Halloween is approaching fast, which means it’s time to figure out which ghoulish character you’ll be for this year’s celebrations.
Will you take inspiration from pop culture references or the biggest TV and movie releases of the year? Do you prefer to keep it old school, opting for a creepy witch or zombie? Or is a minimal costume, like cat ears and a spooky tee, more your deal?
Whatever you love to do, there’s nothing like a pair of coloured contact lenses to add a new level of dedication to your Halloween offering, especially if you're throwing a huge party. However, sticking any old thing in your eye is dangerous and should definitely be avoided. Unsure what to look for when buying online? We’ve put together some handy tips to ensure you look cool AF but don’t put yourself (and your eyesight) in trouble.
You might not know this, but it’s actually illegal to sell contact lenses without the supervision of a registered professional, like an optometrist or dispensing optician. It’s worth doing your research before you jump in and purchase the first pair you see.
Any contact lens that hasn’t been fitted by a professional can cause an array of issues for your eyes. Things like allergic reactions, infections, irritation, vision issues and even blindness can occur if you aren’t careful. Here are some points to keep in mind.
CHECK OUT the best celebrity Halloween costumes to inspire you
Celebrity Halloween outfits (slider)
1 of 29Gok Wan as a clown
Gok Wan knows his fashion and obviously knows his fancy dress from the looks of things. This clown outfit is OTT, extra and fab-u-lous. We stan.
2 of 29David Walliams as Kim Jong-Un
This isn't the first time David Walliams has dressed up as a political leader, donning a Donald Trump outfit for Jonathan Ross' annual Halloween party in 2017. But we love this look. Simple, all black and definitely cheap. Bargain.
3 of 29Holly Willoughby as a unicorn
If you watch This Morning, you'll know Holly Willoughby is the biggest fan of unicorns... like ever. She's clearly living her childhood dreams. But we've got one question, how much did this outfit cost? It looks expensive.
4 of 29Ed Sheeran as a pimp
Don't lie, we've all got a hideous fur jacket stuck at the back of our wardrobes. Why not take a leaf out of Ed's book and use it to dress up as a pimp!
5 of 29Stacey Solomon as a mermaid
If you're wanting to keep it stripped back, plain, but effective, Stacey Solomon's mermaid outfit would do the job. Her black crop top and mermaid tail is just perfection. Joe Swash's outfit on the other hand... Let's just say it's very fitting with the theme.
6 of 29Alan Carr as Gemma Collins
There's only one word to describe this outfit - WOW. Alan Carr dressing up as Gemma Collins, aka the meme queen, is iconic on so many levels and would certainly turn heads. And even better, your bestie could dress up as Bobby Norris!
7 of 29Nicole Scherzinger as Cleopatra
If you're wanting to look like a golden goddess, then take note from The X Factor judge Nicole Scherzinger and dress up as Cleopatra. The jewels and the diamonds - it's a look.
8 of 29Aisling Bea as June from The Handmaids Tale
Comedian and actress Aisling Bea did not disappoint with this look, dressing up as June from The Handmaids Tale. We have no idea what the plant has got to do with the look but we'll just go with it.
9 of 29Frank Skinner as Frankenstein
He's a comedy genius so obviously he had to dress us as a character with his own name in it! Frank is giving us all the ghoulish vibes - we definitely need his MUA's number!
10 of 29Derren Brown as um...
We're not entirely sure who Derren Brown has dressed up but he looks scary af...
11 of 29Joan Collins as a Hollywood star
Joan Collins, a Hollywood superstar, dressing us as Madame du Barry - a victim of the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution. Maybe not an outfit for a club vibe.
12 of 29Keith Lemon as ?
Keith's fancy dress included prostethics, which took this costume to next level Halloween. Dressing up as David from The Lost Boys, he looks very much like the character and it's weird to even think it's the Leeds-born comedian under that outfit - it's SO convincing.
13 of 29Michael McIntyre as a dead buisnessman
Michael McIntyre has gone for the classic blood on white shirt look. Easy, simple and cheap. Is it a little bit basic though? Sorry Michael...
14 of 29Scarlett Moffatt as a Day of the Dead skeleton
Scarlett Moffatt looks amazing in this Mexican Day of the Dead outfit. The outfit is on point and isn't too much of look that anyone could recreate. As for her friends Joker outfit - amazing. They both had a very good make-up artist this night.
15 of 29Laura Anderson as a peacock
Love Island's Laura must have spent hours in the make-up chair for this look but it certainly paid off. She looks insane with all those jewels on her face. Why do we keep singing Peacock by Katy Perry in our heads when we look at this picture?
16 of 29Anne Marie as Billie Eilish
Anne Marie looks so much like Billie Eilish in his outfit we had to double take! She looks so cool, from the long, neon green talons to the iconic foot boot. This is a look we think lots of people could recreate.
17 of 29Lucie Donlan as Mystic Meg
We're getting mysterious vibes mixed with Nessa from Gavin and Stacey vibes from Love Island Lucie's fancy dress costume. She looks awesome - 10/10.
18 of 29Stormzy
Like Derren Brown's outfit, we're not exactly sure what look Stormzy is going for but it looks powerful and would be cheap to recreate.
19 of 29Kady McDemott as a dead ballerina
Kady's outfit is perfect for the club. It gives you the flexibility to show off your range of dance moves and the tutu means people won't come as close to you, leaving you more room to dance. Simple.
20 of 29Liam Payne as Superman
It's not the goriest of Halloween looks but phwaar, yes please.
21 of 29Aitch as a Kangaroo/Cowboy
Rapper Aitch is chanelling his inner Kangaroo crossed with a Cowboy in this fancy dress costume. It's giving us major Old Town Road vibes and many a laugh.
22 of 29Ella May as a pumpkin
Ella May is rocking the pumpkin inspired outfit. The green wig is fitting and the fur orange jacket keeps you warm. Winning.
23 of 29Jax Jones as a Mummy
Of course Jax Jones dressed up as a Louis Vuitton mummy. What else would he dress up as? He's a DJ at the end of the day.
24 of 29Georgia Aurelia Elliott as Mystic Meg
Similar to Lucie Donlan, Georgia Aurelia Elliott is also channelling Mystic Meg vibes with a stripped back look. The face jewels make the outfit. Goals.
25 of 29Rita Ora as Post Malone
Rita Ora's homage to fellow singer Post Malone, complete with a cigarette and bottle of beer, is absolutely GENIUS. In fact, her resemblance to the real deal was so uncanny that one publication actually used a photo of Rita in an article about Post. Oops...
26 of 29Kim Kardashian and Jonathan Cheban as Carole Baskin and Joe Exotic
We've lost count of how many Tiger King themed Halloween costumes we saw last October, but one thing we do know is that there are few who pulled it off as well as Kim K and her bestie Jonathan. Plus, North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm are ADORABLE as tigers.
27 of 29The Weeknd as The Nutty Professor
We were totally gobsmacked when we realised it was none other than The Weeknd underneath this The Nutty Professor costume. He looks totally unrecognisable...
28 of 29Vanessa Hudgens as Catwoman
Who here among us hasn't donned a pair of cat ears, a black top and a makeshift tail to go trick or treating? But Vanessa Hudgens' PVC Catwoman bodysuit takes the look to a whole 'nother level.
29 of 29Halsey as Tim Burton's Corpse Bride
We're not quite sure how's pulled it off but Halsey manages to look both scary and drop dead gorgeous (pun intended) at the same time as Tim Burton's Corpse Bride. Her face paint is to die for (okay, we'll stop now).
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Top tips for Halloween coloured contact lenses
1. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. For a product to be sold at a heavily discounted price, it usually means that the quality will be lacking. Avoid buying from sellers or websites that give minimal information about the product and have very few reviews.
2. Always look for the ‘CE’ marking on the packaging as this means that the product meets the health, safety, and environmental protection standards for products sold within the European Economic Area (EEA).
3. If your lenses feel uncomfortable, itchy or cause irritation, take them out immediately.
4. Get clued up on handling your lenses, cleaning them and any other instructions that come with the product.
5. Never wear lenses if they are damaged or broken, and don’t wear lenses that have been worn by someone else.
6. Don’t wear them for long periods of time and don’t fall asleep in them.
7. Invest some time to learn the proper cleaning techniques and hygiene steps you should take to minimise infection or irritation.
8. Get yourself some cleaning fluid and the correct storage for your lenses, even if you plan on only wearing them once.
9. If you haven’t worn contact lenses before, seek professional advice before you use them.
If in doubt, speak to your local optician, who can advise you on the best course of action.