Halloween 2011: Expert Tips for Creating a Sexy Vampire Look

To make sure every product glides on smoothly, Jordan recommends using a makeup primer on fresh, clean skin. “The primer helps with the application of the makeup,” he says. “It fills in pores and fine lines and reduces any dry skin.”

Start by using a cosmetic sponge to apply a creamy foundation that’s a few shades lighter than your skin tone. (We used Kryolan TV Paint Stick.) Blend it onto the face, down onto the neckline, into the ears, and into the hairline. Resist the urge to go for a pure white base, Jordan says. “White is kind of a corny color, and it looks ashy and washy. Three shades lighter is plenty dramatic.” Set the foundation with a translucent setting powder.

“To create a vampire look, you need to make the person look gaunt,” Jordan says. Establish shadows and a sunken-in look by using a purplish, reddish, or brownish shadow to emphasize the natural cavities on your face: at the temples, the ridge of the forehead, under cheekbones, and at the sides and bridge of the nose. “Work with your bone structure,” Jordan says. “Feel the depressions with your fingers.”

Use the same color on the eyelids and in the deepest corners of the eyes.

Press a slightly darker shadow into the crease of your eyelids to increase depth. You can also add a little to the other shadows on your face to make them look deeper. Don’t put on all the color right away; start lightly and build up.

With a bright red or orange shadow, lightly line the lower eyelid.

Next, use a thick pencil liner (or a wet liner brush with powder liner) to line the upper eyes. We used Kryolan Cake Eye Liner in black.

Use brown shadow or a brow pencil to fill in brows, making them look more severe. Jordan recommends exaggerating the arch.

Use a black eye pencil to thickly line the lips; then apply a deep, blood-red lipstick and blend.

To go from scary-vampire to sexy-vampire, dust some purple-tinged glitter onto the cheekbones, forehead, and chin (anywhere you’d apply a highlighter), and finish off with some faux fangs, of course.

Finish with a setting spray if you want to give the look extra staying power.

You can use common drugstore cosmetics to complete this look, bur for more info on the professional products we used, visit www.Kryolan.com.