Jack Skellington Makeup Tutorial

I’m pretty sure that everyone can agree that the quintessential Halloween movie of our time is the amazing The Nightmare Before Christmas. Can you even believe that that movie is 22 years old?! Neither can I. But no matter how old it gets, it remains a CLASSIC, and a beloved favorite with children and adults alike.

Today, I bring you a super simple tutorial for anyone who might want to steal the look of the frantic and romantic Jack Skellington, the hero/villain of the film. There are only a few supplies needed to complete this Jack Skellington Makeup look.

First, you’ll need to draw two huge black eyes. They’re almost like sideways tear drops. I used black eyeliner, and then added powder eyeshadow over the top for a more matte look. If you’re using this look for a fun night of trick-or-treating, you don’t want the makeup to crease. Applying the eyeshadow on top of the eyeliner will help prevent that from happening.

Next, your face needs to be completely white! For this, I used Manic Panic White Goth Makeup but you could also use cream makeup. It’s easy to find around Halloween time, and is usually less expensive. If you notice, I missed a little space on the outside of the blacks of my eyes. You can fill in this space with some white eyeliner, or by using a small flat/angled brush.

The shading can be done with your fingers or with a flat brush, but basically you’re just going to take some of the black eyeshadow and “dilute” it by wiping it off the brush – essentially making a dark grey to use on your face. Looking at the picture, you can see which areas are shaded. Pay close attention to the eyes and the cheeks – the cheeks need to have that hollowed out look.

The mouth looks like it’s more difficult than the rest, but really it isn’t. Using liquid eyeliner, draw a line out from your lips towards your ears, on each side. Just do one big stroke and then fill it in if needed. Use small strokes for the lines in between.

Last but not least, decide what you’re going to do with your hair. Jack Skellington actually has a bald head, so you could use a cap and cover it with the white cream makeup – or you could just add a little white to your hair like in these photos.

All in all, this is a simple look to replicate, but it makes a huge impact. In the daylight it looks pretty cool, but at night, creeping around a neighborhood in a pinstripe suit – I’m pretty sure you’ve got exactly what you need to scare all the local kids. Be kind!

What do you think? Are you going to try for this look yourself? Any hints or suggestions you want to add?

Remember to pin this to your Halloween board for inspiration!

Katie Reed

Katie Reed is a passionate writer and mother of four vivacious boys from Salt Lake City, Utah. Drawing from her own journey through TTC, pregnancy, and the joys of raising children, she offers a wealth of insight into the world of motherhood. Beyond her heartfelt tales, Katie delights her readers with family-friendly recipes, engaging crafts, and a curated library of printables for both kids and adults. When she’s not penning her experiences, you’ll find her crafting memories with her husband and sons—Dexter, Daniel, Chester, and Wilder.