Even the pros insist on one or two runs before the real deal. Practicing gives you a chance to see what you can do better so that your look is eerily flawless.
"Watch tons of tutorials and practice, practice, practice to make sure you can achieve the look. Some looks seem so much simpler than they are or take much more time than you think," Rudman points out. "A lot of Halloween makeup, especially the kind you get at a costume store, can be pore-clogging and heavy. Even if you go the route of the more professional products, you still want to test it out. It would not be so fun to have an allergic reaction after you've perfectly painted your face."
Even if you end up partying into the wee hours of the night, washing your face is a must. The pros we spoke to agree that a double cleanse, starting with an oil-based cleanser or balm, is your best bet. "You are going to want something that can really remove and break down the makeup, especially if it's oil-based," explains Rudman.
Lingering makeup? It's possible, especially if your look required a heavy hand. After double cleansing, go back in with a micellar product to get any last traces off your face.
"We don't want to congest our pores and Halloween makeup is indeed heavy and oily. Adding a pore cleansing clay mask will help draw out any impurities and oil that might have found their way into the skin," says Suarez. "A clay mask has absorbent, exfoliating and astringent properties. You can follow with a hydrating toner after masking and finish by treating the skin with a hydrating moisturizer. Your skin will be nice and clean as if no heavy makeup ever happened."
