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:
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White face paint or clown white foundation (Ben Nye or Mehron recommended)
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Blue or teal face paint (for contour and skin tone)
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Black eyeshadow & eyeliner
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Purple eyeshadow (for shading)
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Mascara & false lashes (optional, but dramatic!)
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Blue or black lipstick (or use eyeliner smudged on lips)
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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.
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Cover your face, neck, and chest (if showing) with white face paint or very pale foundation.
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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.
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Blend a blue or teal face paint into your temples, jawline, and cheek hollows for a sunken look.
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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!
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Cover lids with blue shadow.
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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.
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Apply mascara and false lashes for dramatic effect.
4. Lips
Emily’s lips are a haunting shade of bluish black.
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Use blue lipstick or smudge black eyeliner across your lips, blending with a bit of blue eyeshadow for that corpse-like finish.
5. Details
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Draw faint cracks or stitches with black eyeliner for extra creepiness.
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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
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A blue wig or long black wig sprayed with blue hairspray works perfectly.
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Mess it up a bit for that windswept, undead look.
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Add a DIY veil with fake flowers to complete the bride vibe.
Tips:
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The blue version is faster and kid-friendly.
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A purple/green decayed version takes more blending but looks eerily realistic.
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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 is a contributor at CostumeMailer. We are committed to providing well-researched, accurate, and valuable content to our readers.
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