Traditionally, when one thinks of goth makeup looks, this is what comes to mind—dark, heavy eye and lip makeup, replete with a pale, almost sallow complexion. While this iteration of goth makeup can feel a little bit costume-y, and definitely too dark for everyday wear, soft goth makeup opens up a world of possibilities when it comes to adapting this trend for real life. So what exactly is soft goth makeup?
Recently revived in mainstream consciousness by Wednesday Addams, this edgy, glamourous and very wearable makeup look means exactly what it sounds like—goth makeup but softer. A departure from the heavy, layer-upon-layer of dark makeup, the softer version of goth makeup focusses on a lighter, more wearable aesthetic, while retaining all the noir air of mystery that is so emblematic of goth makeup. Think darker hues but with a velvety, diffused finish and soft, blurred lines. Perfect for fall, date-night, or any time you want to channel your inner femme-fatale, here’s how to recreate this edgy yet versatile look effortlessly!
For the base:
rep your skin with moisturiser and pick a full coverage foundation to achieve an even complexion. Since we’re looking to avoid a cake-y, heavy base that’s usually associated with goth makeup, make sure you go in with a light hand and apply only a thin layer all over your face and neck. If you wish to, you can also choose to follow up with a concealer to cover up any blemishes or hyperpigmentation.
Ditch the blush for this look (you want a stark, pale complexion so skipping this step is key). Instead, go for some light-handed contouring to get that ‘sunken’ look in your cheeks. Remember, a goth look isn’t really supposed to be dewy or glowy, so put your highlighters away and dust off some loose powder across your face to achieve a blurred, matte finish.
Tira Recommends:
Maybelline New York Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation Tube SPF 22 - 128 Warm Nude
Anastasia Beverly Hills Loose Setting Powder - Vanilla
PAC Spotlight Contour Palette - X8 Shade
For the eyes:
Soft goth eye makeup isn’t as heavy as traditional goth eye makeup, but retains its dark, smoky essence. Think shades of browns and blacks (or even berries and purples) rendered with a light hand to achieve a soft, blurry effect. Don’t worry about creating perfectly well-defined lines for your eyeliner here, you want a smoked-out, lived-in effect for both your eyeshadow and your eyeliner. Pick your favourite neutral eyeshadow palette and apply across your lid to create a dark smoky eye and follow up with eyeliner. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can also go in with just a hint of crimson eyeshadow to lend some character to your regular black or brown smoky eye.
For your brows, you can choose to leave them minimal by just brushing them up and securing in place with a transparent gel to achieve a neat, put-together look. Alternatively, you can make a statement by playing them up. Just use an eyebrow gel or pencil to fill in sparse areas and you’re good to go.
Tira Recommends:
Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel Mini - 3.75 Warm Medium Brown
Rom&nd Better Than Eyeshadow Palette - 04 Dusty Fog Garden
INGLOT AMC Eyeliner Gel - 77
For the lips:
There are many ways to nail a soft goth lip, and you can personalise your look as per your preferences. If you prefer a bold, well-defined lip, pick a lip liner and a matte liquid lipstick to create a statement-making lip combo. Alternatively, you can achieve a just-bitten lip by using just a lip tint and blurring out the edges to make it appear softer and more lived-in. The only rule of thumb to follow here is to pick a dark, vampy colour — think deep maroons, crimsons, berries and even shades of purple.
Tira Recommends:
Bobbi Brown Extra Lip Tint - Bare Blackberry
Revlon Colorstay Lip Liner - Plum
Smashbox Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick - Disorderly
Article Image: Instagram/@sn.e
