There's something very right about pairing Halloween with a black and white palette - and as it turns out, there are plenty of excellent options for monochrome costumes. In the spirit of all things creepy and kooky, we've taken three guest models and transformed them into black and white characters for you to recreate this All Hallow's Eve. Oooooh!



LILY MUNSTER

MATERIALS:

white face paintblack face paint
white (or very pale) pressed or translucent loose powder
lilac eyeshadow (grey or black eyeshadow for contouring optional)
black liquid eyeliner
white pencil eyeliner
black mascara (false eyelashes optional)
synthetic flat brush
powder brush
medium eye shadow brush
red lipstick
wig with white streak (optional - if you have black of dark hair you can just part it in the middle and clip in a white hair extension)



INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Mix a little black face paint with the white face paint. You can do this with a spoon in a bowl. We used a cheap paintbrush – make sure you keep mixing until you get a smooth consistency. Add small drops of water as you go until you achieve a pale grey. Remember, it will dry slightly darker once it's on your skin! Test out a patch on the inside of your arm and let it dry until you get the colour right. Start with body parts that will be exposed outside your costume, such as neck and hands.



2. Paint your face with the synthetic brush. Do one layer at a time, and let it dry in between. It will start off a bit patchy, but just keep on layering until the natural skin colour is covered. If you are going to wear a wig, don't worry too much about painting into the hairline. Leave the lips bare and only do one thin layer on your eyelids.



3. Use your powder brush and pale powder to set everywhere you have painted. If you have a black or grey eye shadow you can contour your cheekbones and jawline.



4. Take the eye shadow brush and lilac eye shadow to apply a solid colour on the lids. Extend it out slightly past the eyelid crease and out past the outer corners.



5. Add false lashes at this point. Once the glue has set, use your black liquid liner to create a strong winged eyeliner look. Extend it down into the inner corners into a point, then use the liquid liner (or the black face paint or black eyeshadow with a small brush) to add eyebrows. Start them slightly in from your natural brow and flick them up into a point at your temples.



6. Fill in the water line of your eyes (inside the bottom lash bed) with white eyeliner, then use the black liquid liner to paint a thin line below the bottom lash bed. Start with a point at the inner corner and paint out past the outer corner. Don't join it up with the top lid eyeliner - leave a space in between to create a second wing. Paint in your lips mixing the black face paint and red lipstick.



7. Add a little widows peak in the centre of your hairline with the black face paint, before putting your wig on. Paint nails in black or a deep red, add a bat necklace or goth choker, and maybe even a lilac dress or velvet coat for the full Lily effect.



BLACK METAL

MATERIALS:

white face paint
black face paint
black or grey pencil eyeliner
small, medium and large synthetic brushes
latex sponge
black eye shadow and small eye shadow brush (optional)



INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Start with a clean, dry face. Part long hair in the middle or, pin back if you're planning on wearing a long wig.



2. Take the large synthetic brush. If using a water-based paint, dip the brush in a bowl of water to make a smooth paint paste. Brush on the face paint in thin layers, allowing it to dry in between, and use your sponge to dab in places to help reduce any patchiness. Only paint one thin layer on your eyelids and leave your lips bare.



3. Use the eyeliner to lightly mark out lines on your face. They don't have to be symmetrical – there's no real rules with this look! That's metal for you. Just have a plan of where you are going to fill in with solid black and where you are going to only paint lines. Generally the lips and eyes are the main areas that get filled in.



4. Use the medium brush to paint in the areas around the eyes and to cover the lips. Extend the black paint out to the lines you have drawn into points and streaks. This can be done in a very improvised fashion and is best if it doesn't look too perfect (again, metal). Paint bits of black coming out of the nostrils, and and upside down crucifix is optional!



5. Keep adding black streaks with the small synthetic brush. Add more than what you marked with the pencil of you feel it needs something extra. Go over the eye area again with the black face paint to fill in any gaps and paint your eyelashes (or apply black mascara if you have fair lashes).



OPTIONAL: If you have a black eye shadow and eye shadow brush you can carefully apply the shadow over the black face paint. This will help to set the face paint and make it last longer - in case you're planning to go out raging, head-banging and generally getting sweaty. Add rockin' t-shirt and some skull rings to complete the look.



GREYSCALE SILVER SCREEN CHARACTER

MATERIALS:

white face paint
black face paint
white (or very pale) pressed powder or loose translucent powder
dark grey or black eyeshadow
silver or light grey eyeshadow
black liquid eyeliner
small, medium and large synthetic brushes
small and medium eye shadow brushes
medium powder brush
black, white or silver hairspray
black mascara
white pencil eyeliner
latex sponge
false eyelashes optional



INSTRUCTIONS:

This character can be of any film or television vintage era – '20s to '60s! You can design your own look by dressing in costumes and accessories that are black, white, grey or patterned. We chose "50s Italiano Housewife". Start with the grey face and body paint base, and study reference pictures online to create a make-up look for your chosen silver screen diva. This also works well for male characters!

1. Hair first! If you have very dark hair, it can be sprayed black once styled. If your hair is blonde, it can be sprayed white or silver. Pin hair back for now if you plan on wearing a wig.



2. Add a substantial amount of white face paint to a bowl, then mix with some water until it forms a smooth paste. Add tiny bits of black face paint until you get a light grey. Test a patch on the inside of your arm and wait until it dries (it will dry a shade darker). Keep adding black until you achieve a medium grey. Begin painting it on your body wherever your clothes won't cover, making sure to let each layer dry before adding another. The latex sponge may help with smoothing out patches. Repeat the process on your face - only one thin layer on your eyelids and keep the lips bare.



3. Cover all painted areas with a layer of the pale powder. This will help to set it, ensuring it lasts longer.



4. Use your eyeshadow brushes to apply the silver shadow all over the eyelid, on the brow bone and to highlight the cheekbone. Use the dark grey eyeshadow and the powder brush to contour the cheekbones and jaw line. Add a little bit to the creases in the eyelid and the outer edges of the eyelid. The shading will create more of a three dimensional effect.



5. Add false lashes at this point. Once the glue has dried, use your black liquid liner to create a winged eyeliner look. Use mascara if need be.



6. Use the dark grey eye shadow and the small eye shadow brush to fill in your eyebrows. Use the black face paint to paint in your lips (unless you have black or grey lipstick!). Paint nails black or grey – remember: nothing can be skin coloured! You can use the white eyeliner on the waterline of your eyes (just inside the bottom lash line) if your eyes are looking a bit pink.





This spooky tutorial was written by Dana Leviston, with images by Kat Soutar and hair by Jess Jimeno. Thanks to our awesome models Beth-Emily Gregory, Jo Walker and Stella Angelico.  Face paints came from Kryolan.