10 Easy Carnival Makeup Ideas Using What You Already Have at Home

Carnival is just around the corner and, let’s be honest, sometimes costumes sneak up on us. Whether you’ve made a last-minute plan or this year you prefer to save money and get creative, you don’t need to be a professional makeup artist to stand out. Sometimes, an easy Carnival makeup look is more effective than the most expensive costume in the store.

The key is to look at your makeup bag differently. That black eyeliner, red lipstick or glitter eyeshadow you bought for New Year’s Eve can become your best allies. In this post, we’ll show you how to transform basic cosmetics into amazing character looks. From simple Carnival makeup ideas to more imaginative options that will leave everyone speechless. Let’s get started!

What You Need for Easy Carnival Makeup at Home

Don’t rush to the costume store just yet. For most of the ideas we suggest, you only need to dig through your bathroom drawers. Here’s your “survival kit”:

• Black and brown eyeliner: essential for whiskers, animal noses or fake scars.
• Red lipstick: perfect for clowns, superheroes or bold blush.
• Eyeshadow: gold tones work for golden looks; blues and silvers are great for an astronaut makeup look; pinks are perfect for fantasy styles.
• Bronzer or blush: ideal as a base for animals like lions or tigers.
• Moisturizer: use it to blend eyeshadows and create homemade face paint.

10 Easy Carnival Makeup Ideas Step by Step

Here’s our selection of lifesaver looks. Suitable for both adults and kids.

Quick and Effective Cat Makeup

• A classic that never fails.
• Use black eyeliner to draw an upside-down triangle on the tip of your nose and fill it in.
• Draw a line from your nose to your upper lip and color it black.
• Add three whiskers on each cheek and small black dots on the muzzle area.
• For an extra touch, create a bold cat-eye eyeliner look.

Fun and Colorful Clown Makeup

• Draw a red circle on the nose with lipstick.
• Create two blue or black triangles above and below the eyes.
• Paint an exaggerated smile extending beyond the corners of your mouth.
• Apply plenty of pink blush to the cheeks.

Minimalist Superhero Makeup

• You don’t need a mask — paint one on!
• Draw the outline of a mask around the eyes with a black pencil.
• Fill it in with metallic eyeshadow or face paint, if you have it.
• Draw a lightning bolt or your favorite hero’s symbol on your forehead.

Astronaut Makeup

• For Carnival astronaut makeup, we’re going for a galactic look.
• Use highlighter or silver eyeshadow on the cheekbones and temples to create a metallic effect.
• Draw small stars and planets (like Saturn) on the cheeks with black or blue eyeliner.
• Apply glitter to simulate stardust.

Viking Makeup

• Viking makeup is all about attitude.
• Draw a horizontal black or red stripe across the eyes from side to side like a war mask.
• You can add vertical lines going down from the lower lip to the chin.
• Smudge some matte brown eyeshadow on the face for a battle-worn look.

Mime Makeup

• Similar to prisoner makeup techniques, mime makeup plays with black and white.
• Lighten the skin with a very pale foundation or talcum powder (don’t apply too much).
• Heavily outline the eyes and eyebrows in black.
• Paint the lips black or deep red, but make them smaller than usual, in a heart shape.
• Draw a black tear under one eye.

Pastel Unicorn Makeup

• A Carnival favorite for kids.
• Use pink, lilac and blue eyeshadows.
• Make a cone with paper and decorate it.
• Tie it to your head with string.
• Add glitter stickers if you have any.

Scarecrow Makeup

• Carnival scarecrow makeup is very visual and super easy.
• Paint an orange or red circle on the nose and outline it in black with “stitches” (small vertical lines).
• Extend the corners of the mouth with a black line and cross it with more stitches.
• Apply bold circular blush on the cheeks.

Chicken Makeup

• Looking for something different like chicken makeup for Carnival?
• Paint a yellow or orange triangle on the nose as a beak.
• Draw red feathers (like a comb) on the forehead or above the eyebrows using red lipstick and blend upward.
• Exaggerate the eyeliner to make the eyes look round.

Tips for Perfect Carnival Makeup

Even if it’s a simple look, we want it to last all parade long.

• Prep your skin: apply moisturizer before starting, especially for children.
• Setting: use a makeup setting spray or thermal water mist.
• Removal: keep makeup remover handy, especially for dark colors.

Get Inspired and Enjoy Carnival at PortAventura

Now that your look is ready, what better place to show it off than PortAventura World? During Carnival, the park transforms into an explosion of rhythm and color. Don’t miss the Carnival shows, where dancers and acrobats in professional costumes will give you even more inspiration.

Check the parade dates so you don’t miss the marching bands and performances. And if you’re visiting in February, remember that the Costa Daurada weather is usually mild enough to enjoy your costume comfortably.

Frequently Asked Questions About Carnival Makeup