8 Halloween Makeup Essentials You Can Use All Year

Whether you go fun, crazy, scary, or gory for Oct. 31, finding the best Halloween makeup to suit your look is half (if not all) of the fun. But as someone who's always been somewhat averse to buying reusable items for a one-time use, I usually like to make my costume from pieces I already have in my closet, and create my Halloween makeup look with products I already own. And if I'm missing something necessary to my look — fake blood, for instance — I'm more inclined to go pick up a product I could see myself using again, like a red lipgloss, instead of a special effects kit.

Of course, if you go all-out for a Halloween look, ubiquitous makeup products may not have the same results as artist-level paints and pigments. But if you're more concerned with being able to reuse a product during the rest of the year than with nailing that perfect, aquamarine shade for the scales on the neck of your mermaid (although that could still be doable with the right eyeliner), there are certain products you'll want to have at arm's reach. So instead of going out to buy different grease paints each Halloween, here are eight products you probably already own (or will want to) that are perfect for doing your Halloween makeup and everyday makeup too.

1. Eyeshadow Pencils

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil, $5, Target

Jumbo eyeshadow crayons like these ones will help you nail any Halloween makeup look but also everyday eye-looks. For Halloween, matte white can be used all over the face like a more-comfortable white grease-paint, while a matte black can be used to create shadows or black out parts of your face. For everyday, both can be used as an eyeshadow-base to make other colors pop, or even as eyeliner.

2. Black Liquid Liner

Lorac Front of the Line Pro Liquid Eyeliner, $23, Amazon

For precise lines, whether you're drawing stitches or cracks on your face, a black liquid liner will help. It's also perfect for flicking out everyday liner for that crisp cat-eye.

3. Red Lip Liner

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil In 69, $20, Sephora

Red lip liner is so versatile. Use it to draw exposed veins, extend your mouth or lip lines, or map out blood. And of course, use it to perfect and extend the life of your red lipstick on the daily.

4. Matte Eyeshadow

Tarte Tartelette Amazonian Clay Matte Palette, $46, Sephora

Matte eyeshadows are ideal for use all over the face. Purple and red-tones especially can help you mimic bruises, white shadow can help set any white face paint, and black shadow can help set black face paint and be used for a creepy, hollow contour. And when it's not Halloween? A bangin' eyeshadow look, of course.

5. Glitter

LA Splash Crystallized Glitter, $8, Makeup Geek

Glitter amps up any look, so don't be scared to use a heavy hand on Halloween. Put it on your brows, use it as a highlight, bathe in it. And for everyday, a dab on top of eyeshadow will give a multi-dimensional, festive look.

6. Red Lipgloss

MAC Vamplify Lipgloss In Suggestive, $20, MAC

An opaque, shiny, red lipgloss looks gorgeous on the lips, especially paired with winged liner. On Halloween though, your favorite red gloss is the perfect substitute for fake blood. Just paint and drizzle it wherever you need some extra gore.

7. Eyelash Glue

House of Lashes White Lash Adhesive, $16, Amazon

Obviously lash glue is good for adhering your daily falsies. But it's also good for attaching random things to your face, like rhinestones, fake staples, or fake stitches.

8. Cream Color Palette

Make Up For Ever 12 Flash Color Case, $99, Sephora

And for those of you who enjoy playing with makeup, a flash palette like this is perfect. If your Halloween look requires a lot of color, and especially if you prefer mixing your own colors, a cream-color palette will be your go-to. And for the rest of the year, you can mix custom lipstick and even foundation and concealer shades.

Besides, who would want to hide away all of these products for a whole year anyway?

Images: Courtesy of Brands