Joker makeup ideas and inspiration to nail this Halloween

So, you’ve decided to do Joker makeup for Halloween – but which version will you go for? Joaquin Phoenix's take is set to be a popular choice this year. The makeup is simple, the hair is green, and the red suit can easily be copied.

But what about all the other versions we’ve gotten to know over the last 80 years? So many iconic looks, it’s difficult to choose just one Joker. And thankfully, you don’t have to. Just take your cue from makeup artist Drew McHale (known on social media as McDrew) who has come up with an idea that pays homage to multiple Jokers.

McHale posted a photo of herself on Instagram in a makeup look she calls, "Joker x 4 — highlighting some of the iconic portrayals of the joker throughout history." And her makeup tribute is just as iconic. She has made up her face in quadrants; the upper right quarter of her face (left in the photo) is made to look like Phoenix's Joker, the upper left is made to look like Heath Ledger's Dark Knight version, the bottom left and left side of her neck is made to look like Jared Leto's Suicide Squad edition, and the bottom right and right side of her neck is made to look like the 1988 Batman: The Killing Joke graphic novel version drawn by Brian Bolland.

And in a stroke of disturbing genius, she unites them with an effect that looks like the quadrants have been stitched together with metal rings.

McHale took two hours just to prepare for this project. "I took a little while to create my face chart for this look on my iPad to be sure I nailed down all the details. I used this time to do my research on past jokers and the iconic characteristics of their looks," she tells Allure, sharing the chart.

It took twice as long — another four hours — to actually execute the incredible Joker makeup. And she shared on her Instagram post exactly which makeup products she used: Mehron Clown White face paint, the Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina Pro Pigment Palette Vol. 2, the Morphe x James Charles Palette, Beauty Bakerie Lollipop Liner, Fenty Beauty Vivid Liquid Eyeliner in Wet T-Shirt, Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick in American Doll, Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder, Huda Beauty Overachiever Concealer, Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Foundation, Moon Creations Face & Body Paint, Skeddit Colorant Vessels, and Colourpop's new Smoke Show Palette.

"I chose the four that were most unique and recognisable to me," McHale says. No offense, Jack Nicholson and Cesar Romero. “It's really hard to pick a favourite joker as they all have such special stories and characteristics, but if I had to pick, I would say Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker.”

After more Joker makeup inspiration?

If four Jokers is three too many, consider choosing just one Joker makeup look instead (like makeup artist Keilidh Cashell's creation above). Below, we've rounded up a selection of our favourite tutorials from TikTok. Prepare to be inspired…

We're obsessed with this ultra-glam Joker look that pairs heavy kohl smoked-out eyes with green eyebrows and the signature Joker red lips. Apply your fullest false eyelashes and some green hairspray for extra impact.

If, like McHale, Joaquin Phoenix's Joker is your fave - give this tutorial from Holly Murray Makeup a whirl. Instead of buying a suit, you can paint one on a la Holly. And as for the makeup, you'll need white, blue and red face paint to recreate this impressive look.

For a simple take on the classic Joker look, take inspiration from Il Makiage. This look uses deep plum eyeshadow (a cream formula works best), smudged ruby red lipstick and black liquid eye liner to etch ‘ha ha’ onto the forehead.

Another mash up, this time with three different Jokers, Ella James Makeup uses SFX makeup to divide her face into three to create this creepy (yet impressive) Halloween look.