Okay, so I’ve been wanting to try out a trad goth makeup look for a while now. I finally took the plunge and documented the whole chaotic process. Here’s how it went down:
Getting Started
First, I gathered all my stuff. This was already a bit of a mission, let me tell you. I dug out my palest foundation – which, honestly, is still probably too dark for a true trad goth look, but hey, we work with what we’ve got, right?
- Pale foundation
- White face powder (lots of it!)
- Black eyeliner (liquid and pencil)
- Black eyeshadow
- Dark red or black lipstick
- Mascara
- Various makeup brushes
The Base
I started by prepping my skin. Cleanse, moisturize, the usual. Then I slathered on that pale foundation. I mean, I really packed it on. It felt a little weird, going so much lighter than my natural skin tone, but that’s the point, I guess.
Next, I went ham with the white face powder. I dusted it all over my face, neck, even my ears a bit. I wanted that super matte, almost ghostly finish. I probably overdid it a little, because I ended up looking like I’d fallen face-first into a flour sack. But, no turning back now!
The Eyes
This is where things got interesting. I lined my eyes with the black pencil liner, top and bottom. Then I smudged it out a bit, because I wanted that slightly messy, “I haven’t slept in days” look. (Which, let’s be honest, isn’t far from the truth some days.)
After that, I took the liquid liner and drew a pretty dramatic wing. It took a few tries to get it even, because my hands were shaking a little. I’m not exactly a pro at this. I also added some black eyeshadow to my lids and blended it upwards, trying to create a smoky effect. It ended up looking more like a black eye, but whatever, close enough.
I applied, many many coats of mascara.
The Lips
I debated between a dark red and a black lipstick for a while. Finally, decided to go with the black. I carefully lined my lips and then filled them in. It felt very…bold. I’m not sure I’m brave enough to wear this out in public, but it definitely completed the look.
The Final Result
I stepped back and looked in the mirror. Honestly, I looked a little terrifying. But in a good way? I think? It was definitely a transformation. I’m not sure if I nailed the trad goth look exactly, but I had a lot of fun experimenting. Maybe with a bit more practice (and a lighter foundation), I’ll get there. For now, I’m just going to enjoy looking like a spooky creature of the night.
