Halloween Makeup How-To: Barbie

Want a Halloween costume with an uber-feminine, playful punch? Then there’s no better way to go than the original girly girl: Barbie! Tons of Barbie inspiration hit the fall runways this season since the original Queen of Plastic celebrated her fiftieth birthday this year—but she still doesn’t look a day over 21, the wench.

Here’s how to DIY Barbie’s makeup look and score major points at your Halloween fiestas:

Step I: Barbie Eyeshadow

To steal Barbie’s signature vapid-chic makeup look, start with those big, empty, saucer-y eyes. Barbie eyeshadow can be done two different ways, with either warm-toned or cool-toned eyeshadow colors. Here’s a guide on each eyeshadow style:

1. For cool-toned Barbie eye makeup: dust a light, shimmery silver eyeshadow over the whole lid from lashes to brows. Add an extra dab to the inner corners  right by the tear duct to highlight.  Sweep purple-gray shadow in the crease, continuing only 1/4 of the way up the brow bone (after all, this is Barbie — we’re not going for sultry, we’re going for bubbly and slightly ditzy).
2. For warm-toned Barbie eye makeup: think pink! Coat lids in a light carnation pink color, then hit the crease with a darker, more intense magenta pink like what Barbie’s wearing on the left. Continue about halfway up the browbone.
3. For both shadow styles, blend eyeshadow one shade lighter than your natural skin tone (preferably with some shimmer) under the brows and slightly downward to highlight.

Step II: Barbie Eyeliner & Brows

1. Keep brows simple and in a slight semi-circular shape, like a very wide upside down U. No severe arch here! It’ll take away Barbie’s signature innocence.
2. Apply black liquid eyeliner all the way across the top lid, narrowing the line at the inner corners. Fan the line very slightly up and out toward the temples on the ends to mimic those big, exaggerated Barbie eyelashes.

   NOTE: If you have trouble with liquid liner, celebrity makeup artist Brett Freedman has a quick and easy way to master it: Use a felt-tip eyeliner and lightly dot on the lid, staying as close as possible to the lash line. Go back over the lid once more, and this time, press the felt tip firmly onto the skin to connect the dots.

Step III: Barbie Halloween Costume Cheeks, Lips & Finishing Touches

1. Finish off your pastel eye makeup look with bright pink cheeks – anything that looks sickeningly sugary on you will do.
2. For lips, choose a frosted bubblegum lipstick or gloss if you chose cool-toned eyeshadow. Try a true magenta pink shade of lipcolor if you chose warm-toned shadow, like Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss in #573.
3. Wear a long, platinum blonde wig — or, if your hair’s naturally long and blonde, consider crimping. Barbie can be so ’80s like that.
4. Slip on a tight pink minidress and get your boyfriend and little sister to play Ken and Skipper, respectively. (Or they could switch it up, I guess…but that might be awkward.) Your night of trick-or-treating will be extra sweet!