The Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) is an annual Mexican celebration that spiritually reunites the deceased with their family and friends. The festival takes place at midnight from 31st of October and ends on the 2nd of November. During Día de los Muertos, revellers dress up to pray and honour the dead with music, carnival procession and food. Although skull face painting is not traditional, it has become the most popular design for the Day of the Dead festivities.

With my fascination for Mexican culture and Frida Kahlo, I have decided to dress up as “Lady of the Dead”, known as La Catrina (p.58, Pascual, 2017) for my Halloween party. The skull (or Cavalera) can be make-up for both men (El Catrin) and women (La Catrina). So, here is my guide to face paint a female skull.

You will need the following make-up items:

•   Monochrome brush pen face paint (white and black), from Hobbycraft
•   Face paint sticks (white and other colours), from Hobbycraft
•   Bright eyeshadow palette, James Charles, from Morphe
•   Self-adhesive flat-back white gemstones
•   Self-adhesive purple rhinestones
•   Cosmic shimmer violet dream biodegradable glitter, from Hobbycraft
•   Ardell lashes and fix gel
•   Make up brushes

How to Create the Skull look:

1. Start with a clean face. Use the white face paint brush pen to create a light foundation. Also dab a wet brush onto the white face paint stick and brush evenly across the face. Both of these techniques create a base to work on.

2. Choose your colour palette and cover the area under the cheek line. I chose purple. This creates the drawn effect of a skull shape.

3. Draw the outline for the eye sockets with the black brush pen following the line of flower petals. Fill it in with bright eyeshadow using a small rounded brush. I chose orange and purple from the James Charles Morphe palette.

4. Using the self-adhesive white gemstones, stick one to each petal around the top of the eye sockets and then use the cosmic shimmer violet glitter around the bottom of the eye sockets and cheek line. Stick the long purple rhinestones on top of each eye socket and white gemstone on the forehead and chin.

5. Using the black brush pen, draw the nose and fill it in. Paint a swirling line from the edge of the mouth to create the outline of the upper jaw . Draw vertical lines and elaborate to represent teeth.

6. Add Ardell eyelashes to give an elegant and profound gaze.

7. Finally, get dressed and put on your accessories!!!

I am wearing a stunning black gown with stars from Stine Goya, a Danish company that encourages women to express their individuality. To develop the look further, I am wearing a flower headpiece with black lace. I also have an alternative look with a vintage black top hat.

Now you are ready for Día de los Muertos and Halloween!

Suggested book:
Day of the Dead by Paula Pascual, 2017. Language: English.
This book shows how to create Dia de los Muertos (“Day of the Dead”) crafts, decorations as well as delicious Mexican recipes. And it explains the distinctive look of La Catrina, the ‘Lady of the Dead’ with ideas for costumes and facial art. Very inspiring for Halloween!

Special thanks to make-up artist, Colette Adams who collaborated on this project.
Also to my husband for lending the vintage Top Hat! And for word and photo editing.