Zombie Makeup Ideas: Create an Eerie Look

Zombie Makeup Ideas – Zombie makeup is an exciting way to bring a spooky, undead look to life, perfect for Halloween, themed parties, or costume events. The key to creating an authentic zombie appearance is to make the skin appear pale and lifeless. Start by applying a foundation that’s a few shades lighter than your natural skin tone, giving the effect of deathly pallor. You can then use a light green or grayish tone around the eyes, neck, and cheeks to add depth, creating a sickly, decomposed look. To add the illusion of rotting flesh, apply dark purple, black, or red bruising around the wounds, then blend in fake blood or gel for a dripping, gore-filled effect.

Hollow out the eyes by using dark eyeliner or eyeshadow to create shadows around the eyelids, giving them a sunken appearance. For added realism, tear small bits of fake skin or latex to create wounds, cuts, or gashes, and smear them with blood for a gruesome touch. Don’t forget to use some dark lip color or pale foundation on the lips to make them appear cracked and dry. Finish off the look with a messy, unkempt hairstyle or use colored hairspray for a more grisly effect. The more layers, textures, and blending you use, the more convincing and terrifying your zombie makeup will be!

Zombie Makeup Ideas

Here’s a 100+ list of Zombie Makeup Ideas to inspire your next spooky look, perfect for Halloween, cosplay, or themed parties!

Classic Zombie Makeup Ideas

1. Traditional Grey-Toned Zombie
2. Decayed Zombie Flesh
3. Bloody Mouth Zombie
4. Exposed Bone Zombie
5. Pale Dead Zombie
6. Sunken Eyes and Hollow Cheeks
7. Ghoul Zombie with Ripped Skin
8. Rotting Teeth Zombie
9. Ashy Zombie with Smudged Blood
10. Decayed Jaw Zombie

Gory and Graphic Zombie Looks

11. Half-Exposed Skull
12. Ripped Mouth and Teeth
13. Torn Neck Flesh
14. Split Forehead Wound
15. Bloody Handprint on Face
16. Bullet Hole Zombie
17. Spinal Cord Exposed
18. Maggots Crawling on Skin
19. Stitched-Up Zombie
20. Severed Limb Effect

Special Effects-Focused Zombie Makeup

21. Exposed Brain Zombie
22. Melted Skin Zombie
23. Charred Flesh Zombie
24. Zombie with Barbed Wire Wounds
25. Zombie with Bite Marks
26. Glass Shards Embedded Zombie
27. Zombie with Stuck Arrows
28. Nails Pierced Through Face
29. Stuck Axe or Knife Effect
30. Peeling Flesh Zombie

Themed Zombies

31. Bride Zombie
32. Cheerleader Zombie
33. Prom Queen Zombie
34. Sports Player Zombie
35. Clown Zombie
36. Nurse Zombie
37. Prisoner Zombie
38. Soldier Zombie
39. Doctor Zombie
40. Punk Rock Zombie
41. Pirate Zombie
42. Cowboy Zombie
43. Farmer Zombie
44. Goth Zombie
45. Steampunk Zombie
46. Scientist Zombie
47. Businessman Zombie
48. Vampire-Zombie Hybrid
49. Mummy-Zombie Hybrid
50. Alien-Zombie Hybrid

Creative and Fantasy Zombie Looks

51. Glow-in-the-Dark Zombie
52. Glitter Zombie
53. Neon-Colored Zombie
54. Rainbow Zombie
55. Frozen/Icy Zombie
56. Mermaid Zombie
57. Zombie with Fairy Wings
58. Witch-Zombie Mashup
59. Angelic Zombie
60. Galaxy Zombie

Pop Culture Zombie Ideas

61. Zombie Bride from Corpse Bride
62. Walking Dead-Inspired Zombie
63. Resident Evil-Inspired Zombie
64. Zombie Joker
65. Zombie Batman
66. Zombie Cinderella
67. Zombie Harry Potter
68. Zombie Disney Princess
69. Zombie Marvel Superhero
70. Zombie Barbie

Minimalist and Simple Zombie Looks

71. Blackened Eyes Zombie
72. Chapped Lips and Dry Skin Zombie
73. Messy Hair with Pale Skin Zombie
74. Simple Hollow Cheeks
75. No Eyebrows Zombie
76. Blood Tears Zombie
77. White-Out Eyes with Simple Blood
78. Smudged Grey Zombie Look
79. Sharp Jawline Highlight Zombie
80. Cracked Skin Effect Zombie

Zombie with Accessories

81. Zombie with Chains
82. Bandaged Zombie
83. Zombie with Creepy Contact Lenses
84. Zombie Holding Severed Head Prop
85. Zombie with Fake Blood Dripping Down Clothes
86. Zombie with Tattered Clothes
87. Zombie with Fake Weapons (knife, axe, etc.)
88. Zombie Carrying a Coffin Prop
89. Zombie Wearing Fake Stitches on Arms
90. Zombie with Wrapped-Up Mummy Hands

