If you sometimes find yourself feeling intimidated by the daunting task of applying perfect makeup (raise your hand if you’ve ever felt unnerved by precise liner or infallible red lipstick), then ‘90s grunge makeup might just be for you. The grunge makeup aesthetic embraces smudged eyeshadow, rough liner, and cool, dark tones applied with a messy hand. It draws inspiration from iconic ‘90s beauty trends like bleached eyebrows, skinny eyebrows, kohl-smudged waterlines, and brown lip liner.
This look also just so happens to pair perfectly with the mob wife aesthetic that has been working overtime on our social media feeds as of late. At the same time, it’s a big departure from other trendy looks, like TikTok’s clean girl aesthetic. Grunge makeup is rebellious, expressive, and imperfect in the best way. If your interest is piqued, let us tell you more. Below, we’re sharing how to bring a grunge look to life.
The grunge makeup aesthetic is a maximalist trend characterized by an effortlessly cool and edgy vibe that evokes images of the alternative music scene of the 1990s. There are lots of different ways to rock grungy makeup, but popular features include smudged or smoked-out eyeliner and muted eyeshadows in shades like taupe, brown, or charcoal. For the face, minimal foundation or a slightly undone look is common, often paired with a touch of contouring for definition. Lips may be left bare or given a natural, muted color, while brows are usually worn slightly unkempt. The overall effect is a raw and undone appearance that exudes a sense of rebellion and nonconformity.
If you're building a grunge makeup kit, a few items to have on hand are:
In keeping with the rebellious vibe, there isn’t one “best” grunge makeup look. There are tons of options, most of which you can cater to your own personal style. Below, we’re breaking down 11 of our favorite options, in case you need a little inspiration.
“Subtle grunge” makeup is a less dramatic take on this trend, defined by cool-toned eye makeup. With a fluffy eyeshadow brush, start by painting your lids with gray eyeshadow. Then, bring the eyeshadow down to smoke out your lower lash line. The goal is to create a seamless blend, sort of like a monochrome smokey eye, but with only one shade.
For the lips, a rich shade of brown is going to create a gorgeous contrast with the cool-toned gray shadow. Line and fill in your lips with the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lip Liner in More Chocolate, then apply a brown lipstick like the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Satin Lipstick in Bronze Coin on top.
This subdued style of grunge makeup goes best with natural-looking skin—think not too dewy, like glazed donut skin, but not flat and ultra-matte, either. Instead of reaching for a liquid foundation, we recommend the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Foundation In a Powder. It’s breathable and light, and leaves skin looking matte but natural.
A skinny brow has a way of giving any makeup look an alluring, grunge aesthetic. To achieve the infamous ‘90s skinny brow, don’t pick up a tweezer or razor. Instead, you’re going to block your brow with glue to conceal your natural arches so you can draw on a new, temporary shape.
The technique involves using glue sticks (the skin-safe ones) to glue your brows upwards so you can powder them and apply foundation on top to create a new canvas. Once your brows are blocked, then you can go in with an eyebrow pencil like the L’Oréal Paris Brow Stylist Definer Mechanical Waterproof Eyebrow Pencil to create a new arch, as thin as you’d like.
Once your brows are skinny legends, move onto your lids and play with some shimmer and color. While both of those things seem to go against the grunge makeup vibe, the other elements in your makeup look will help to tone down their appearance. Use the L’Oréal Paris Brilliant Eyes Shimmer Liquid Eye Shadow Makeup in a few different shades like Blush Jewel and Amethyst Quartz to create a gradient color story on your lids.
Finish your eyes with winged eyeliner and lashes, courtesy of the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Precision Felt Waterproof Eyeliner and the L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Instant Lift Washable Mascara.
Two-toned lips can be high fashion, but they can also be grunge. All you have to do is pick the right colors. In this case, that means dark brown hues. Start with a dark brown lip liner, using it to line your lips. Then, take a slightly softer shade and fill in your pout. We love the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Satin Lipstick in Brazil Nut. You can go back in with your liner to create a messy blend between the colors—this will really add to your grunge look.
You can’t talk about grunge makeup looks without including smudged eyeliner. Nor would we want to skip over this classic look! It’s easy to do, and it looks great—the ultimate combination.
