The right Halloween makeup can mask the wearer with an unrecognizable facade and put the finishing touches on the perfect costume. With Halloween just a few days away, it is time to break out the brushes, powders and paints to truly transform into a different character.

Wednesday Addams is the perfect guise for those looking to embrace their moodier side this Halloween. To imitate her pallor, use a foundation one or two shades lighter than normal and don a mauve nude lipstick that casts a gray tint on your lips. Wednesday appears without eye makeup, but you can amp up the grunge factor with some black eyeliner and mascara. Part your hair — or black wig — down the middle and tightly braid it into two pigtails to finish the look.

Pay homage to HBO’s “Game of Thrones” by embodying the characters of Khal Drogo or Daenerys Targaryen. For Drogo, make sure to braid your long black hair and artfully arrange your beard. For those lacking Drogo’s locks, wear a wig and fake beard. Create smokey eyes by filling in the lids with black kohl liner and smudging outward. Blend in the liner with black eyeshadow and bring it down into the lower lash line. While an eyebrow scar is not necessary, it adds an undeniably Dothraki touch.

Unlike Drogo, everything about Daenerys, Drogo’s beau, is light. Skip the foundation and use concealer where necessary. For the eyes, use a nude matte eyeshadow, brown eyeliner and a swipe of brown mascara. Fill in the brows with a heavier hand, but keep it natural by using a light powder. Add a pink stain to the lips and cheeks for a pretty but natural flush. The finishing touch is a white-blonde wig with intricate braids.

Edward Scissorhands, perhaps one of Tim Burton’s most memorable characters, is also a great option for Halloween. A pale, white face foundation is necessary for this look, as well as a shaggy black wig. Eyebrows can be covered with two or three layers of a nontoxic glue stick, a layer of powder to set and a dab of concealer on top. Use a gray eyeshadow with purple undertones all the way around the eyes and, with a dark purple lipstick, fill in the center of the lips. Finish off the look with some store-bought scars.

Rather than a Disney princess, embrace the other side of the spectrum with Maleficent. Start off with a pale base and then go in heavy with the contour. To achieve the look of heavily sculpted cheekbones, use a gray contouring powder or cream rather than a bronze one. To imitate Maleficent’s pout, first line and fill in the lips with a red liner before dabbing your lipstick on top. This guarantees a precise and long-lasting lip color.

To ensure your makeup lasts through the night, use foundation and eyeshadow primers as well as a finishing spray. If you plan to take photos, wear a foundation without SPF to avoid unwanted shine. Whether it be a barbaric Dothraki soldier or a villainous witch, the transformative power of makeup is the extra touch to successfully embody another character for All Hallows Eve.

A version of this article appeared in the Wednesday, Oct. 29 print edition. Email Amber Hunter at [email protected].