Halloween parties are still limited to virtual affairs, but it’s a chance to practice makeup skills—and to use the beauty stash that has been shelved due to the pandemic.

TikTok tutorials and reality shows such as “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and the British makeup competition “Glow Up” piqued Filipinos’ curiosity on creative makeup, according to Makeup Designory School (Mud Studio Manila on Facebook, @mudstudiomanila on Instagram) instructor Georginna Desuasido.

“With people stuck at home, there was a need for a creative outlet,” Desuasido told Lifestyle. “Being a makeup artist is a dream job for some and attending makeup school is the first step. Makeup Designory School at Shangri-La Plaza was closed due to the lockdowns, but we’ve had a steady stream of inquiries, and slots for the upcoming certificate classes are full.”

From gory prosthetics and fantasy glam to a 10-minute vampire makeup, here are makeup looks and tips for your online Halloween parties.

Fantasy makeup

Makeup artist Zee Ghielmetti (@zee_ghielmetti on Instagram) created a glam fantasy look with rhinestones and “dew drops.”

“Make sure to complete the base first with foundation and concealer. Set it with a very thin layer of powder before grooming the brows and adding false eyelashes,” Ghielmetti said. “To make colors more vibrant, use cream-based makeup and apply it on areas where one would would apply highlighter, such as the cheekbones and brow bones. Blend with a beauty blender or brush.”

Ghielmetti said cream makeup settles under fine lines so set it using matching eyeshadow.

To make sure that the rhinestones and clear “dew drop” beads stay, dot clear eyelash glue on the skin and use tweezers to individually set the rhinestones. Don’t put the glue directly on the rhinestones or they might stick on the tweezers. Press firmly with your finger. Finish the look with glossy lips.

Faith Nacarato’s (@facebyf8th on Instagram) cartoonish Corpse Bride makeup requires a base of white cream mixed with a bit of blue to achieve a bluish-gray skin tone.

“White eyeshadow and powder are used on the eyelids to prevent the makeup base from moving around,” Nacarato said. “Long-wearing black liquid and gel liner are used to draw the eyebrows, lashes and ‘eyeballs’ on top of the lids.”

She also used blue eyeshadow powder to contour and shade the hollowed-out eyes and cheeks.

The adventurous may try using prosthetics in creating creepy facial wounds like Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2019 Aya Abesamis did. Desuasido recommended using Graftobian special effects makeup—liquid latex, blood paste, Trauma Wheel palette—available on Lazada and at Makeup Designory.

“First, cleanse the skin and make sure it’s free from oils. Decide on the fake injury design then apply an adhesive such as spirit gum on the area. Adhere the wax, smooth it out and shape as desired. Use a wax sealer,” Desuasido said. “Then color the ‘injury’ and apply stage blood or gel.”

Her tips on how to remove prosthetic makeup: Scrape wax off with a plastic or palette knife. Cleanse face with an oil-based cleanser, then wash as usual.

Elegant black lips

For an elegant black lip, try out the new Black Swan Badass Liquid Lipstick from Ready Set Glow (@readysetglowph on social media), the local makeup brand that popularized candy-colored and bold gel and liquid eyeliners.

On actress Maja Salvador, the black lippie was matched with winged black eyeliner and clean skin, plus matte black nails.

For crammers, Ready Set Glow cofounder Marian Lao Siggaoat has a 10-minute solution using just black eyeliner and different shades of lipsticks available in your stash.

“I used the Ready Set Glow Savage! eyeliner to line my eyes, and the brownish-red Dark Temptation lipstick on my lips. Then I smudged the bright red All Nighter lipstick around the mouth to create a ‘dripping blood’ effect,” Siggaoat explained. “With the Evening Wine lipstick, I added details such as under-eye veins and bruises, and there goes my vampy vampire look!”

It was an instant Halloween look that she wore last year, which was a messy, quirky break from her usual put-together makeup. “My Halloween makeup is far from perfect, but I had fun doing it,” she said. And that’s the important thing for online Halloween parties—to enjoy creating a look, whether it’s a full beat or a playful face. INQ