Get ready to be spellbound: YouTube's Halloween makeup magicians
Meet the SFX artists and MUAs that are creating transformative, wearable art.
Oct 21, 2025 [[read-time]] minute read
So far this year, there have been more than 1B views of videos with "halloween" and "makeup" in the title.
Get ready to be utterly spellbound! Every Halloween, special effects (SFX) artists and makeup artists (MUAs) transform themselves and fellow creators into everything from mythical creatures and original monsters to iconic fictional villains. So far this year, there have been more than 1B views of videos with "halloween" and "makeup" in the title.* These creators actively engage with the spooky season by tying their spectacular transformations, especially on Shorts, to trending aesthetics, popular characters, and annual audio traditions. The community is committed to both accessibility and innovation: while SFX artists make complex techniques attainable for beginners with tutorials and technical tips, MUAs embrace the fun through creative challenges, like recreating designs from roulette filters. Even the seemingly mundane act of removing the elaborate makeup becomes a form of engaging, "oddly satisfying" content, pulling back the curtain on the unique textures and prosthetics involved.
The true magic of these videos lies in the theatrics of the transition, a fundamental element of Halloween makeup that perfectly plays into the drama and "surprise" reveal of a fantastical or metamorphic look. Seasonal audio tracks have become permanent staples, creating a shared sense of continuity that viewers look forward to every year. For example, the distorted “Afro Circus” remix signals an exciting beat-drop transformation, while the “Please don’t kill me Mr. Ghostface” audio is instantly recognizable as the cue for a montage of costume and makeup inspiration.
Don't wait to be boo-tiful! Check out the playlist below for a curated collection of Halloween beauty transformations, and be sure to check out our unique YouTube logo (also known as the Yoodle) in honor of these creators.
*Source: YouTube data, Global, January 1 - October 5 2025.