Zombie Kids Makeup Ideas

91. Cute but Creepy Zombie Look
92. Cartoon Zombie with Bold Outlines
93. Glow-in-the-Dark Face Paint Zombie
94. Candy-Themed Zombie
95. Scary Puppet Zombie
96. Skeleton-Zombie Combination
97. Little Ghostly Zombie
98. Halloween Pumpkin Zombie
99. Torn Teddy Bear Zombie
100. Spooky Doll Zombie

Celebrity Zombie Mashups

101. Zombie Marilyn Monroe
102. Zombie Elvis Presley
103. Zombie Michael Jackson (Thriller)
104. Zombie Audrey Hepburn
105. Zombie Pop Star (like Lady Gaga or Taylor Swift)

Zombie Makeup with Additional Effects

106. Zombie with Prosthetic Teeth
107. Zombie with Latex Wounds
108. Zombie with Torn Latex Flesh
109. Zombie with Blood-Splattered Clothes
110. Zombie Covered in Slime
111. Rusty-Looking Zombie
112. Zombie with Missing Eye Socket
113. Zombie with Fake Worms Crawling Out
114. Zombie with Exaggerated Bite Mark
115. Zombie Drag Queen Look

High-Tech or Sci-Fi Zombie Looks

116. Cyborg-Zombie Hybrid
117. Zombie with Glowing LED Lights in Wounds
118. Futuristic Robot-Zombie Mix
119. Sci-Fi Alien Zombie Look
120. Cyberpunk Zombie

How to do Zombie Makeup

Here is a detailed step-by-step guide on how to do zombie makeup to create a realistic and spooky look for Halloween, a costume party, or cosplay:

Materials Needed

• Face primer or moisturizer
• Foundation (lighter than your skin tone)
• Black, grey, green, or purple face paint or eyeshadow
• Red and black cream makeup or lipstick
• Fake blood or gel blood
• Liquid latex (optional, for wounds and decayed effects)
• Tissue paper or cotton balls (for torn skin)
• Makeup brushes and sponges
• Setting powder or translucent powder
• Dark eyeliner and mascara
• Makeup setting spray
• Optional: Prosthetic scars, wounds, or contact lenses

Step-by-Step Process

1. Prep Your Skin

• Cleanse and moisturize your skin to create a smooth base for makeup.
• Apply a primer to ensure the makeup lasts longer.

2. Create the Base Zombie Skin Tone

• Use a light foundation or white face paint to make your skin look pale and lifeless.
  • Blend it evenly on your face, neck, and any visible skin (hands, arms, etc.).
• Add a grey or green tint using light strokes of face paint or eyeshadow to give a decayed appearance.
  • Focus on hollow areas like the temples, cheeks, and under the jawline.

3. Define the Hollow Features

• Use black, grey, or dark purple eyeshadow to contour your face:
  • Apply under the cheekbones, around the eyes, and on the sides of the nose for a sunken look.
  • Blend the colors outward for a natural shadow effect.
• Darken your eye sockets with black or dark grey makeup to create a hollow, undead appearance.
• Use red or purple tones under your eyes to mimic tiredness or bruising.

4. Add Decayed Details

• For a cracked or peeling skin effect:
  • Apply liquid latex to your skin in small patches.
  • Before it dries, press tissue paper or cotton onto the latex.
  • Tear small holes into the tissue for a ripped-skin look.
  • Let it dry, then paint over it with grey, red, or black to resemble wounds or decay.
• Use black eyeliner to draw fine cracks or veins on the skin for added detail.

5. Create Wounds and Blood

• Use liquid latex to sculpt open wounds or gashes:
  • Layer liquid latex and tissue on your skin.
  • Once dry, tear the top layer to make it look like torn flesh.
  • Paint the inside of the wound with red or black cream makeup for depth.
• Add fake blood inside and around the wounds for a realistic, fresh injury effect.
• Smudge some blood around the mouth and chin for a “freshly fed zombie” look.

6. Darken and Smudge

• Smudge black or grey makeup around the mouth, nose, and eyes for a dirty, decayed effect.
• Use a sponge to dab uneven patches of green, grey, or purple around the face to mimic rotting skin.

7. Enhance the Eyes

• Apply black eyeliner on the waterline and smudge it around the eyes for a dramatic, sunken look.
• Use mascara or skip it entirely if you want the lashes to look less noticeable.
• If possible, wear white or red contact lenses to make your eyes look ghostly and lifeless.

8. Add Finishing Touches

• Dust your face with translucent powder to set the makeup and give a matte, dry look.
• Add extra fake blood on your clothes or hands for a messy, gory effect.
• Spray with a makeup setting spray to keep the look intact throughout the day or night.

Optional Enhancements

• Wear torn or dirtied clothing to match the zombie look.
• Add prosthetic pieces like exposed bones, scars, or brain caps for extra realism.
• Style your hair by teasing it into a messy, unkempt look and adding baby powder or grey spray for an aged effect.