Halloween Makeup How-To: A Man-Hunting Vampire

Picking a Halloween costume can cause an internal dilemma: You want a look that's both scary and sexy. Luckily for you, Make-up Designory Special Effects Character Instructor Jennifer Suarez takes us through the steps of creating a look that channels Dracula's seductive mistress, if he had one. Not to mention with the smoky eye, ghastly complexion, and killer red lip, you can pass on the ill-fitting plastic fangs that tear up your gums.

Face

To get the pale-as-a-ghost effect, Suarez lightened model Christina's skin tone two shades by mixing Make-up Designory Loose Powder in Zero, ($21, mudshop.com), a translucent white, with Make-up Designory Loose Powder in Shell, ($21, mudshop.com), a peachy-beige. The combination of the two colors made her face the perfect bone-white, while preventing her skin from turning pasty.

Next, Suarez contoured her face, using Make-up Designory Taupe Eye Color, ($13.50, mudshop.com), instead of a bronzer to keep the effect matte. Then, she highlighted her cheeks, forehead, and chin with Make-up Designory Honeysuckle Eye Color, ($13.50, mudshop.com). "We're not using blush since we want to maintain a bloodless complexion, and the shimmer adds a touch of necessary subtle softness," says Suarez. "You just have to be sure to keep it light so you don't overdo it. This pale-gold color is neutral enough that it won't look like it's floating on her face."

Eyebrows

Christina already had beautiful bold brows to begin with, so all Jennifer had to do was to touch them up. "If you don't already have a full set, you can open up the arch with tweezers and color them in," she says. For every-day brows, you would normally choose a pencil or powder that's a shade lighter than your natural brow hair, but for the sake of this look, you should definitely go darker. However, don't draw them on—you want to avoid "tattoo brows" at all costs.

Eyes

Suarez used only Make-up Designory Taupe Eye Color, ($13.50, mudshop.com), to create a sleep-deprived eye. (Dark circles are hot on a vampire, so take advantage while you can.) Check out Suarez's eyeshadow tricks here:

To make her eyes pop, Suarez used a technique where she pushed a soft black eye pencil into the tiny area between the lash line and the waterline. (Think of coloring in the spaces in between your lashes.) This trick instantly makes them look thicker and fuller, without mascara or tons of liner.

False Eyelashes

Falsies are a great way to ensure that you don't get raccoon eyes by the end of the night, plus they add major drama without loads of gloppy mascara. (Illamasqua has an extensive spread at sephora.com.) Watch as Suarez gives a detailed rundown on the prep work here:

Next, you're ready to lay on the drama. Suarez shows you how to apply, using Duo Eyelash Adhesive, ($5.95 at mudshop.com):

Mascara

The last thing you want is to make it obvious that you're wearing false lashes. Watch the trick to making them blend seamlessly, using Make-up Designory Cream Mascara, ($14, mudshop.com):

Touch Up the Lines

Finally, you'll want to camouflage any spots where the white string (that holds together the lash bits) may be peeking out. To hide these patches, stipple a black liner or mascara into the line.

Lips

To ebb on a matte finish that's more blood red than candy apple, Suarez took Make-up Designory Ladybug Satin Lipstick, ($15, mudshop.com), a bright red hue, and mixed it with two different black shadows: Make-up Designory Graphite Eye Color, ($13.50 mudshop.com), and Make-up Designory Onyx Eye Color, ($13.50 mudshop.com), to create a just-bitten color. She applied the hybrid hue around the outside of the lips and added a touch of Ladybug just in the middle. Suarez recommends using a lip brush for a more precise application. Watch the how-to below:

"After you're done creating your lip, used an angled makeup sponge to clean up the edges," says Suarez. "Nothing is worse than a messy red pout, so this acts as an eraser."

Fake Blood

For added drama, Suarez was all about the fake blood. When using this novelty, you want to let gravity take its course. Just a drop will do, and be sure to let it dry for a few minutes before you touch it. (Try not to laugh or smile since that might cause cracking or break up the bond with your skin.) "Don't try to draw on fake blood," says Suarez. "It'll look too artificial."

Final Look

So now that you've got the makeup down, you'll need to find the perfect costume to go with it. Pulling from items in your closet, a black dolman-sleeve top paired with a fire-engine red skirt will get you out the door. (Add black fishnets if you're feeling daring.) A cape is a surefire staple for any vampire's wardrobe and will keep you warm in the crisp October night. To vamp it up, try a red or black bustier.

In case you got lost along the way, watch the recap of the final look below. Happy haunting!