Halloween is once again nearly upon us, and it's time to start getting your outfit ready for the upcoming festivities. But rather than dress up as Dracula or a zombie - like everyone does - why not create an outfit that is truly original? If you're prepared to spend a little extra time on your costume and makeup, there is a whole world of Halloween ideas awaiting you.

One of the wackiest Halloween ideas out there this year is the Sugar Skull ensemble. The majority of your face should be bright white, but you can create a spooky contrast by colouring your eyes black, as well as your nose. Draw some stitch lines over your mouth to give the impression it has been stitched shut, and decorate your forehead with braiding. Using red around your eyes and chin will create a chilling look that will get you noticed this Halloween. 

Adorn your head with flowers - red, pink and white roses will look fantastic against the black and white of your face. And to complete the look, wear a lacy red dress. This is an ensemble that strikes the perfect balance between sexy and horrifying.

The snake look is ideal if you want to wow your friends and family with a unique and terrifying ensemble this Halloween.

You will need a range of shades to transform your face into that of a snake, including light blues, cyan, several shades of grey and black. Think of the scales on a snake's skin, as this is the look you need to strive for. And to really make your eyes stand out, give them a warm glow with yellows, reds and oranges. Save some makeup for your shoulders and arms. And wear a silvery blue dress that brings out the colours on your face. This is one of the most original ideas you will see this year.

Instead of going to your Halloween parties dressed as a clown this year, give yourself a comic book makeover that will terrify and amuse your friends and family in equal measures. Although simple, you can create some truly incredible features with just a few items of makeup and some red hair spray.

Use lipstick to give yourself comic book measles all over your face and neck, and use a little white and black face-paint to create a tear under one of your eyes. Define the main contours of your face, nose, forehead and jaw with a thick line of black paint, and use bright purple or violet to give your eyes a spooky glow.

And of course, lots of bright red lipstick will finish off your face perfectly. Die your hair red and wear a long white dress to complete one of the wackiest Halloween ideas you and your friends will ever see.

If you're looking for traditional Halloween ideas, there is nothing more suitable than the skeleton look. While relatively simple to create, you can give your friends and family a major shock at your Halloween party, as they probably won't be able to recognise you. Apply white paint to your entire face and forehead (you will need to tie your hair up and away for from your face).

Use a black face-paint to colour your nose and around your eyes, and apply black cracks and skull-like features on your forehead, cheeks and lips. To complete the look, wear a white or black jumpsuit - you can even wear a skeleton costume to create a truly terrifying ensemble.