Halloween isn’t all fun-sized candy and games when you can’t conjure up a costume. In a creativity-crisis, the holiday becomes a total drag, but turning to pop culture and your favorite stars can help. And by that we mean copying their style, whether it’s their IRL digs or a character they’ve played on TV. We rounded up a few solid celebrity Halloween costumes, plus tips and beauty products you need to totally nail the look on October 31st.
Taylor Swift
Tay has had a year. And one way to make sure you stay out of Halloween bad blood (excuse the pun, please) is coping her signature beauty look. It’s as classic as they come, so you likely have everything you need already in your arsenal. But if not, we’ve got you covered.
What You’ll Need:
-Red lipstick is a must. Go for something with long-lasting pigment that won’t wear off on your glass of apple cider and a matte finish. We love Buxom Big and Sexy Bold Gel Lipstick in Red Inferno ($22, sephora.com) It goes on smooth, doesn’t dry out your lips, and delivers high-impact color.
-Liquid eyeliner pens that have precise tips will be perfect for drawing the flawless cat-eye wing Taylor wears so well. Try Kat Von D Tattoo Liner ($19, sephora.com)—make it bold if you’re going for Tay at the VMAs, or smaller if you’re doing Taylor Walking Around NYC.
-A complexion product is key, but stick to something with a natural finish that will even out any dark or rosy patches. We have come to adore Honest Beauty’s Beyond Protected Daily Beauty Fluid Sheer Tint ($28, honestbeauty.com), a protect with a sun protectant element and a light tint.
-In terms of hair, give yourself a blowout and apply R + Co’s Park Ave Blowout Balm ($28, randco.com) for extra fullness and a smooth finish. You can even use a protect like L’Oreal Professionnel’s Wild Stylers ($25.50, lpsalons.com) at the root for extra volume or to break up the look, a la Taylor onstage.
Kim Kardashian
The apparel portion of this costume should be easy—all you need is a body-con, mid-length dress in beige or black. It’ll be all about the contour for makeup, and you can play it safe with the hair (Kim rocks a ton of different ‘dos) with a slicked back style. It’s an extra bonus if you don’t have time to wash your hair.
What You’ll Need:
-A nude glossy lip product is a must. You can top off a nude lipstick with a high-shine gloss or oil like Yes to Coconuts Cooling Coconut Lip Oil ($5, yestocarrots.com) or just go full-out Kardashian with the Honey Stick Lipgloss in Natural Honey ($9, ulta.com)-Enhance your lashes with falsies—Ardell’s Double Up Lashes ($5, walgreens.com) should help you go above and beyond.
-If you don’t regularly contour, you can’t go past a contouring palette like Smashbox Step by Step Contour Kit ($45, sephora.com), which even comes with directions.
-Slick your hair down with a hair oil like Kardashian Beauty Black Seed Dry Oil ($16, ulta.com.)
Blake Lively in “The Age of Adaline”
Conquering this beauty look is all in the hair, which is no surprise given its a role played by ultimate haircrush Blake Lively. Get yourself some pearl earrings, pointed flats, a printed sweater, and an A-line skirt to complete the get-up. Now on to beauty…
What You’ll Need:
-Flexible hairspray. Alright, hear us out. After you create a deep-side part, you need to get started on that vintage hair twist. It will unravel without some sort of staying power, so we opt for a formula that won’t leave hair crunchy. Try Carol’s Daughter Monoi Repairing Flexible Hold Hairspray ($22, ulta.com.) After you create the twist and pin it back, you can test out either cascading ’40s waves or a low ponytail.
-She’s timeless, so go the same route with your makeup. Copy that natural, rosy cheek with Wander Beauty’s Cheek Tint in Dusty Rose ($25, wanderbeauty.com)
-Enhance your lashes with a mascara that lengthens and curls like Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Curling and Lifting Mascara ($24, sephora.com.)
Kate Middleton
A Duchess of Cambridge costume is nothing new at all, but you can recreate her most famous moment of the year (emerging with Princess Charlotte!) for Halloween. A new twist on the royal costume, if you will. Besides a sophisticated floral dress or a tailored coat and a massive sapphire ring, recreating Kate’s beauty look is what REALLY elevates this look.
What You’ll Need:
-The key to a Kate Middleton costume is all in the bouncy blowout. And for that, we recommend a smoothing and volumizing product like Oribe’s Imperial Blowout Styling Creme ($68, oribe.com.) While pricey, it gives your hair that glamorous height and actually transforms into a powder to soak up oils at your roots. Flip up the ends of your hair in a subtle curl to complete the look.
-Eyeliner all around the eye is essential, but don’t go overboard. Try a black or midnight blue hue from Urban Decay’s Waterline Pencil Collection ($20 each, urbandecay.com.)
-Keep your lipstick and blush in the same color family. You can even multitask your lip product by dabbing it on your cheekbones. Try Pixi Beauty Mattelustre Lipstick ($12, target.com.)
Cookie from “Empire”
This character’s beauty look, played by Taraji P. Henson, is the epitome of glamour. She favors fancy waves, but this season has been experimenting with the high bun (because who doesn’t love options?). Go for texture with furs and statement jewels in true Cookie style.
What You’ll Need:
–A bright lipstick shade is more than necessary. Try a bold neon pink color like MAC Cosmetics All Fired Up ($17, maccosmetics.com.)
-You can rock a bold eye makeup look, too. No need to keep the shadow subtle. Invest in a metallic or shimmery palette that has rich jewel tones, like Japonesque Pixelated Palette ($38, ulta.com.)
-Give your brows the ultimate grooming treatment. Keep them shapely and fill in any sparse spots with Wander Beauty Micro Brow Pencil ($22, wanderbeauty.com), a product with an extremely fine-tip that looks super natural.
Gwen Stefani
If you truly want to copy a celeb with iconic style, go with Gwen Stefani. Platinum locks, an unconventional hairstyle, and a bold lip will seal the deal. Well, that and some L.A.M.B gear.
What You’ll Need:
-Gwen’s complexion is always flawless, so cover up any imperfections or dark circles with a heavy-duty concealer like Maybelline Master Conceal ($9, ulta.com.)
-Prep your hair with a taming product like TREsemme Smooth and Silky Anti-Frizz Secret Creme. Blow-dry, create a deep side part, and section off a portion of your hair in the front. Tie the rest back into a sleek knot and then straighten the remaining hair to create this look.
-A bold lip has become her signature. Whether it’s red or hot pink, just make sure the color is eye-catching. Try out Urban Decay’s Revolution Lipstick Collection ($22, urbandecay.com). The celeb is actually working on a collab with the brand!
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