David Bowie Halloween Makeup That Is Pure Rock ’n’ Roll


Photos by David Cicconi for Yahoo Beauty. Makeup by Make Up For Ever pro artist Ruben Garcia. Hair by Jennifer Wobito.

When we were brainstorming celebrity Halloween costume ideas, David Bowie was an obvious choice. The glam rock singer was a pioneer in gender-neutral fashion, and to this day, he inspires us to live by our own beauty rules. So here is our epic tribute to the late, great Bowie.

Make Up For Ever pro artist Ruben Garcia transformed Yahoo Beauty senior editor and writer Beth Greenfield into Bowie, circa the “Ziggy Stardust” era. Read on to learn the products and makeup application techniques Garcia used to create this electrifying Halloween makeup.

Step 1: Apply a base

Create a smooth and even base using the Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick Foundation. Add a bit of warmth to your complexion with bronzer, focusing on the upper cheekbone area. Then lightly brush and groom eyebrows.

Beth with a makeup foundation applied
Beth with a makeup foundation applied

Step 2: Outline it

Outline the lightning bolt design with an ivory/beige concealer or the Concealer Pencil. Sharpen the pencil just enough so that it isn’t too abrasive against your face.

Step 3: Fill it in

Trace the outer edge with carbon-black Graphic Liner and use a thin, flat makeup brush and red Flash Color to fill in the inner portion.

Pro tip: Use gentle patting motions when applying face paint along the undereye, brows, and lids. This will prevent the pigment from smudging and minimize irritation to skin.

David Bowie Halloween Makeup
David Bowie Halloween Makeup

Step 4: Add contrast

Use a clean makeup brush to draw on blue Flash Color against the outer edge of the black liner. To intensify the bold eye design, Garcia applied matching metallic pigments in Artist Shadow ME-216 (blue) and ME-744 (red). The powder also helps to set your makeup in place.

David Bowie Halloween makeup nears completion
David Bowie Halloween makeup nears completion

Step 5: Sharpen the edges

Trace the outline of the entire lightning bolt with concealer for clean, crisp lines.

Step 6: Add finishing touches

To finish, Garcia added a few coats of mascara and swipes of black liner directly onto lashes to darken light eyelashes. Pompadour is optional.

David Bowie Halloween makeup complete
David Bowie Halloween makeup complete

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