7 of the best Halloween makeup tutorials on Instagram, from The Joker to Pennywise

All the inspiration your ghoulish imagination needs

(Instagram: @jamiegenevieve/@rachelduffyartistry

In recent years, Instagram has become the go-to destination for beauty inspiration with a steady stream of tutorials on how to master makeup techniques such as highlighting, contouring and even baking.

But as we inch ever-closer to All Hallows' Eve, you may have noticed your Instagram feed taking a turn from cookie-cutter cosmetics to menacing makeovers.

In the beauty world Halloween is big business, with influencers and professional makeup artists (MUAs) taking part in the #31DaysofHalloween hashtag that sees them create a crop of elaborate and out-of-the-box looks in the lead up to the big day.

With so much content filling your feeds, it’s safe to say there is a tutorial for just about every ghoulish persona you could imagine.

This year, a number of looks have taken inspiration from the big screen with spooky takes on everything from the Joker to Maleficant and It’s Pennywise.

To help save you from another year of scrambling to put together a last-minute costume on the night, we’ve rounded up our favourite Halloween looks from some of Instagram’s most talented MUA’s.

The Joker @casslloydfx

The killer clown and Batman enemy has been played by a host of talented actors over the years with each new iteration delivering a novel twist on the villain’s signature makeup look.

Joaquin Phoenix's take, the latest incarnation, is a popular choice for Halloween this year, largely because the film has proven a blockbuster hit - if divisive - and is one of the simplest Joker looks to recreate.

Canadian-based special effects makeup artist Cass Lloyd reated her rendition using a colourful eyeshadow palette, jumbo eye kohl pencil and green contact lenses.

Pennywise @jamiegenevieve

When it comes to executing the perfect Halloween look, it's all about mastering the ideal balance of scary and chic – somewhere between Cady from Mean Girls' "ex-wife" ensemble and her friend Karen's "cute mouse" costume – and makeup artist Jamie Genevieve appears to have found the sweet spot with her glam version of It’s murderous clown, Pennywise.

With the latest adaptation of Stephen King's classic It having hit screens last month, it’s likely that this will be a popular choice for the spooky holiday but this version is the perfect way to make yours float above them all.

To create this look, Genevieve used a range of cosmetics you’re likely to already have in your makeup arsenal, including a smokey eyeshadow palette and a matte red lipstick.

Wicked Witch @sarahmcgonagall

When it comes to classic Halloween costumes, a witch is about as timeless as it gets but that doesn’t mean your look should be basic.

While anyone can throw on a witch hat and call it a costume, the key to mastering this green Wizard of Oz-inspired look lies in the details.

So, if you’re looking for an instantly recognisable costume that you can male as tame or terrorising as you please, you’ll love this colourful rendition from New York-based makeup artist Sarah McGonagall.

From the neon green base to the fuchsia pink hair and ombre lips, McGonagall nailed this look using products from readily available brands like Lime Crime and Makeup Forever.

Pop Art Barbie @annalingis

From Kylie Jenner to Hailey Baldwin and Beyonce, a number of celebrities have used the Barbie doll for Halloween inspiration over the years.

However, this latest offering from makeup artist Anna Lingis exceeds them all.

Earlier this week, the beauty buff gave former Love Island star Olivia Buckland a Halloween makeover inspired by Barbie’s 60th anniversary.

Lingis gave the look a pop art feel using harsh black lines to give the illusion that her model was made from plastic.

Ursula @rachelduffyartistry

Put those “Poor Unfortunate Souls” to shame this Halloween by channelling your inner sea witch.

With a live action remake of The Little Mermaid set to hit our screens in the near future, Ursula is proving to be one of the most popular options for Halloween costumes this year.

This look created by MUA Rachel Duffy is one of the best makeovers on Instagram thanks to its vivid purple skin tone and furrowed brow.

Take a leaf from Duffy’s book and complete the look with a pair of lobster-shaped earrings for the full effect.

Lydia Deetz @kaddsta

Do you consider yourself strange and unusual? Then a costume inspired by Winona Ryder’s goth teen Lydia Deetz is the one for you.

While Bella Hadid opted for the Beetlejuice character’s iconic red wedding dress last year, MUA Kailey chose to recreate the look Deetz wears for her first on-screen appearance.

The perfect option for anyone that wants to still look half-way normal on the night, this looks consists of a dramatic smokey eye, full fluttery lashes and a dark lip.

Maleficent @ellis_atlantis

Ahead of the release of Maleficent: Mistress of Evil this month, Disney released a behind-the-scenes video showing the process of transforming Angelina Jolie into the Sleeping Beauty villain.

While the process took a number of hours to complete thanks to the prosthetic horns and cutthroat cheekbones, makeup artist and winner of BBC’s Glow Up Ellis Atlantis has delivered a tutorial that means you can achieve the character’s chiselled look at home.

For the look, Atlantis used all Mac Cosmetics products including the brand’s iconic red lipstick in Ruby Woo.