To get a subtle grunge look, opt for a non-black eyeliner like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Mechanical Gel Eyeliner in Brown Denim or Taupe Gray. After lining your upper and lower lash line, use the built-in smudger to fade the lines for a dramatic, smokey effect.
Smudged eyeliner can carry a look on its own, but we love juxtaposing it with sweet touches, like faux freckles and popsicle-stained lips. Grab an eyebrow pencil and lightly press it onto your face, dotting freckles over your nose and cheeks where the sun would naturally hit. Then, to make your lips look like you’ve just had a popsicle, grab the L’Oréal Paris Glow Paradise Lip Balm-in-Gloss Pomegranate Extract in Angelic Daydream. Take your finger and dab the product onto your lips, focusing on the center to create an imperfect stain of color.
If you don’t feel comfortable blocking your brows with glue, try using a concealer like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer up to 24H Full Coverage to achieve the look of bleached eyebrows. The trick is to use concealer like a brow gel, coating each hair, before setting your arches with powder to achieve the pale hue that characterizes bleached eyebrows.
Next, reach for dark-colored eyeshadows (a deep brown and a black) that will create a bold contrast against your platinum arches. Use a small eyeshadow brush to apply the brown shade all over your lid as a base, then take your black shade and blend it all over your lid. When you’re finished with your lids, grab some more of the black eyeshadow and use it to lightly smoke out the lower lash line.
Grunge makeup is traditionally associated with matte products, but a little gloss can go a long way. Line your lips with a dark shade of lip liner and use a lip brush to lightly blend the color towards the center of your lips, creating an ombré effect. Finish by coating your ombré pout with a sheer layer of the L’Oréal Paris Infallible 8 Hour Pro Lip Gloss, Hydrating Finish in Petal. Bonus points if you pair this with the smokey eye above.
After faux-bleaching your brows with concealer (like we taught you a few looks up), use bronzer to sculpt your cheekbones. Try the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Soft Matte Bronzer, which has a neutral tone and a transfer-proof matte finish so you can use it to bronze or contour without having to worry about it fading throughout the day.
Finish off the look with a red-brown, rust shade of matte lipstick like the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Intense Volume Matte Lipstick Le Wood Nonchalant.
When we think of grunge makeup, we don’t think of warm, sunny colors. No, it’s all about cool tones on your eyes and your lips. Start by applying a light taupe shadow to your crease and lid. Then, apply a deeper shadow in your crease and along your lower lash line. You can be as dramatic as you like with the application and blend this far out.
For the lips, you’ll want to use a lighter cool-toned lipstick like the L’Oreal Paris Infallible Matte Resistance Liquid Lipstick in Breakfast in Bed. The end result, as you might expect, will be ultra cool.
Apply a high shine or metallic shadow in a gunmetal shade. Don’t be afraid to be messy and broad with your application here. You’re going for high shine and maximal coverage, so feel free to take this from your lids all the way to the lower lash line. Messy is good, so smudge away until you’ve got your desired shape loosely defined.
Then, go in and complete the look with a thick cat eye. A super precision tip isn’t necessary here since you don't need to go for a defined wing. Keep things simple with a pencil liner, and don’t worry if your line is imperfect—that’s part of the charm. Reach for a long-lasting black liner like our L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof, Up to 24HR Pencil Eyeliner in Black.
If you’re looking to channel your inner mob wife, this is the look for you. The smokey brown eyes and warm-toned lips are a softer take on the grunge look, but a smokey, imperfect application and matte lips will ensure you don’t veer too far from the trend. First, add some definition around the eyes with a black liner. Then, go in with a medium brown shadow and apply it over the eyeliner. Blend it out at the edges to get that smokey finish.
Top off your lips with a grunge makeup staple: matte lipstick. To put your mob wife spin on it, opt for a warmer neutral such as L’Oreal Paris Infallible Matte Resistance Lipstick in Lazy Sunday. Pair this look with big hair and boss energy.
Next Up: These Are the 2024 Makeup Trends You’ll Be Seeing Nonstop in the New Year
Photo Courtesy of L'Oréal Paris
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