How to Get a Goth Makeup Look for Winter

As the temperature drops, you might be noticing dramatic goth makeup popping up as one of the top winter beauty trends. And, if you think about it, it makes sense. When the weather is frigid and gray outside, it doesn’t quite make sense to wear summer’s brightest colors. But, a gothic makeup look, featuring a gorgeous oxblood lipstick and charcoal smoky eye? Oh yes, now that sounds perfect for the chilly days ahead. Embrace your dark side with our goth makeup tutorial below.

HOW TO DO GOTH MAKEUP

Ready to go goth? Here's how:

Step 1: Apply primer

Whatever look you’re going for, any time you’re planning to put effort into applying makeup, it doesn’t make sense to start with anything other than primer. The right primer can help create a smooth canvas for the rest of your makeup application, and it will also help your makeup look last longer. If you have oily skin, reach for a formula with a matte finish, such as the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Matte Lock Makeup Primer. If you have dry skin, try using the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Glow Lock Makeup Primer. Once you’ve chosen the right primer for your skin type, blend a small amount onto your face.

Step 2: Color correct your complexion

Before moving straight to applying foundation, reach for color corrector to help neutralize the appearance of any redness, sallowness, or dullness. While you might think that concealer should come after foundation, it’s actually best to apply color correcting concealer first, since this will give you an idea of just how much foundation you’ll need to use to cover up any remaining visible imperfections. Try the L’Oréal Paris True Match™ Color Correcting Crayons, which come in a variety of different shades, so you can cover up a multitude of complexion concerns.

Editor’s note: If you’re new to color correcting, it may be a good idea to use a palette that contains multiple color correctors. That way, you can play around and figure out what works best for your skin. Try the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Total Cover Color Correcting Kit.

Step 3: Apply foundation

Now you’re ready to move on to foundation. Again, choose a foundation formula that suits your skin care needs and concerns. Try the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation if you have oily skin or the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Glow Foundation if you have dry skin. Whichever foundation you choose, squeeze some of it onto a makeup blender, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Blend Artist Foundation Blender, and gently stipple the color onto your face.

Step 4: Create a subtle glow

Whatever your skin type, you can always rock a luminous glow. To soften your goth makeup look, squeeze a few drops of the L'Oréal Paris True Match™ Lumi Glow Amour Glow Boosting Drops onto your makeup blender and stipple it onto your cheekbones, jawbone, and the tip of your nose.

Step 5: Apply concealer

Just because you’re aiming to perfect a goth makeup look doesn’t mean you want to walk around with bags under your eyes. To brighten up your under-eye area, apply the L'Oréal Paris True Match™ Super-Blendable Multi-Use Concealer in upside-down triangles beneath your eyes. Gently blend out the concealer with your makeup blender, which shouldn’t disturb the rest of your makeup.

Step 6: Set your face makeup with finishing powder

Now that your complexion looks positively flawless, set your makeup by dusting on a bit of translucent face powder, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Sweep & Lock Finishing Powder.

Step 7: Apply a dark smoky eye or monotone lid

If you want to go the smoky eye route, use a fluffy eye shadow brush to blend some of the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Monos Eye Shadow in Meet Me in Paris across your lid. Be sure to go up just a bit above your crease in order to give your next color something to blend with. Once that’s applied, use a crease brush to dust a darker shade, like the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Monos Eye Shadow in Noir Cest Noir or the L'Oréal Paris Infallible 24 HR Eyeshadow in Eternal Black, into your crease to add depth. Finish it off with a shimmering highlight around the inner corner of your eye, the middle of your lid, and just below the tail of your brow. For your highlight, use the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Monos Eye Shadow in Petite Perle.

If you prefer to rock monotone eyeshadow as part of your goth makeup look, smudge the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Eye Shadow Crayon in Midnight Charcoal across your lid, extending from your lash line to your crease. So easy! In fact, it’s practically foolproof.

Step 8: Rim your eyes in black eyeliner

No goth makeup look is complete without thick black eyeliner—that’s something the ‘90s definitely taught us, right? So, rim your upper lash line using the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof Pencil Eyeliner in Black. If you decide to take the eyeliner down to your lower lash line, avoid tracing the inner corner of your eye—sometimes this can look a little too harsh. Your best bet will be to keep your eyeliner confined to the outer three-quarters of your lash line.

Step 9: Add mascara

A goth makeup look also necessitates mascara. Prep your lashes with a primer, like the L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara Primer/Base, then swipe on a jet black mascara, such as the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mystic Black.

Step 10: Perfect your brows

Remember, the ultra-defined brow is a relic of the past; nowadays, it’s all about full, natural-looking brows. To get the look, fill in your arches using the L'Oréal Paris Unbelieva-Brow Longwear Waterproof Brow Gel. Then, make them pop by highlighting the undersides with the L’Oréal Paris Brow Stylist Brow Raiser Highlighter Duo.