Pop Culture LooksNo. 1215 · The 2026 edition
Recreate Sally's Makeup From The Nightmare Before Christmas
Get Sally's patchwork doll look with this step-by-step makeup tutorial from The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Our own summary of the original — the full post and photos live at lovetoknow.com.
Learn how to recreate Sally's iconic makeup from The Nightmare Before Christmas. This guide covers everything from a blue base and contoured features to stitched details and bold red lips. Perfect for Halloween or any costume party.
Directions
- Start by hydrating your face with moisturizer. Let it sink in completely before smoothing on a primer.
- Use a sponge or brush to apply blue cream makeup across your entire face and neck.
- Define your brows by filling in gaps with a pencil that's a shade lighter than your natural brow color. Finish by dusting blue eyeshadow over them to set and match the theme.
- Contour with blue eyeshadow: apply it to your temples, the sides of your nose, under your jawline, and in the hollows of your cheeks. For highlight, use a pale blue shade on the tip of your nose, the center of your forehead, and your cheekbones.
- For large doll-like eyes, put dark blue shadow on the crease and lower lash line, and light blue on the center of the lid. Line your waterline with a white pencil and your upper lash line with black liquid liner.
- Coat your lower lashes with blue mascara and your upper lashes with black mascara. Once dry, attach long, fluttery false lashes for extra drama.
- Create a stitched effect on the left side of your forehead using black liquid liner: draw a line and then add small perpendicular dashes and X marks. After the liner dries, dab white cream makeup under each stitch to highlight.
- Extend your smile upward with black liner, then add lines and X marks on both sides of your mouth. Once dry, apply white highlights under these markings.
- Trace the outline of your lips with a black pencil. Fill the outer part of your lips with a deep red lipstick and the center with a lighter, brighter red for an ombre look.
- Examine your makeup for evenness, make sure your lashes are secure, and feel free to draw additional stitches on your neck or arms.
- Top off the transformation with a red wig or temporary red hair color.
More photos
Photos hosted by lovetoknow.com.