During a Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead celebration, it’s customary to paint your face in the style of Catrina, an iconic, ghoulish lady who wears a fabulous hat. Here’s a quick How-To guide for Day of the Dead face painting, but this is just a place to start, a jumping off point. You can get creative and make yourself up like any ghost you want!
What You Need: Costume make-up, regular make-up, cosmetic brushes, glitter hairspray, red rose, and pink and blue fake rhinestones with adhesive.
Step One: Apply a good foundation of white base make-up. Buff and smooth with a cotton pad.
(White base make-up, Day of the Dead face painting, photo by: J. Clegg.)
Step Two: Create drama around the eyes.
(Drama around the eyes, Day of the Dead face painting, photo by: J. Clegg.)
Step Three: Create a stitched, Frankenstein-ish mouth and flair around the chin.
(Stitched mouth and chin flair, Day of the Dead face painting, photo by: J. Clegg.)
Step Four: Spray glitter hairspray in your hair and smooth with a small brush.
(Glitter hairspray in hair, Day of the Dead face painting, photo by: J. Clegg.)
Step Five: Place rhinestones around the eyes, then apply eyeliner.
(Eyeliner and rhinestone application, Day of the Dead face painting, photo by: J. Clegg.)
Step Six: Place a red rose behind your ear. And you’re done – you’re ready to party during the Day of the Dead!
(Caterina, Day of the Dead face painting, photo by: J. Clegg.)
Now that you have you fabulous look, you’ve got to get out and about and party. Here are three places in Mexico where you can get festive and show off your Day of the Dead face painting awesomeness, as well as enjoy a few adult beverages. If you want to plan your own celebration, complete with Dinner of the Souls, take a look at what we did.
