Beware the Halloween Costume That May Ruin Your Spooky Night

Choose the costume that suits your mood. But, take a moment to consider safety too. Source: Andrew Poplavsky - Canva Pro

Forget the dilemma about what to wear to school or work on any given day. That’s nothing. There’s a far more crucial decision to make – choosing the perfect Halloween costume.

What excites you? What’s your mood for this year’s festivities? Are you going for the popular or the obscure? With so many options to choose from, the weeks leading up to Halloween can be as entertaining as the day itself.

While sorting through all the possibilities, please keep a few safety tips in mind. These apply to kids as well as adults. As the saying goes, the devil’s in the details.

The Halloween Costume Should Fit You Well

Style matters, of course. But so do other practical considerations.

• All parts of the costume must be comfortable to wear. After all, you’re stuck with it for quite a while. For instance, that special wool covering may be fine at first. Later, will it feel itchy and annoying?

• Clothing and accessories should stay off the floor. Tripping and falling shouldn’t spoil the fun.

• Don’t have clothing too tight or restrictive around the legs. You need to be able to move freely for walking, navigating stairs, and even sitting down.

• The costume should be fire-resistant. The primary concern, particularly for kids out trick-or-treating, stems from candle-lit Halloween pumpkins decorating front porches. Every year, there are public reminders to use battery-operated lighting instead. Yet every year, some don’t heed that advice.

Scary skeleton kids trick-or-treating. Source: Charles Parker - Canva Pro/Pexels

Certain Masks May Be A Hazard

Masks can complement a costume nicely. Try to avoid any potential issues with them.

• Eye holes need to be wide enough that your field of vision isn’t obstructed in any way. Otherwise, trips and falls may be in your future. If necessary, consider cutting around the holes to make them bigger.

• Be aware of the length of the mask past your chin. If it’s too long, bending your head far enough to see when going down steps may be difficult.

• Despite potential concerns, if you still wish to use the mask, consider positioning it atop the head until on the front porch. There’s ample time to pull it down into position while waiting for someone to answer the door to give you treats.

Use Halloween Makeup With Care

Makeup is a nice alternative to masks. However, problems do lurk.

• Check the packaging to ensure it’s FDA-approved. Some types of color additives have a significantly increased chance of skin irritation. They shouldn’t be on store shelves. Nevertheless, certain companies sneak them in.

• Test it on yourself at least 1-2 days before wearing it. Place a little on your arm, leaving it there for up to a few hours. Check for any signs of skin irritation or potential allergic reaction (such as redness, itching, swelling, etc.) both during and after using it.

Halloween makeup is a terrific alternative to wearing a mask. Source: SORAPOP UDOMSRI - Canva Pro

Be Careful Around the Eyes

Don’t mess with your eyes. Just don’t.

• Apply makeup slowly and carefully when around the eyes.

• Remember that when you sweat, makeup could run down your face slightly, getting into the eyes.

• Never wear colored contact lenses. Those not requiring a physician’s prescription have zero quality requirements. The heightened potential for eye irritation, infection, or injury isn’t worth the risk.

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I hope your Halloween costume provides you with many treats and compliments. Enjoy this spookiest of days.