Indie Sleaze Is Back: How To Rock Smoky Eyes, Bold Lips, and More

For the past few years, minimalism has dominated in the beauty space (looking at you, clean girl makeup). But trends are cyclical, and these days, the pendulum is swinging in the opposite direction. Enter the return of grungy indie sleaze makeup, where grungy smoky eyes, bold lips, and unapologetic color take center stage. This isn’t about perfect lines or polished finishes, but rather, embracing a little chaos.

While adopting a more maximalist approach to makeup may feel intimidating, there are plenty of ways to make the look your own (and keep it wearable for daytime). Ahead, we’re spotlighting 10 ways to embrace the nostalgic 2010s makeup trend in a way that feels modern and fresh.

Why Indie Sleaze Makeup Is Surging in Popularity

The renaissance of indie sleaze makeup is likely a direct response to—and rejection of—the polished “clean” aesthetic that dominated the early part of the decade. It’s fueled in large part by social media, with hashtags such as #grungecore and #indiesleaze racking up millions of views in a matter of months. The mainstream fashion industry is partially to thank, too—grungy, more-is-more looks dominated the runways during this past fashion week. What makes the trend so appealing is the freedom it offers: nothing has to be perfect, everything can be mixed and matched, and each look feels like a playful nod to a more carefree era.

What Are the Key Elements of Modern Grunge Makeup? 

There are many grunge makeup styles—classic grunge, gothic grunge—but today’s iteration is a mashup of traditional ’90s grunge and the messy, undone vibe of 2010s makeup. It’s built around three key elements: smudgy smoky eyes, bold lips, and vibrant, vivid blush. You can play up one feature or go all in—either way, the result feels bold, expressive, and effortlessly cool.

10 Maximalist Grunge Makeup Looks We Love 

There’s no single way to embrace the grunge makeup aesthetic—part of the fun is making it your own. Whether you love smoky eyes, bold lips, or want a look that features both, keep scrolling for all the inspiration you need for your next night out. 

1. Black smoky eye 

Bold eye makeup is a key element of the indie sleaze aesthetic, and there’s nothing quite as bold as a smudgy, smoky eye. To create this lived-in look, use an eyeshadow stick, such as the L’Oréal Paris Paradise Le Shadow Stick in All Night Black, to color in your lids. Then, use the same shadow to define your lower lash line. Grab a dense eyeshadow brush and blend out the edges to create a diffused, smoky look, then accent your inner corners with a touch of highlighter for brightness. Complete the look by lining your upper and lower waterlines with a creamy pencil eyeliner, such as the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Mechanical Gel Eyeliner in Intense Black.

2. Moody brown lipstick

For a more classic take on grunge, consider swapping your go-to lipstick for a cool brown tone—this bold lip look was one of the prevailing trends of the ‘90s. The goal here is to make your pout pop, so you’ll want to opt for a shade with plenty of pigmentation. We also recommend using a matte (rather than a satin or glossy lipstick) to enhance the lived-in feel. 

For a classic ‘90s brown lip, try the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Intense Volume Matte Lipstick in Le Nude Assertive. The hyaluronic acid-infused formula delivers up to 16 hours of wear while feeling lightweight and comfortable on the lips. If you’d prefer something slightly subtler, a deep burgundy makes for a great alternative to brown. Give it a go with the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Matte Resistance Liquid Lipstick in Lazy Sunday.

3. Draped blush

Blush draping is a technique that involves applying blush high up on your cheekbones and temples to create a vibrant, sculpted—and intentionally eye-catching—look. Done properly, it can help define your cheekbones without the need for contour or highlighter. To create this head-turning look, we recommend using a highly-pigmented blush, such as the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Soft Matte Blush. Use a blush brush to sweep the powder formula onto the tops of your cheekbones, buffing it outward and upward to visually “lift” your features. If your initial application feels too subtle, you can repeat the process until you’ve reached your desired color payoff. For a rundown on how to pick the best blush for your complexion, check out How To Find the Right Blush Color for Your Skin Tone.

