A good way to create a classic ghoul/zombie is to use five colors: yellow ochre, deep red or maroon, bluish purple, black or dark gray, and a very pale flesh tone. These primary colors can be blended to give you secondary colors such as purple (red plus blue) and green (yellow plus blue). Cream colors that set with powder work best for blending.

Stand in front of a bathroom mirror with the lights out. Hold a small flashlight at your waist, directing the light upward. Notice how it creates extreme highlights and shadows on your face. Try it from overhead. Take note of how your face changes with the light from different angles.

Keep in mind that good scary makeup looks best in low light. Pull up a picture of the Frankenstein monster from the Internet as a reference. Turn the lights on and start with the pale flesh color as an all-over base. Next, shadow in the hollows (temples, eye sockets and below the cheek bones) of your face with the yellow ochre. Suck in your cheeks and make faces to find lines and creases to shadow.

Next, add more extreme shadows with the bluish-purple color, layering it over the ochre, but leaving the yellowish color showing at the edges. The trick is to gradually fade from one color to the other. Add black in the deepest areas and maroon near the eyes.

If you want to look more like a pirate or other grizzled character, use a piece of torn, textured sponge and add on a 5 o’clock shadow beard tone. This is done by lightly dabbing (stippling) on dark colors.

Bruises can be a combination of yellow, graduating to maroon, blue and black. Experiment by adding one color on top of another to get different shades. This can all be done with your fingers or a soft makeup sponge. Professional circus clowns and theatrical performers have used their hands for decades with wonderful results. A brush or two comes in handy for outlining and adding small details.

To set the makeup, use a powder puff to apply translucent facial powder, or in a pinch, baby powder patted on carefully, then pressed on firmly. Make sure the makeup has a dry, matte look. A large powder or blush brush can be used to remove any excess powder. A damp sponge helps too. Look for pictures of your favorite characters to mimic.

Happy Halloween!