The Best Longwear Makeup For Your Halloween Beauty Look

While a creative costume is the main focus of Halloween, spooky and/or spectacular makeup is taking center stage now more than ever. Cosmetics can turn anyone into the skeleton, mermaid, or comic book superhero of their dreams, but traditional Halloween makeup (think: clown paint) can be messy and is often tossed out after the ghoulish holiday has passed. It doesn’t need to be that way though. There are likely products lurking in your vanity and there are definitely plenty in the aisles of your favorite beauty retailer that can get you through Halloween and beyond.

Regardless of what you are dressing up as or what the night has in store (trick-or-treating, haunted house visit, bar crawl), your makeup look needs to last. To help you find the products that will linger long after you win best costume (or, at the very least, best makeup) and be useful all year round, we’re rounding up some scary good makeup picks for face, eyes, and lips — plus the cleansers that will help you wash it all away.

For Face

Whether it’s Halloween or happy hour, prepping and setting are the most important steps of any longwear makeup look. These primers, powders, and mists won’t let you down.

Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer

This primer grips to whatever you put on top of it, creating a bond that will last all day and night. But that’s not all. It also harnesses the use of aloe water and hyaluronic acid to hydrate, so your skin stays soft and supple. $34, sephora.com

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

Whether you choose the matte or radiant finish, this setting powder promises 16 hours of wear time. Its a favorite of makeup artists and beauty junkies alike because it never cakes or settles into lines. $39, sephora.com

Morphe Continuous Setting Mist

The beauty of this setting spray is the fact that it is more of a mist than a spritz. The super-fine mister gently lands on makeup without disturbing all of your hard work, and the formula includes vitamins B5 and E to prevent dryness. $16, ulta.com

For Eyes

Consider this crop of shadows, pigments, liners, and lashes everything you need for the entire holiday season — from Halloween to New Year’s.

KimChi Chic Beauty The Most Concealer in 20 Solid White

Technically billed as a concealer, this pigmented product can also be used on your face or eyes to cut your crease, make eyeshadows pop, or even as a skin base for spooky makeup looks (think: clowns and zombies). $14, kimchichicbeauty.com

KVD Planet Fanatic Fully Recyclable Wet/Dry Eyeshadow Palette

If you are looking for a palette that truly does it all, this is it. Use the 14 high-impact matte and shimmer shadows wet or dry to create vibrant looks that will last all night. $45, kdveganbeauty.com

Stila Double Dip Suede Shade & Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadows

Perfect for eye looks that call for some sparkle, these liquid shadow pairings come in 12 combos (we’re partial to Pink Martini) that feature complementary matte and glitter shades. Wear alone or layer them together — the velvety formulas are easy to blend but, once they set, are there to stay. $24, stilacosmetics.com

MAC Pigments

There’s a very good reason why these multitasking pigment pots have been fan-favorites for years: they’re concentrated, versatile, and come in a stunning array of colors (including this rosy hue that features a hint of copper sparkle). Use on your eyes or anywhere that calls for a bit of bold color. $23, maccosmetics.com

Haus Laboratories Eye-Dentify Gel Pencil Liner

For all day staying power — even on waterlines — gel pencil liners like this one will give you smudge-proof and transfer-proof color payoff. We like this formula from Lady Gaga because the one-swipe sticks come in 20 richly pigmented hues ranging from jet black to metallic gold. $18, hauslabs.com

Kiss Lash Couture Triple XL Push Up Halloween 04 Lash

The triple design technology on this Kiss line means you get three lash looks in one. The reusable falsies offer extra-long curl and volume for a a 3D-effect that will elevate any Halloween makeup look. $7, ulta.com

For Lips

After 18 months in face masks (not the Halloween kind), you may be out of practice perfecting your pout. These are the versatile staples every lip wardrobe needs.

Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Color

Take it from me: I can personally attest that this matte lip color will not move an inch. The trick is to apply a coat and let it dry completely before cleaning up the edges with concealer or foundation as needed. This universally flattering red is one of eight rich shades. $25, sephora.com

Victoria Beckham Beauty Posh Gloss

Many late-nineties and Y2K-inspired looks call for shiny nude lips, and this appropriately named Posh Gloss from the former Spice Girl’s beauty line delivers. In addition to high shine, the clear formula is infused with vitamin E, black currant oil, and a plant-derived lipid complex to strengthen your lips’ barrier function, condition, and shield against free radical damage. $28, victoriabeckhambeauty.com

NYX Slim Lip Pencil

Available in — count ’em — 40 shades that are sure to match your natural lip color or favorite lippie, this longwear pencil goes on smoothly and does not bleed. $4, nyxcosmetics.com

For Taking It All Off

You survived the spookiest night of the year. To avoid a complexion nightmare for days to come, you’re going to want to make sure you properly cleanse your face. These potions are strong enough to remove even the most budge-proof formulas without stripping or drying out your skin.

Dermalogica Precleanse Balm

This thick but malleable balm is meant to be used before your favorite cleanser to properly break down and melt away waterproof and longwear makeup. While massaging it in with your hands will do, the silicone mit offers gentle exfoliation. $45, ulta.com

Take My Face Off Reusable Makeup Remover

Kiss those single-use makeup wipes and cotton pads goodbye. This reusable cloth works in conjunction with your favorite cleanser and/or makeup remover to fully remove stubborn makeup in a more sustainable fashion. $14, takemyfaceoff.com

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water All-in-1 Makeup Remover & Cleanser

Micellar water is a one-step wonder that simultaneously removes makeup and cleanses the skin with no rinsing required, making it perfect for the late night or early morning after your Halloween festivities. $7, target.com

Mediheal Pore Detox Oxygenating Bubble Mask

If you have the time (or energy) to apply a mask after taking off your makeup, this bubbly sheet fizzes on contact for a detoxifying clean that will undo any of the night’s skin sins. $15, medihealus.com

All products featured are independently selected by our editors, however, AEDIT may receive a commission on items purchased through our links.