Corpse bride makeup Tutorial

Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride is one of the most iconic Halloween looks — haunting, romantic, and surprisingly easy to pull off with the right products. Whether you want the classic blue Tim Burton look or a more realistic, decayed version, this tutorial will show you how to become Emily, the Corpse Bride, in under an hour.

I’ve included both step-by-step written instructions and a video tutorial for reference. At the bottom, you’ll also find a photo guide with links to the exact products I used.

What You’ll Need:

• White face paint or clown white foundation (Ben Nye or Mehron recommended)

• Blue or teal face paint (for contour and skin tone)

• Black eyeshadow & eyeliner

• Purple eyeshadow (for shading)

• Mascara & false lashes (optional, but dramatic!)

• Blue or black lipstick (or use eyeliner smudged on lips)

• Setting powder

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• Wig or blue hair spray (optional, for accuracy)

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Base

Start with a clean, moisturized face. Apply primer if you want long wear.

• Cover your face, neck, and chest (if showing) with white face paint or very pale foundation.

• Set with a translucent powder so it doesn’t smudge.

2. Contour with Blue

Emily’s skin isn’t just white — it has a bluish tint.

• Blend a blue or teal face paint into your temples, jawline, and cheek hollows for a sunken look.

• Add a touch of purple or grey eyeshadow around the sides of your nose and under cheekbones for depth.

3. Eyes

Her big Burton-style eyes are the highlight!

• Cover lids with blue shadow.

• Deepen the crease and lower lash line with black or purple for a hollow effect.

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• Line your eyes with thick black eyeliner, exaggerating the top and bottom to look larger.

• Apply mascara and false lashes for dramatic effect.

4. Lips

Emily’s lips are a haunting shade of bluish black.

• Use blue lipstick or smudge black eyeliner across your lips, blending with a bit of blue eyeshadow for that corpse-like finish.

5. Details

• Draw faint cracks or stitches with black eyeliner for extra creepiness.

• If you want to mimic Tim Burton’s animation style, overdraw your lower lash line slightly and fill the space with white eyeliner to make your eyes look cartoonishly big.

6. Hair & Accessories

• A blue wig or long black wig sprayed with blue hairspray works perfectly.

• Mess it up a bit for that windswept, undead look.

• Add a DIY veil with fake flowers to complete the bride vibe.

Tips:

• The blue version is faster and kid-friendly.

• A purple/green decayed version takes more blending but looks eerily realistic.

• Always set your paint with powder to avoid smudging throughout the night.

With these steps, you’ll have your own Corpse Bride transformation ready in under an hour!

✨ Bonus: Pair it with a Victor Van Dort costume for a perfect Halloween couples look.

Costume Mailer

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