Halloween isn’t just for kids, and getting involved in the fun doesn’t have to include trick or treating. Since the start of the autumn/winter season we’ve been talking non-stop about the rise of gothic beauty, and there’s no better time to indulge in the trend than this coming Wednesday, 31st October.

Instead of the usual face paint and fake blood, we’re talking about a grown-up, glamorous ode to Halloween – and it’s fun and very easy to achieve. Take a few tips from us and you’ll be looking suitable spooky (with a ladylike twist, of course)…
 
Vamped-Up Lips
Be inspired by this season’s trend for oxblood-coloured lips. They’re the perfect way to inject some drama into your everyday look, and look deliciously vamp-like when they’re paired with a dark, smudgy eye and flawless skin. My favourite is the Guerlain Rouge G L’Extrait, a long-lasting lip stain that comes in an array of deeply pigmented, bitten shades. Each hue is named after one of the seven deadly sins – my favourite is the deep plum of M69 Orgueil (Pride).

Magical Eyes
Pair your dark lips with even darker eyes. If (like me) you’re an avid eye liner, then shake it up a little by opting for a sparkly shade or a deep hue. Better still, combine the both and dress your lids with a flick of the Stila Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Royal, a plush, deep purple with a smattering of multicoloured glitter. If you can’t escape your love of black liner, create more graphic shapes with the Too Faced 3 Way Lash Lining Tool, an innovative liner with three nibs.

Want to go a step further? Then go all out with the gloriously versatile Stila Smudge Pot in Black, an all-in-one primer and shadow that goes on and stays put all day. Apply with your fingers for an ultra smoky, grungy effect.

Hollowed Out
The trick to creating a good vampy contour is to play up the hollows of the cheeks. You probably already do this with bronzer, but you want the effect to be more natural for this look. Select a blusher just a few shades darker than your natural tone, like the neutral taupe of bareMinerals Ready Blush in The Close Call. Suck your cheeks in and, using a contour or blusher brush, brush the colour into the hollows of your cheeks. This produces a subtly sculpted effect that complements your dark lips and eyes wonderfully.

Dark Talons
For your grown-up Halloween look, get back to makeup basics and match your tips with your lips. That means oxblood, plum, red and darker hues for your nails, like the Nailtiques Nail Lacquer With Protein in 316 Havana, a blackened burgundy, or the new Guerlain Vernis in 04 Lou-Ling, a creamy purple-toned red.

Bewitching Fragrance
The finishing touch for your grown up Halloween look is a suitably spellbinding fragrance. Go decadent  dark and a little over the top to suit the feel of the night – Juliette Has a Gun Lady Vengance Eau de Parfum, is just the thing, with voluptuous rose notes, plus heady vanilla and patchouli for lasting sensuality. If you’re looking for something a little more ethereal, Giorgio Armani Code Luna weaves a delicate spell with vanilla and moonflower.

Want more #grownuphalloween tips? Follow me on Twitter: @EscentualEmma x