Catrina Makeup: How to achieve this traditional makeup idea for Halloween or Día de Muertos

Whether you are looking for Catrina, witch, vampire, or creative Halloween clown makeup ideas, celebrity-inspired Halloween costumes, zodiac sign-inspired looks, or embracing Latino pop culture icons’ outfits, there are so many ways to make a statement this spooky season.

La Catrina is a Día de Muertos (and Halloween makeup idea) that blends art, culture, and elegance and is always a standout. Inspired by the famous Mexican Day of the Dead figure created by artist José Guadalupe Posada, the Catrina makeup honors loved ones who have passed away. It’s intricate, eye-catching, and full of color, making it one of the best makeup ideas for those who want to mix tradition with style.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating this iconic look
Step 1: Prepare Your Canvas with a White Base
Start with a clean, moisturized face to achieve the proper foundation for your Catrina makeup. Apply a white face paint or makeup foundation evenly across your face to create a blank canvas that resembles a skull. Opt for a high-quality, water-based face paint for comfortable wear throughout the evening. This base will help the bright colors and details of your Halloween and Día de Muertos makeup idea pop.

Pro Tip: Use a makeup sponge to apply the white paint for smooth, even coverage, and set it with a translucent setting powder to keep your makeup in place.

Step 2: Create Hollow Eyes and Nose
Deep-set eye sockets are essential for a Catrina-inspired Halloween makeup idea. Using black or dark purple face paint, outline large circles around each eye, extending slightly past your natural eye contours. Fill in the circles with the same color, ensuring they’re even and bold. To create the nose, draw an upside-down heart shape starting from the middle of the nose bridge and filling in the tip. This will give you the skeleton-like nose central to traditional Catrina makeup.

Pro Tip: For a dramatic look, use a smoky eye shadow around the edges of the circles for a gradient effect. This adds depth and dimension to your Catrina makeup.