Okay, so I’ve been wanting to try out a trad goth makeup look for a while now. I’m not a goth myself, but I really dig the aesthetic, and I figured it would be fun to experiment. Here’s how it went down!
Getting Started
First, I gathered all my makeup. I already had most of the basics, but I did run out to the drugstore to grab a super pale foundation and some black lipstick – couldn’t find mine anywhere!
The Base
I started with a clean face, obviously. Then I applied a primer, just like I usually do. The tricky part was the foundation. I mixed the super pale one I bought with a tiny bit of my regular foundation to get a shade that wasn’t too ghostly, but still noticeably lighter than my skin tone.
I blended that all in with a sponge, making sure to get it all the way down my neck. It looked a little weird at first, but I trusted the process.
Eyes
- I skipped the eyeshadow primer because I wanted the black eyeshadow to look a bit faded and smudgy, not super sharp.
- I packed on the black eyeshadow, like, really packed it on. All over the lid, up to the crease, and even a bit below my lower lash line.
- I used a black eyeliner to make my eyes and a small, rounded form.
- I blended the edges with a fluffy brush to soften them up.
- Then I lined my waterline with black kohl pencil and smudged that out too.
- Lots of black mascara, top and bottom lashes. I mean, lots.
Brows & Lips
For my brows, I went for a thin, arched shape. I filled them in with a black brow pencil, making them a bit darker and more defined than usual.
Finally, the lips! I lined my lips with black lip liner and then filled them in with the black lipstick. It was surprisingly easy to apply, and I loved how it looked.
The Finished Look
Honestly, I was pretty stoked with how it turned out! It was definitely dramatic, but not in a costume-y way. I felt like a spooky, Victorian-era vampire, which was exactly the vibe I was going for. I paired it with a black turtleneck and some silver jewelry, and I felt totally badass.
I even wore it out to the grocery store, just to see what would happen. I got a few stares, but mostly people just seemed curious. One lady even complimented my “bold” look, which made my day.
All in all, it was a fun experiment! It’s not something I’d wear every day, but I’ll definitely break out this look again for special occasions, or just when I’m feeling extra moody. I’m thinking of trying it out using dark blue lipstick the next time I do it.
