Fall is in full swing, the pumpkins are out prospering, and spooky szn is upon us. That’s right: Halloween is back yet again! Whether you’re keeping it lowkey with a horror movie marathon at home or going to a haunted house with friends, the pressure is officially on for figuring out what your costume is going to be this year. Plus, the pandemic is definitely still happening, so you might want your Halloween ‘fit to include some type of mask situation. Fortunately, this holiday is the holiday for all kinds of masks to begin with, so there are plenty of creative options to choose from.
But don’t confuse a costume mask for a face mask! According to the CDC, a costume mask shouldn’t be worn as a substitute for a cloth mask, unless it’s made from two or more layers of breathable fabric. It’s got to cover your mouth and nose, and not leave gaps around your face. In other words: Putting an uncomfortable rubber or plastic mask over your face is not the same as wearing a standard fabric face mask.
Feeling stumped about Halloween costumes that include face masks? We rounded up a few selections below to get you started on your search. These Halloween-themed designs are perfect for party hopping or going for a midnight trek through a cemetery (I mean, if you’re into that sorta thing). These face masks can even enhance your costume, while still keeping you and everyone else safe. Ahead, check out 16 Halloween costume ideas with face masks that you can try out this October.
Fans of the quintessential Halloween flick will appreciate this Winifred Sanderson mask. Get a red wig, give yourself two messy buns, throw on a green dress, and you’ll transform into the iconic witch herself.
The pandemic ruined a lot of travel plans, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still be a tourist! Don this bucket hat and mask combo, a colorful floral shirt, flip-flops, and cutoffs to pretend you’re jet-setting somewhere tropical this Halloween.
You can wear this mask on its own, or go all out with Sally-inspired makeup. Try painting your face blue, drawing on stitches with eyeliner, and getting a long red wig.
The facehuggers from Alien are just about as terrifying as you can get. You’re going to creep out many people with this one.
Roy Lichtenstein’s pop art is always a go-to costume, and this face mask does a lot of the work for you! Continue the dots with red eyeliner over the rest of your face if you wanna make it ~cohesive~.
A pretty paisley mask may seem pretty simple, but you can amp up the boho vibes with braided hair, daisy-like eye makeup, a suede fringed vest, and flares. (Psst, watch this tutorial for some ideas!)
Channel Beyoncé from her “Black Is King” visual album, where she wore several black and white looks, like this two-piece blazer and short set or this off-the-shoulder dress. This contrasting abstract mask would go with either if you’re down to recreate any of her jaw-dropping ‘fits.
Ahh, yes, a classic animal costume. Give yourself a standout cat eye, add some ears, and you’re done!
You can wear glow-in-the-dark stick-ons to the rest of your body to keep with the theme, or give yourself a starry makeup look—up to you!
Go the abstract route and be an actual rainbow for Halloween! You can add multicolored eyeshadow, tint your hair, or wear something rainbow-inspired to match your face covering.
Minnie Mouse is basically synonymous with red-and-white dots, and they happen to look pretty dang cute on a mask. Your Disney mouse ears will come in handy for this one, too.
Be a cold-blooded reptilian creature with this green croc-embossed mask. If you’re super artistic, you can try wearing yellow-tint contacts and matching face paint with drawn-on scales.
A skeletal bodysuit is the perfect addition to this bony face mask to wear for Halloween, and requires little to no effort. We love easy!
Super dark eyeshadow and a couple dashes of fake blood will help you complete this frightening costume.
There are some different directions you can take with this mask: You can turn your head into a spider by making a headband with eight legs (felt straws are your friend). Or, you can also use face paint or eyeliner to make the rest of your face look like a web.
Turn yourself into a scary pumpkin with this face mask. If you want to go all out, you can give yourself an orange smokey eyeshadow look with a dramatic cat eye.