My inspiration for this Halloween look was a fall fairy prancing home through a damp, leaf-covered forest floor early in the morning after an all-night dance party with her fairy friends.
To really sell the fairy angle better, I even got some elfin ears, but, uh, getting those suckers to peek through when your hair is teased out “to here” and there are leaves and berries all over the place is really hard!
Hey, man. I tried.
My goals for this look were to…
- Make my skin look both muddy and shimmery, like I’d been prancing around in wet leaves. I figured that fairies partying all night long in the forest would tend to get a little dirty, but being magical creatures, they’d still retain their elfin glow.
- Wear fall leaves in some big-@ss hair
- Wear autumnal colors on my eyes
- Freak out my neighbors — because that’s how I roll 🙂
It’s weird, but I think that even with the dirty skin, the look still ended up kind of bridal/Victoria’s Secret.
Too bad about the elf ears, because I think they would have taken the look to the next level.
If you’re on the market for Halloween makeup-based ideas, this one was actually pretty easy to achieve, as far as the makeup goes.
The (muddy) skin
Even though I wanted my skin to look dirty, I still started with my regular foundation, MAC Face and Body, to smooth everything out.
Next, for the muddy/glowy effect, I mixed MAC Monster FX Tinted Mixing Medium in Dirt from the Rick Baker collection ($22) with shimmery MAC Old Gold Pigment ($21), and then stippled that randomly around my face, neck, shoulders and arms with a MAC 159 Duo Fibre Brush (although any skunk brush should do).
When it was dry, to create sort of an earthy feel, I contoured my face with MAC Give Me Sun Bronzer.
Then, because I really wanted a noticeable glow, I highlighted my cheeks, nose and cupid’s bow with a bronze highlighter, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Perfectly Poised ($33), from the new Divine Night holiday collection.
The big-@ss hair
Today marked three days since my last shampoo/conditioner session, which I did because I wanted my mop to actually look a little dirty and “lived in.” I think that made it easier to go bigger with the hair.
I also used hot rollers yesterday, so I had some leftover curls.
To lift my roots and boost volume, I applied a dry shampoo to the roots and teased the top layers, then sprayed hairspray all over everything to keep it big.
Next, the leaves and berries, which I snipped from a couple of plastic garland strands I got from Joann (on sale for $4!), and tied them into pieces of my hair with some brown paper jewelry cord ($3), also from Joann.
The autumnal eyes and lips
I think you could really do whatever you want for THE eyes and lips, especially if it incorporates autumnal colors like coppers, dark purples, golds and maybe greens, and as much glitter as possible to go with the fall fairy’s skin.
I used the following products from the MAC Rick Baker and Divine Night collections…
- MAC Divine Knight Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Raven (on my lids as a base)
- MAC Chromagraphic Pencil in Pure White (crease and brow bone as a base)
- MAC Eye Shadow in Folie (crease)
- MAC Eye Shadow in Carbon from the Rick Baker Monster’s Bride Pro Palette (the outer corners and lower lash lines)
- MAC Eye Shadow in Brun from the Monster’s Bride Palette (brows)
- MAC Glitter in Reflects Gold (all over my lids)
- MAC Divine Night Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Feline (water lines)
- MAC In Extreme Dimension 3D Black Lash (upper and lower lashes)
- MAC Divine Night Lipstick in You’ve Got It and MAC Plushglass in Nice Buzz (lips)
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Cudos for creativity. This looks like very editorial. Well done Karen!
Thanks Agata. 🙂 Are you doing any halloween looks this year?
I love seeing you in a different light. This is creative and has a nice distinctive look. Thumbs up 🙂
Thanks, Vanessa. This was a lot of fun. 🙂
What are you doing for halloween this year?
I love how professional this look! Great job!
Thank you, Hanna!
This is such an awesome look! I’m such a last minute halloween-er that I always have trouble coming up with a good costume. This is such a great idea.
Hi Natalie,
Me too. Infamously last minute! Do you have any ideas yet? I have another one that’s super easy called My Favorite MAC Artist. You can easily do with stuff you already have around the house. Here’s the link:
My Favorite MAC Artist Halloween Costume
Wow Karen! I love the usage of fall leaves, the different colors! Very well chosen! 🙂
Thank you, Chaitra!
Love this! Faerie costumes are my favorite – I’d dress like a faerie more often if it were more socially acceptable.
I was Medusa for a party last night, but I’m doing faerie for a party I’m going to with my little cousins – I don’t want a scary costume because I want them to play with me!
Hi Chelsea,
Ooh, how fun! How did you handle the snakes for Medusa’s head?
I bought a bunch of glow in the dark rubber snakes from Target and clipped them in my hair! I tried to do some snakeskin on my hairline too, but that didn’t go as well as planned.
Such a cool idea! I’m especially loving the eye makeup.
Hi Sylvia,
Thank you. Got any makeup plans for halloween this year?
Happy almost Friday!
This is super creative and you are stunning!! <3
Thanks!
This totally reminds me of an episode from ANTM (British Invasion)… High fashion, baby!
Thanks Vanessa. 🙂
Hatss of Karen.. I am just floored by ur creativity!! <3 <3
U look superb.. face makeup is onething but what u did with your hair is just awesumm.. U should be on the cover page of some magazine or may be the face of some new launches.. 🙂
Awesome look! I was actually going to go as a fall fairy this Halloween and I will use this guide as an inspiration.
Hi Susan,
If you take any pics I’d love to see them. 🙂
This is really cool! Very creative and I love your fall leaves. OMG, can you get NuFACE to send you a Trinity Facial Toning Device so you can review it (and hopefully tell us it’s a miracle worth the cost)? Yes, I just got my Sephora email. 🙂
OMG…the name of that device is super scary to me! I would only try it if it works on muffin tops.
Gurl, if it works on muffing tops, sign me up for a couple! 🙂
I think you just gave me my costume idea! I love love this look! Your hair looks so cool here too.
I LOOVEEE this!! You look absolutely gorgeous and glowy! I definitely want to be a fairy now lolol. I have no idea how to make myself look muddy though. You nailed it!
very pretty.
Whoa, Karen, you look positively glowing.
Too bad about the ears, but you look stunning regardless.
Great look! I agree, some elf ears would have worked very well.