This week Daze compares Halloween makeup and leggings, or lack thereof.

Halloween is this weekend and, of course, everywhere you look will be ghosts, goblins and an uncountable number of sexy cats / nurses / witches. While I myself will be dressing up as a cupcake and keeping my goodies covered, those of you who wish to bare (almost) everything, I suggest doing as much as you can to disguise yourself. It is always awkward in Monday morning sections when everyone has an image of you in a slutty schoolgirl costume. Thus, a mask. Or, if a mask will get in the way of making out with that handsome vampire, wear makeup. Lots of makeup. For your convenience, Sephora has pre-assembled kits, including everything you’ll need to transform yourself into anything from a fairy princess to a peacock. The best part: it all comes with handy instructions, so if you don’t have a background as a professional makeup artist, you may still be able to pull off the look without appearing to be an peacock zombie. — $19 for the kit

Alternatively, you could just go to Target (or Walmart or CVS or Wegmans) and pick up the makeup colors that you usually laugh at. Purple lipstick? Yep, I’m pretty sure they have it. Tacky, metallic silver eyeshadow? No problem. Gold body glitter spray? You might have to venture into the Halloween section, but trust me, it’s there. Bright blue false eyelashes? Okay, you may have to visit the Halloween pop-up shop on Dryden to find those babies, but rest assured that they probably sell them somewhere in Ithaca. So your painted-on disguise can be picked up just about anywhere that they sell makeup — but without instructions. Sorry. — $3-7 an item

The Verdict: Like I said, I’m dressing up as a cupcake, so I don’t need to disguise myself. But if I did have to, I’d stick to the cheap stuff and skip the fancy kit.

Once you’ve sufficiently disguised your face, you get to show a lot more skin without worrying as much about being recognized. But that doesn’t mean that we all want to see your thighs. In fact, even after six cans of Natty Ice and a random make-out session, that guy probably isn’t so much interested in your thighs as what they connect to (and I’m not talking about your knees). Thus, leggings are a necessity. Now, normally I wouldn’t advocate leggings; in fact, I outright frown on them. But on Halloween, leggings beat out almost every alternative. Plus, since it’s supposed to be moderately cold and rainy all weekend, leggings will keep your gams nice and cozy. I recommend the leggings from American Apparel, which come in just about any color and material. They even come in nude — so if you must appear to be half naked, you can do so with dignity and warmth — $20 to 50

Or, you could not take my advice. If so, for the sake of everyone you encounter, I hope you’ve been laying off the French fries and hitting the elliptical. Cellulite is never cute, no matter how nice your ass looks in your sexy mouse costume’s leotard. Also not cute: tights that are far more see through than they should be, catching a glimpse of some chick’s underwear or catching more than a glimpse of what lies beneath said underwear. Seriously, anything other than leggings is an assault on the eyes just waiting to happen. — Your dignity is priceless; without covering your ass, it will cost you any sense of respect you could have hoped for.

The Verdict: Seriously, I beg of you, wear leggings.