip with a line down to the lip, two fangs down from the top lip and two up from the bottom.
Zigzag monster spines along both jaw sidesBlack. A row of small triangles follows each side of the jaw from ear to chin, like a ridge of spines.
How it works
These scary face paint ideas are 60 frightening faces sorted by creature, 12 to a group. Each one scares by shape and shadow: sunken sockets painted on the brow bone and cheek, hollow cheeks, teeth drawn over the lips. None uses a wound or blood.
Read the full guide
Zombie face paint ideas
A zombie is gray-green skin and tired eyes. Sponge the base, keep it off the eyelids, then shade the brow bone and upper cheek in purple gray: Zombie with gray-green skin and sunken sockets is the plain one. Moss-patched zombie and Zombie with cracked dry-earth skin add one texture each.
Skeleton face paint ideas
Three marks make a skull: a black triangle on the nose tip, shadow around the eye sockets, and teeth across the lips. Half skull, left side only leaves one side bare. Skeleton in gray shadows, no white base skips the base coat.
Questions and answers
What are some easy scary face paint ideas?
The Quick, black and white group holds 12 that need one or two colors: Black nose triangle and tooth lines, Two fangs and a widow's peak, nothing else, Wolf nose tip and four fang marks.
Which creepy face paint ideas leave most of the face bare?
Shadow creature with hollow cheeks only, Cracks branching from one temple and Skeleton teeth along the jawline only. Each is a few lines or one sponge shadow on bare skin.
Are there evil face paint ideas that are not a monster?
Yes, by shape alone: Wicked sorceress with arched brows and cheek lines and Villain's split grin and slanted brows. Angled brows and a hard line under the cheekbone do the work.
Which scary face paint ideas for Halloween suit a younger child?
The mild ones: Cartoon zombie with one big round eye ring, Three little ghosts chasing over the forehead and Smiling skeleton with heart-shaped nose hole. Clowns have their own list; witches, cats and pumpkins are on the Halloween list.
What paint is used for a zombie or skeleton face?
Face paint sold for use on skin, and nothing else. The US FDA says to follow all directions and to believe a label that says a product is not for use near the eyes. Take it off before bed, the way the label says.