It can be hard for teens to find the right costume for Halloween. They don’t want something childish, and they don’t have the money for anything too elaborate. The solution? Monster makeup.

If teens don’t know how to get that look, there’s help for them. The East Hills Library is hosting a teen monster makeup demonstration from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Oct. 16. The event is part of Teen Read Week, which has a theme of “Books that Bite.”

Children’s librarian Will Stuck says the workshop will include how to make your monster face look more realistic, using the right shading and the right lighting, as well as showing different techniques to apply the make-up and fake skin.

Teens interested in the workshop must sign up for it, and space is limited to 20 people. Mr. Stuck also is looking for a couple of teens who would be willing to have makeup applied as part of the demonstration.

A simpler monster face could take less than half an hour to do, Mr. Stuck says, “something that looks good but is more elaborate than dark lines and fake blood coming out of your mouth.”

More elaborate designs he’s seen have included makeup on top of latex skin and fake features. That kind of monster makeup can take several hours, he says.

Mr. Stuck says the monster makeup is fairly simple but will work for teens who want to do something “a little more elaborate than a sheet.” He also says he thinks monster makeup appeals to teens because it’s just a little bit gross.

“It’s good to have a good funny costume,” he says, “but it’s even better when you have such a gross monster-looking face that people don’t even want to sit next to you.”

Lifestyles reporter Lacey Storer can be reached at lstorer@npgco.com