Spooktacular Fun: Top Tips and Tricks for an Unforgettable Halloween

Halloween, though traditionally American with Irish roots, has found its way into our hearts and homes. As October ends, we carve pumpkins, hunt for costumes, and craft decorations. The eerie yet captivating atmosphere of Halloween is undeniable. Here are five life hacks and tips to celebrate Halloween in a quick and memorable way.

How to Choose the Perfect Costume

The ultimate hack for choosing a costume is to look at the top-rated movies of the year! Characters from these films will undoubtedly be popular choices. If cinematic costumes seem too complex, consider celebrities who have been in the spotlight. For instance, actress Nina Dobrev recently dressed up as Billie Eilish for a Halloween party.

Trending Costumes This Year

Maleficent (especially with the recent release of the second movie)
Clowns (riding the wave of popular clown-themed films, just add a touch of fun and positivity!)
Marvel Universe heroes (Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, Iron Man, and other Avengers characters are always winning choices, especially with this year’s new releases)
Celebrities like Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Meghan Markle, and Hailey Bieber

How to Create the Perfect Hairstyle and Makeup

The key to Halloween makeup (or rather, face paint) is longevity. Use a makeup primer and setting spray to ensure your look lasts all night. Professional or children’s face paint (available at art supply stores) works best. You can also use colored eyeshadows for detailing.

Bright lipsticks in various colors like blue, green, and black are always a hit. Add some glitter or rhinestones on top for extra sparkle. You can create an ombre effect, such as a striking transition from black to red. For an even more dramatic look, consider colored contact lenses, like white ones.

A bold hairstyle can be the perfect finishing touch to your costume. Temporary hair color gels can help you achieve a vibrant look. For example, Belita-M’s Hot Colors tint balms offer a Halloween-perfect palette, including “Sparkling Graphite,” “Electric Blue,” “Daring Emerald,” “Neon Fuchsia,” “Pink Pearl,” “Fiery Flamenco,” and “Purple Rose.”

How to Decorate Your Home

If you’re hosting a Halloween party at home, here are some simple tips. The traditional Halloween symbol is the pumpkin. After carving a Jack-o’-lantern, use the pulp for desserts and toast the seeds for a crunchy snack or garnish.

For a more romantic decoration, consider using whole pumpkins adorned with fresh flowers. You can also create a centerpiece with whole pumpkins, candles (choose white and tall ones), dried autumn leaves, pine cones, apples, and berries like cranberries or rowanberries. A pumpkin can even serve as a unique champagne cooler. Simply cut off the top, hollow it out, and fill it with ice.

An easy way to decorate your home is with DIY garlands. Use orange and black cardboard to cut out pumpkin faces, maple leaves, bats, birds, and spider webs. You can also hang bats from tree branches if you live in a house.

If you don’t have time for DIY decorations, opt for helium balloons in white, silver, black, and orange. Don’t forget garlands to create a mysterious and cozy atmosphere.

What to Serve

Halloween is all about sweets! Be prepared for trick-or-treaters knocking on your door. Stock up on candies and cookies, and don’t forget to set a festive table. Here are some quick treat ideas:

Fruits: Bananas cut in half and decorated with chocolate drop “eyes” and “mouths” make adorable edible ghosts. Peeled mandarins with green tops resemble tiny pumpkins. You can also prepare traditional Halloween caramel apples.
Cookies, Jellies, and Baked Goods: Insert gummy worms into soft biscuit cookies or place gummy jaws on top of cupcakes for a quick and fun snack.

Serve drinks and treats in orange paper cups with black Jack-o’-lantern faces drawn on them.

How to Entertain

If you’re celebrating Halloween at home with family or friends, here are some fun and easy entertainment ideas:

Trick-or-Treating: The classic Halloween game. Go out and have fun with your neighbors!
Movies: Choose from films like “The Addams Family,” “Casper,” “Beetlejuice,” “Corpse Bride,” or “Edward Scissorhands.”
Board Games: Always a fun and winning choice. There are many Halloween-themed games, such as “Zombie Fluxx,” “Ghost Hunters,” “Barabashka,” and “Kahoot.”
Books: Gather the family for a group reading session or cozy up with a book and hot tea. Consider authors like Bram Stoker, Stephen King, or Ambrose Bierce.

Happy Halloween!