

In other words, don’t hit up Party City and try to replicate this look for your Halloween party. If you wear this makeup to represent yourself or a loved one who is no longer with us, then it’s not only appropriate but also appreciated. Many people believe it’s disrespectful to wear this makeup on Halloween as a way to appear scary. First of all, you should never use this makeup as a way to mock the Mexican traditions or cultural significance of this holiday. Wearing sugar skull makeup can be done tastefully and respectfully, but it’s a delicate situation. So, when is it okay (if ever) to wear this sugar skull makeup? Despite those facts, many people mistake this makeup as a scary Halloween costume and inappropriate wear this makeup on October 31st, a move that many perceive as cultural appropriation and disrespectful to Latinx culture. People also paint their faces with sugar skulls makeup to model the motif, and this look is a way to remind people not to fear death but to laugh with death and, more importantly, to celebrate life while we are living.ĭía de Los Muertos is not a somber occasion but rather a chance to reunite with the souls of loved ones.Īs you can see, sugar skull makeup is a rich cultural tradition in celebration of Día de Los Muertos, with meaning that runs deep and has been passed on for generations. It’s a way to tell them that they are not forgotten and welcome their spirits back during this holiday. The makeup, colorful decor, sugar skulls (painted skulls made out of sugar and left as offerings), and the ofrendas (offerings) are all ways to celebrate the lives of those we’ve lost.

Unlike Halloween, when people relish the chance to dress up in scary costumes and terrifying makeup, the sugar skull makeup worn on Día de Los Muertos is actually a time-honored symbol that celebrates those loved ones who have passed away. The true meaning behind the sugar skull makeup It’s not about trick or treating or costume parties or an excuse to eat copious amounts of sugar while wearing some outlandish disguise it’s about honoring relatives who are no longer here in this physical world through a series of traditions and offerings.

While they occur just days apart, and they do both involve makeup and traditions that are a departure from your typical routine, they are not the same thing.ĭía de Los Muertos is a two-day Mexican holiday that honors families’ deceased ancestors through various traditions. It is believed that the souls of all deceased children come down from heaven and reunite with their families on November 1, and the souls of deceased adults come to visit on November 2. Día de Los Muertos, aka Day of the Dead, takes place on November 1st and 2nd. Halloween, sometimes called All Hallows’ Eve or All Saints’ Eve, takes place on October 31.
