La Catrina Makeup: Step-by-Step Tutorial for Day of the Dead

La Catrina makeup is one of the most popular ones among those who celebrate Day of the Dead or Día de Muertos in Spanish. This important tradition among Mexican people honors both those who are alive and those who have passed. Over the past few decades, La Catrina has become one of the most iconic symbols of this celebration. That’s why, in this blog post we’ll share a step-by-step makeup tutorial so you can transform into Catrina for either Día de Muertos or Halloween. We’ll also include creative variations as well as makeup tips for Catrín, the male version. 

And stick around till the end because we’ll also show you how to save money and earn free gift cards when you use Fetch for all your Day of the Dead makeup and costume shopping!

What you’ll need for your Catrina makeup

If your goal is to get a stunning Catrina look, you’ll need to stock up on some products and tools to help you through the process. We suggest that you have these handy:

• Hyde and Eek! white, black, and brightly colored makeup, available at Target
• Black eyeliner (pencil or gel)
• NYX Professional Makeup LingerieXXL lipstick, in Matte Rouge
• Sequins or decorative stones
• Brushes of various sizes, available at Ulta Beauty
• Colorpop Plum eyeshadow
• Makeup wipes for touch-ups

Find different makeup offers on the Discover page of the Fetch app. You’ll get extra points if you shop brands like NYX or L’Oréal. Plus, now you can get all products listed above via Fetch Shop, earn lots of points for all your shopping and redeem them for free gift cards to your favorite retailers including Ulta Beauty, Sephora, Target, Starbucks and more.

Prep your skin before applying makeup

Before you begin applying your Catrina makeup, wash and moisturize your face. Use a lightweight, non-greasy moisturizer to keep your makeup from melting throughout the day. This is a key step so that the makeup adheres properly and stays fresh for hours. Whether you’re marching in a parade, attending a party or simply remembering those loved ones who have passed by creating an altar, you’ll look amazing all day long if you follow this very first step.

Step-by-step tutorial for La Catrina makeup

Step 1: Create a white base

First, paint your entire face with a white base makeup to mimic a skull and achieve the iconic Catrina look. Cover your face evenly, avoiding the areas around your eyes and nose where you’ll later be adding details. You can apply makeup with a sponge for touch-ups after using a big brush. Once the first coat has dried, apply a second layer if it isn’t opaque enough and your skin is still visible.

Step 2: Outline your eyes and nose

Draw large circles around your eyes, including your eyebrows, with black eyeliner. You can also draw a diamond or heart shape on your nose to mimic the cavities of a skull. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect; you can fix any mistakes later.

Step 3: Fill in your eyes and nose

Once again, use black makeup to fill the area around your eyes and nose. Be sure that these are completely covered and use a smaller brush for finer details.

Step 4: Add sequins and a little bit of sparkle

Add sequins or decorative stones around your eyes to give it a more elegant touch. You’ll need to apply small drops of adhesive to the sequins so that they stick. Then, place them carefully on your face. You can use tweezers for more precision if you’d like. It might seem like a small thing, but it’ll give your Catrina makeup a special touch.

Step 5: Trace the skeleton smile

The skeletal smile is a key component of La Catrina makeup. Draw a horizontal line from your closed lips toward your cheeks. Then, to mimic the teeth, use a thin brush and draw vertical lines across the horizontal one. If you’re going after a more realistic look, make the lines in the center longer than those on the sides.

Step 6: Extend the makeup to your neck (optional)

This final step is optional, but if you’re going to wear a Catrina costume, we suggest that you extend your makeup to your neck so that you get a more complete skeleton look.

And, that’s it! You’ll be ready to shine as La Catrina either on Halloween or Día de Muertos.

Catrina makeup variations

Catrina makeup lends to a great variety of creative interpretations. Some of the most popular ones are:

• Floral Catrina: Add flower designs to your forehead and eyes. Vibrant colors like yellow, purple and pink are perfect for this version. After all, it’s the color that makes this character come alive and sets her apart from la calavera (a regular skull).
• Gothic Catrina: Use black, gray and silver tones to achieve a darker look. You can also add other elements such as crosses and black roses. This darker touch will help you get the desired gothic look. 
• Neon Catrina: For a glow-in-the-dark effect, use fluorescent or neon makeup, like green or pink, and pair it with UV lights. This might be your best version if you’re attending an evening party.
• Sequin Catrina: If you’re going after a more glamorous look, add some sequins and rhinestones to your style. It’ll look elegant and festive.

Tips for the Catrín makeup

The male version of Catrina features a more simple yet equally elegant makeup. Here are some tips:

• Black and white base: To add a more masculine effect, apply a white base to the entire face and then cover the eyes and nose with black makeup, similar to what you did with Catrina.
• Add mustache and beard details: Draw a thin and elegant mustache (or beard) with black eyeliner. This will give the Catrín makeup a more sophisticated and traditional appearance..
• Hat and suit: Don’t forget to complement the look with a wide hat and a suit to nail your Catrín costume.

Origins of La Catrina 

It was 1912 when Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada created the figure of La Catrina, also known as La Calavera Garbancera as a social satire. Then, Diego Rivera did his own interpretation in his famous mural Sueño de una tarde dominical en la Alameda Central (Dream of a Sunday Afternoon In The Alameda Park) where Catrina appeared dressed elegantly. Nowadays, this character has transcended all boundaries and has become an iconic figure representing the Day of the Dead.

Meaning and symbolism of Catrina

La Catrina makeup is not just a costume, but rather a cultural and spiritual symbol. It represents the celebration of life and death, a central aspect of Día de Muertos.

This festivity is so important in Mexican culture that, in 2008, UNESCO declared it an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. During the Day of the Dead, it’s also common to create altars for those who have passed and buy cempasúchil flowers. Dressing up as Catrina is a way of connecting with death from a more positive perspective, celebrating the legacy of those who’ve left us.

Get your make-up with Fetch and celebrate Día de Muertos

Get ready to celebrate the Day of the Dead or Halloween with this step-by-step makeup tutorial. And don’t forget that you can buy all the products you need to dress up as La Catrina via Fetch Shop and save on your purchases. You’ll get points for everything you buy and later redeem them for free gift cards to your favorite retailers like Target, Ulta Beauty, Sephora, Starbucks and more. What are you waiting for to try this look? Grab your brushes and celebrate Día de Muertos in style!