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"If you have good makeup, it can really take the pressure off of finding a Halloween costume," explains MAC makeup artist, Chantel Miller. "But, every year, we see people come into the store in a panic because they were either too ambitious with their idea or waited until the last minute to try it out."
To avoid this, Miller recommends having a realistic goal about what you can accomplish pre-Halloween fête ("You won't suddenly become a pro just because it's the last day of October," she points out), doing a practice run at least a few days before the 31st, and, if all else fails, booking an appointment at a MAC makeup counter well in advance to get the experts' help.
As for some ideas about possible faces to try on this All Hallow's Eve? "This year is interesting because there isn't a big movie, like Avatar, that a lot of people will copy," explains Miller. "But TV and the spring 2012 runways were packed with inspiration." Here are a few of her easy-to-recreate styles that will satisfy girlie-girls and die-hard fright night fans, alike.
1. 1960s Vixen
"With shows like Pan Am bringing back the retro trend, a great last-minute costume idea is to go as an old-school sweetheart," explains Miller. "All you need to do is keep your skin clean except for a little blush, wear a pink, opaque lipstick, and apply many coats of lengthening mascara." Pair the look with a shift dress, knee-high boots, and a perky ponytail, and you're good to go.
2. Robert Palmer Lady
He may have been addicted to love, but you're addicted to simplicity. "I love the 1980s glam-rocker look of slicked-back hair, bold brows, and red lips," adds Miller. "After that, all you need is a white button-down, black mini-skirt, and inflatable guitar."
3. Futuristic Femme-Bot
Blame it on Olivia Wilde. "The one movie makeup trend we might see this year is the sci-fi look from Tron," notes Miller. "This space-age aesthetic would work particularly well on women with jet-black or platinum blonde hair. Stick to silver shades for your smoky eye and use black eyeliner pencil to fill in your lips."
4. Hee-Haw Girl
"Jeremy Scott's spring show was a fun reference to old-time cowgirls," she adds. "Part your hair into pigtails, use lots of mascara, and dot your eyebrow pencil on your cheeks to create exaggerated—and super cute—freckles." The only hard part is shimmying into your Daisy Dukes.
5. Vampire or Zombie.
"The biggest mistake people make with these types of looks is that they use white foundation too heavily," warns Miller. "White eye shadow is a more transparent and flattering way to create a paler face." Miller also suggests using darker eye shadow tones to contour beyond-the-grave cheekbones. As for her secret trick to acing ghostly mugs that are still a little sultry? "Keep your look slightly asymmetrical," she continues. "Having subtly mismatching eye makeup will be disarming. Remember: Not-so-perfect execution can be especially sexy on Halloween."