4. Burgundy lids and lashes

If you love the look of a smoky eye but want to embrace color, try swapping your basic black shadow for a rich burgundy shade, such as the L’Oréal Paris Paradise Le Shadow Stick in Starry Bordeaux. The dark metallic red hue has the moodiness associated with a darker gunmetal or onyx color, but still allows you to play around with color. To amplify your grungy-yet-glam look further, define your lashes with a few swipes of a burgundy mascara. The L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Original Washable Bold Eye Mascara in Burgundy gets our vote for its rich reddish-purple hue and innovative clump-resistant formula.

5. Lived-in liner 

Indie sleaze makeup is all about embracing imperfection, and there’s nothing that encapsulates that quite as well as smudged, out-all-night eyeliner. Of course, you don’t actually have to stay up until dawn to get this effortlessly cool look—with the right technique, you can easily fake it. Start by roughly lining your upper and lower lash lines with a creamy eyeliner pencil, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof Up to 24HR Pencil Eyeliner. Then, use a small smudging brush to blur out the liner, blending the edges in a back-and-forth motion until your liner looks, well, a bit messy. Then, set the look by sweeping a powder eyeshadow in a similar shade over your liner, blending it all outward for a smudgy, smoky finish.

6. Vampy lip

A bold lip is one of those looks that can swing glam or grunge, depending on how you wear it. If you’re aiming for the latter, swipe your classic red lipstick for a deep, rich berry tone, such as the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Satin Lipstick in S’il Vous Plait or Paris. NY. Swipe the satiny formula onto bare, unlined lips (remember, we’re going for imperfection here), then lightly blot with a clean tissue to give the look a lived-in feel. Pair your bold lip with matte gray eyeshadow and inky mascara for a look that feels grungy, but grown-up, too. 

7. Metallic eyeshadow 

If you were attending a party (or any other after-dark event) in the 2010s, chances are good that you were wearing glitter—and lots of it. Sparkly makeup was integral to indie sleaze, and embracing metallics is a cool way to reimagine the trend for today. To get a metallic eye makeup look that pops, start by swiping a shimmery gunmetal eyeshadow, like the L’Oréal Paris Paradise Le Shadow Stick in Moonlit Métal, onto your lid and along your lower lash line. Blend it out slightly for a smudged effect, then brighten up your inner corners and brow bone with a lighter silver shadow, like the L’Oréal Paris Paradise Le Shadow Stick in Ice Sparkle. You can stop here for a subtler effect, or layer on metallic silver glitter for an ultra-bold, reflective finish.

8. Colorful wing

While you may not associate a colorful wing with traditional grunge makeup styles, this bold look is very much in line with the classic indie sleaze aesthetic, where color was used much more liberally. If you know how to create winged liner, this look should be pretty simple to do—just swap your usual black or brown eyeliner for a brighter shade (we’re huge fans of the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof Up to 24HR Eyeliner in Burgundy). Draw your wing out as usual then smudge it slightly with a blending brush for a smoky vibe. Let your wing be the star of the show, or pair it with draped blush and a deep berry lip for a maximalist makeup moment.

9. Smudged underliner

Underliner, as you might be able to guess, involves applying eyeliner to your lower lash line, often leaving the top bare. It’s a fun, graphic look that fits squarely into the grunge aesthetic when done right. To nail this look, you’ll need two products: A creamy black eyeliner, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Never Fail Eyeliner in Carbon Black, and a powder eyeshadow in the color of your choice. Start by lining your lower lash line, extending the liner at the outer corner of your eye to create a reverse wing shape. Once you’re satisfied with your liner, use a small shadow brush to buff your eyeshadow beneath the liner, taking care to blend the border between the liner and shadow together to create a soft, seamless gradient. Leave your upper lid bare for a stark, graphic effect, or lightly line your upper lash line for added emphasis and definition.

10. Clumpy mascara

Usually, people try to avoid clumpy mascara—but if a grungy makeup look is what you’re after, a little clumpiness feels completely on-brand. Fortunately, you don’t have to apply layer after layer of mascara to get the look; you just need the right technique. Start by grabbing a volumizing mascara, such as the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Waterproof Mascara. Swipe it on as you usually would, then, before the mascara has a chance to dry, use tweezers to clump small sections of lashes together (be careful not to poke your eye!). Once dry, you should be left with spiky, spidery lashes that pair perfectly with smoky eyes, bold lips, or whatever grungy look you’re creating. 

Next Up: Goth Makeup Looks That Go Beyond Black Lipstick

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris