How Achieve a Wearable Goth Makeup Look

A dramatic makeup look always makes a statement, and there are few looks as bold and daring as goth makeup. While the edgy look may seem tough to pull off, it’s more versatile than you’d think (in fact, many recent viral makeup trends, like siren eyes and grunge makeup have taken inspiration from the gothic aesthetic). And today’s version of goth makeup is especially wearable—even during the daytime. Where the trend was once characterized by stark-white skin and graphic liner, the modern take on the trend takes a softer approach: think natural skin in lieu of white face paint and bold, smoky shadows instead of black block liner.

If you’re ready to embrace the darker side of the eyeshadow palette, keep reading. Ahead, we’ll share what you need to know about gothic makeup and reveal how to get an easy goth makeup look in seven easy steps.

What Is Goth Makeup?

Classic gothic makeup is a dramatic and expressive makeup style associated with the goth subculture, which found its footing in the ‘90s. It embodies darkness, mystery, and sometimes even a touch of the macabre.

Traditionally, the look is bold: Pale, matte skin, heavy black eyeliner, dark eyeshadows, and sometimes even exaggerated shapes or theatrical touches are all key elements of the look. Lipstick, too, is a defining feature. Typically, goth makeup features deep, vampy lip colors like black, burgundy, or oxblood, though some takes on the trend utilize unconventional colors like dark green or blue. And while not every goth look emphasizes brows, some might feature dark, filled-in brows to frame the face. Beyond these core elements, goth makeup offers a lot of room for creativity and personalization (more on that shortly).

Today, goth makeup has become simpler. While some of the key elements remain (darkness still remains the focus of this edgy look), modern soft goth makeup provides a more wearable and versatile end result. Ultimately, though, how dramatic or simple you create your goth makeup look is up to you, and any look can be an everyday look with the right attitude.

Gothic makeup vs. emo makeup

Although there are some overlapping elements between goth makeup and emo makeup, they aren’t the same thing. Gothic makeup relies more heavily on the color black and an allover dark makeup look featuring smokey eyes, dark lips, and deeper blushes. Emo makeup, on the other hand often showcases dark cat eyes with a lighter or neutral lip pairing and a softer blush.

How To Do Goth Makeup

If you’re ready to swap your bright strawberry makeup and burnt orange blush for something darker, you’ve come to the right place. Below, learn how to create a classic gothic makeup look, step by step.

Step 1: Start with a matte face base

To ensure your goth makeup look lasts, always start with makeup primer. A matte makeup primer, in particular, is the ideal choice for creating the ghostly effect you’re going for. We suggest using L’Oréal Paris Prime Lab Up to 24H Matte Setter to help tamp down on unwanted shine and provide a base for your makeup to stick to.

Next, apply an even layer of L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Foundation to your entire face to help camouflage any discoloration and even out your skin tone. We suggest picking a color that matches your complexion, but to really lean into the gothic vibe, you can also select one that’s a shade lighter. Just be sure your chosen shade matches your undertone to avoid looking too washed out.

Step 2: Build definition with bronzer and highlight

Classic goth makeup features sculpted, ultra-defined cheeks. To recreate the effect, start by applying L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Soft Matte Bronzer to the hollows of your cheeks, temples, and jawline to add definition. Make sure you blend the bronzer softly into your foundation to create a naturally chiseled look.

Even though you’ll want to keep your foundation and bronzer matte, you can add a touch of glow in key parts of the face for balanced definition. Apply a thin line of L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer to the length of your pointer finger and lightly pat the liquid highlighter on your cheekbones, the bridge and tip of your nose, and your cupid’s bow (the small area above your lips). Use a light hand here—for this look, less is more as far as glow is concerned.

Step 3: Create a smokey eye

A bold, dark smokey eye brings any goth makeup to life. This look uses a wintry mix of black, gray, and silver hues for a softer take on traditional goth eyeshadow (you can simplify things by using an eyeshadow palette that has all the colors you need for a cohesive look).

Start by applying a dark matte gray shadow on your lid to act as the base of the look. After you’ve coated your lid, use a fluffy eyeshadow brush to blend the color slightly into your crease, getting rid of any harsh lines. Then, use a flat eyeshadow brush to pack a medium gray shimmer shade on your eyelids, gradually building up the color until you reach your desired level of darkness.

When you’re satisfied with the pigmentation, go back in with your blending brush to buff the color toward your browbone crease and smoke out the look. Finish your eyeshadow by picking up a small amount of metallic silver shadow and applying it to the inner corner of your eyes and along your brow bone.

Step 4: Add eyeliner and mascara

No goth makeup is complete without dramatic black eyeliner. Grab a felt-tip eyeliner like L’Oréal Paris Grip Precision Felt Waterproof Eyeliner, and draw your sharpest wing along your upper lash line. Next, use the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Mechanical Gel Eyeliner in Intense Black to draw a line across your lower lash line and gently (but quickly) smudge the liner along the waterline with the eyeliner’s included sponge for added definition.

Tie your eye makeup together with a volumizing mascara for bold lashes. Swipe a few coats of L'Oréal Paris Telescopic Instant Lift Washable Mascara onto your eyelashes for wicked weightless volume and wispy lengthened lashes.

Step 5: Define your brows

This edgy eye makeup look calls for a clean-cut eyebrow shape. Comb your brows in the desired shape and direction with L’Oréal Paris Volumizing 24H Wear Brow Mascara. This brow mascara thickens and volumizes brows and offers up to 24 hours of smudge- and transfer-resistant wear.

Then, lightly outline your brows and fill in sparse areas with a brow pencil using feather-like strokes to avoid making brows darker (and blockier) than intended. Try L'Oréal Paris Brow Stylist Definer Waterproof Eyebrow Mechanical Pencil, which includes a built-in spoolie to comb any straggling hairs back into place, and a pointed pencil tip for precise application. Traditional goth brows have sharp angles, so clean up your eyebrow shape with the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer Up to 24 HR Full Coverage once you’re done.

Step 6: Add a dark lipstick

Dark lipstick is a must for any goth makeup look, but the hue you go with is up to you. L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Intense Volume Matte Lipstick in Le Plum Dominant is a great option for those who favor dark berry tones, while a vampy red like L'Oréal Paris Colour Riche Intense Volume Matte Lipstick in Le Rouge Avant Garde is the perfect go-between for those looking to go goth but not overhaul their entire routine. Of course, you can always stick with your standard black, too—it is, after all, classic goth.

Step 7: Set everything

Finish your gothic makeup look by setting it. This step is crucial to locking in all your hard work, especially when it comes to heavier makeup like this. We recommend L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Spray & Set Make-Up Oil-Free Setting Spray, as it’s non-comedogenic, smudge-proof, and won’t settle into fine lines.

5 Goth Makeup Ideas

Now that you know how to do classic goth makeup (and which products to use) here are five goth makeup looks to try.

Romantic goth makeup

A romantic goth makeup look will be slightly softer than the classic version, with a little bit more definition around the eyes. To get the look, apply a lighter eyeshadow like L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Monos Eyeshadow in Argentic to your lid and crease. Then, create a buffed-out wing (it doesn’t have to be perfectly sharp) with a black shadow such as L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Monos Eyeshadow in Noir Cest Noir.

Pastel goth makeup

Brighten up traditional gothic makeup by swapping out the dark colors for playful pastels. To get this look, start with a lighter, more colorful eyeshadow base. Work the darker goth makeup look in by creating a wing with L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Mechanical Gel Eyeliner in Intense Black and make your lashes pop with a pair of falsies. Or, go in with a deep-colored mascara like L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Lift Washable Color Mascara in Galactic Purple. Complete your pastel goth makeup look with a nude lipstick such as L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Les Nus by Colour Riche Intense Nude Lipstick in Nu Determine (you want your eyes to be the focus here). If you’re feeling sparkly, you can even add a few face gems.

Pink goth makeup

To achieve a pink gothic makeup look, you’ll—perhaps unsurprisingly—want to swap out the black and gray shadows for various shades of pink. Start by generously applying a lighter pink shadow like L’Oréal Paris Brilliant Eyes Shimmer Liquid Eye Shadow Makeup in Blush Jewel to your eyelid. Then, reach for L’Oréal Paris Brilliant Eyes Shimmer Liquid Eye Shadow Makeup in Radiant Ruby and apply it to the crease and lower lid. Smoke it out with an eyeshadow brush and finish it off with a generous coat of black mascara such as L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Panorama Waterproof Mascara. As for your lips, any color will do—but we love how this colorful-yet-edgy look pairs with a dark plum lip (try L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Satin Lipstick in S’il Vous Plait)

Trad goth makeup

Trad gothic makeup focuses on exaggerated pale skin. To achieve this look, apply a foundation at least 1-2 shades lighter than your skin tone. You’ll want a foundation that’s easily blendable so it doesn’t look like you just applied a face mask. For this, you can use L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Foundation.

Soft goth makeup

If you want to experiment with gothic makeup but aren’t quite ready to go full steam ahead, try this simple goth makeup look. The toned-down take on the trend features matte skin, softly smoked-out brown eyeshadow, and a dark, moody lip. Instead of lipstick, try lining your lips with a dark brown lip liner, like L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lip Liner in More Chocolate, and topping it with clear gloss for a high-contrast lip look.

Next Up: The ‘90s Grunge Makeup Aesthetic Is Back, Here’s How To Get The Look