(Formerly Kamila Skin Care)

Trick or Treatment: An Upper East Side Halloween Guide to Costume-Ready Skin, Nails and Lashes

ROW 89 Team • October 19, 2026 • 6 min read

Woman with a deep black-cherry gel manicure holding a small carved jack-o'-lantern on a pumpkin-lined Upper East Side brownstone stoop at golden hour

Halloween on the Upper East Side starts early. Dogs in costume take over Carl Schurz Park for the Halloween Howl, brownstone stoops in Carnegie Hill and Lenox Hill sprout cobwebs and carved pumpkins, and by the last week of October the side streets between Lexington and the park are full of witches, astronauts and very small dinosaurs. Whether you are walking a pumpkin-costumed terrier, chaperoning a trick-or-treat route or heading to a grown-up party, this is a guide to looking good in costume, and getting your skin back to normal on November 1.

We put it together at ROW 89, on East 89th Street between Second and Third Avenues, where our neighbors from Yorkville, Carnegie Hill and across the Upper East Side come in for facials, peels, nails and lashes.

Halloween happenings around the neighborhood

  • Halloween Howl & Healthy Hound Fair. The Carl Schurz Park Conservancy's dog costume event was held on Sunday, October 18, 2026, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the park's basketball court and John Finley Walk. If you missed it, the costumes tend to keep appearing on East End Avenue all week. Details: Carl Schurz Park Conservancy.
  • Carnegie Hill Neighbors Spooktacular. A free, family-friendly block party on Saturday, October 31, 2026, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on East 92nd Street between Fifth and Park Avenues, with a calmer, low-sensory zone between Fifth and Madison. No RSVP needed. Details: Carnegie Hill Neighbors.
  • The decorated brownstones. Every year, the side streets of Carnegie Hill and Lenox Hill are worth a slow walk after dark. Some stoops go all in with oversized spiders and fog machines.

Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, so many parties will land on Friday the 30th and Saturday the 31st. Plan your beauty timeline from there.

Your Halloween beauty countdown

The biggest mistake we see is booking everything the day before. Some treatments need a few days to settle, so here is how to space them out.

Two weeks out: a chemical peel

A peel smooths texture and brightens dull skin, and it gives you time for any flaking to finish before the big night. The Express Peel ($89, 45 minutes) is a light refresh with little visible peeling; the Glycolic Peel 50% ($109, 60 minutes) goes further and can flake for a few days. Read more on our chemical peels page. Skip a stronger peel if your party is less than a week away.

About a week out: RF microneedling, or skip it

RF microneedling ($159) can leave skin red and warm for one to three days, so only book it if you have at least a week before your event. If you are closer than that, save it for November, when it fits nicely into a fall skin plan. See RF microneedling for what to expect.

Three to five days out: a facial

This is the sweet spot for a facial. If your skin is congested, the Deep Pore Cleansing Facial ($119, 60 minutes) clears blackheads and leaves time for any redness from extractions to calm down. If you want glow under heavy makeup, the Ultra-Hydrating Glow Facial ($148, 80 minutes) is a good base. Browse every option on our facials menu.

One to two days out: nails and lashes

Book your nails as close to the party as you can. A color gel manicure ($49) holds up through costume changes, candy bowls and trick-or-treat bags. Deep reds, black cherry, inky navy and classic black all work with almost any costume; a color gel French manicure ($59) is a quieter option if you want something you can wear to work on Monday. Ask the team which colors are in stock. Nails & Lashes is on our first floor; see the nail menu.

For lashes, decide whether you want drama for one night or for a few weeks. Strip lashes are cheap and temporary, but the glue can irritate the lash line if you are not used to it. Lash extensions start at $119 for the Natural Look and give you a lifted look without glue on the day, so they suit anyone with several Halloween events or a November wedding coming up. Book them a day or two ahead so you are not rushing. See lash extensions and lifts.

On the day

  • Moisturize well, then let it absorb before makeup so face paint goes on evenly.
  • Use a primer or a thin barrier layer under heavy paint.
  • Pack makeup wipes or micellar water in your bag for touch-ups and the ride home.
  • Drink water between candy and cocktails. Your skin will thank you on Sunday.

Costume makeup without the November breakout

Costume makeup sits on skin for hours, often under masks, wigs and warm lights. A few habits make a big difference:

  • Patch test new face paint. Try a small amount on your inner arm or jawline a day or two before. Redness, itching or bumps mean skip it.
  • Use products made for skin. Choose cosmetics labeled for use on the face. Craft paint, markers and craft glitter are not made for skin and should never go near the eyes.
  • Be careful with colored contacts. The FDA says decorative contact lenses are medical devices that require a prescription and fitting by an eye doctor, and it warns against buying them from costume, beauty supply or novelty shops. See the FDA's guidance on decorative contact lenses.
  • Take it all off before bed. Use an oil or balm cleanser to dissolve heavy paint, then a gentle cleanser. Remove lash glue slowly with an oil-based remover instead of pulling.
  • Don't sleep in it. Even one night of heavy makeup can mean clogged pores later in the week.

This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have a reaction that does not settle, see a doctor.

The morning after

November 1 is for coffee and a gentle routine. Cleanse once more, skip scrubs and strong exfoliants for a few days, and use a plain moisturizer and sunscreen. If your pores feel clogged a week later, a deep pore cleansing facial is a good reset.

If breakouts keep going after Halloween, or you have been dealing with them for a while, our Clear Skin Acne Program starts with a free 15-minute consult with Rocio Romero, PA-C, and pairs a series of treatments with a home-care plan. Read whether breaking out after a facial is normal if you are unsure what you are seeing.

Visit ROW 89 before the big night

ROW 89 is at 219A East 89th Street, New York, NY 10128, between Second and Third Avenues. Nails & Lashes is on the first floor and Aesthetics (facials, peels and RF microneedling) is on the second, through the same street entrance. We are open 10am–8pm every day, a short walk from Yorkville and Carnegie Hill and about five minutes from the Q at 86th Street, with the 4, 5 and 6 at Lexington a little further. Book online or call (212) 722-1959. Happy Halloween from all of us on East 89th Street.

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