It's "Dark Feminine" Fall, and This Iconic (Yet Unlikely) Film Has So Much Beauty Inspo
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but Beetlejuice is, in fact, a beauty movie. It may not have perfect sorority girl hairstyles, an iconic nail salon scene, or massive Clinique product placement like Legally Blonde. But when it comes to the impact that its main character had on some of us fashionable goth girlies, Winona Ryder’s Lydia Deetz is right up there with Elle Woods. With her spiky, gelled-down fringe, ghostly pallor (the one moment when the wrong foundation shade totally works), and funeral-ready threads, Lydia has been inspiring fellow “strange and unusual” girlies for over 35 years.
But she's not alone—we've also found unlikely beauty icons in her artsy redhead stepmother, Delia Deetz, the stunning blue-skinned receptionist Miss Argentina, and, of course, the party poltergeist himself, Beetlejuice. (It’s no wonder that makeup artist Ve Neill won the Oscar for the film!) In the recently released sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, our favorite characters (along with new ones) continue to inspire our beauty routines from the underworld. If you’ve got a supernatural urge to cut bangs, the film’s hair and makeup department head, Christine Blundell, updated Lydia’s trademark fringe to look a little more modern and grown (yet still very goth).
Though you may not want the same pale and moldy complexion as Michael Keaton’s Beetlejuice look, his signature black-and-white stripes and green hair could easily be incorporated into eye shadow looks or nail art. Switch up your hair color this fall and go Delia Deetz red. As for Astrid, Lydia’s daughter, played by Jenna Ortega, there isn’t too much to copy except good skin. She wore next to no makeup, but was still pampered with “nice creams.” (Sadly, there isn’t any info available on Ortega’s skincare routine during the shoot.)
With Halloween coming up, there are quite a few looks from the film to try and replicate (especially the stitched-up skin of Delores, the soul-sucking jilted bride played by Monica Belluci). But on an average day, there are still tons of ways to add a bit of Beetlejuice to your beauty routine, thanks to various brand collaborations. Nyx released an incredible 12-piece, limited-edition Beetlejuice Beetlejuice collection, while Glamnetics came out with five styles of Beetlejuice-inspired press-on nails. Secret Deodorant even partnered with the film on a spot highlighting Secret Whole Body Deodorant’s odor-fighting powers in the afterlife. (Though I would have killed for some sort of Beetlejuice-themed deodorant. Sandworm Spice? Peach Possession? It's not too late, deodorant gods!)
Keep reading to see which Beetlejuiced-themed beauty products and accessories to add to your cart ASAP. Say goodbye to "brat summer," because it’s time for "Beetlejuice fall."
This pretty palette features eight different shades in matte and metallic finishes. Every shade is highly pigmented, so you can get vivid color in a literal second-long swipe. (My favorite is the super sparkly electric green shade, Afterlife Forever. I can't stop wearing it!)
Blend with Bob! I'm truly obsessed with this Shrinker-inspired beauty sponge, which comes with its own special "Bob" nametag-design travel case.
Pucker up, poltergeist. This shiny gloss will keep your lips luminescent and moisturized.
Ever wake up looking like the undead? These green-and-black striped under-eye patches might be the best ones I have ever seen. (Can we normalize wearing under-eye patches?!) Even better, they're reusable!
Easily create wings, worms, and whatever your demon heart desires with this dual-ended liquid eyeliner. On one end is classic black, while the other has a metallic chrome shade. The collection has three: pink, purple, and green!
Yes, you can even have a full-fledged Beetlejuice experience in the bath or shower, thanks to Lush's Beetlejuice Beetlejuice collection. Though it'll be much more pleasant than an Afterlife spa experience, this shower gel smells incredible—like juniper berry and wild orange.
Don't run… relax! This bath bomb and bubble bar set from Lush is way less terrifying than the actual sandworms in the movie. Envelop your supernatural senses in cedar leaf oil and violet fragrance while your skin softens from the illipe and shea butters.
Sandworms might not be something you want to run into in the lower regions of the Neitherworld, but you gotta admit that there's something stylish about those suckers! Pay homage to those deadly creatures with these cute press-ons from Glamnetic's Beetlejuice Beetlejuice collection.
There is nothing quite as memorable as Lydia's red lace wedding gown, and now you can get it in press-on form! This pretty crimson style takes mere minutes to apply.
As I mentioned, fall is a great time to experiment with hair color. But if you want to go even bolder than Delia Deetz red, go Beetlejuice green with Splat's specially made shade.
Not ready to commit? Don't worry—you can still have fun with Beetlejuice-inspired color by using Splat's temporary hair dye shades from the collection, including this stunning purple.
Show the world your true colors (strange and unusual) with these sweetheart hair clips from Forever 21's Beetlejuice collection. Part your hair in the middle and clip on the sides for a classic look, or pin up a messy bun for a more effortless, goth-chic style.
With its spiral design and sparkly studs, this rhinestone headband is just the thing to spice up your hair on a lazy day. Wear it with anything from a cute pretty 'fit to business casual wear and your day will no doubt get better.
No explanation needed.
Stash your makeup in this cool wristlet wallet from the Vixen by Micheline Pitt Beetlejuice collection. The design is cleverly inspired by the Bio-Exorcist's own flyer from the movie.
If you're looking for something truly authentic in your Beetlejuice beauty journey, add this brush set to your cart, stat. These are the exact brushes that Ve Neill, the makeup artist for the original Beetlejuice, used to create his actual death-decay look!
Lydia once said, "My whole life is a dark room." Clearly, she didn't have a good selfie light! Nab this cute black and white striped phone case and a grip ring to match from Velvet Caviar's Beetlejuice collection.
Marie has covered beauty, fashion, and lifestyle for almost 15 years. She contributes to the beauty section here at Who What Wear. Previously, she was the Looks Editor for Bust Magazine, built the beauty vertical at HelloGiggles as its beauty editor, and was a founding staff writer at Rookie mag, giving fashion advice to teens. Her bylines have appeared in The Cut, Allure, Glamour, The Hollywood Reporter, and more. She was born and raised in Southern California and is based in L.A. Marie is a self-proclaimed costume design nerd and a co-host of Makeover Montage, a podcast about fashion in film and costume design. You'll see her writing about her beauty obsessions: red lipstick, winged eyeliner, pink hair, nail art, and skincare for people over 40. When she's not working, she's playing with her dog, Gnocchi, and writing her style newsletter, Overdressed.