I know, I know. The beauty trend cycle is exhausting, grunge beauty was all the rage in the ’90s and early 2000s, and you don’t want to trade your no-makeup makeup looks for a messy eyeliner—I get it. But nonetheless, the tides of beauty are changing, and with those tides I need to… move away from the intense cultural obsession with “clean girl” makeup – dare I say, definitely move away? – and to the land of wrinkled eyes and vampire lips. If you’re like me and find yourself in a phase of your life that involves a few more harmless chaotic evenings than evenings with a shower and a glass of wine, then congratulations, because ’90s grunge makeup looks have you inspired that dominated the fall/winter 2024 runways will be your new favorite.
Whether you want to relive the years when you wanted to emulate Avril Lavigne every day, need to switch up your daily makeup routine for a night on the town, or just want to try something new, the grunge eye -Makeup trend is not nearly as intimidating as it might initially seem. I spoke to makeup artist and CTZN Cosmetics founder Naseeha Khan to learn why grunge makeup is trending in 2024, how you can emulate the trend yourself, and which products are best, to achieve that intentionally messy look. Read more (rock?)!
Beauty trends, like fashion, are cyclical and often the exact opposite of a trend emerges within a year or two of its peak. Such is the case with the dichotomy between the “clean girl” makeup that dominated the runways and our social media feeds in 2022 and 2023 and the grunge eye makeup looks that are on the rise in 2024 are. Khan attributes this shift to the oversaturation of simpler makeup on TikTok and Instagram, which is encouraging artists to adopt a messier look. “The transition from no-makeup makeup to dark, more intense eye makeup looks is likely a pushback from minimalist looks and a transition to maximalist looks,” she says. “I think social media creators and makeup artists saw this clean look as overdone and wanted to spice it up a bit by adding more color and definition to the look.”
Beyond the runways, the grunge beauty trend is currently permeating pop culture. Julia Fox’s intense eyeshadow looks from the second half of 2023 have undoubtedly fueled the craze for more dramatic makeup, and fans were immediately drawn to the smudged eyeshadow worn by Alison Oliver for her appearance as Venetia in Saltburn. Musicians from Reneé Rapp to Cardi B recently performed with messy, smoky eyes. Khan even attributes the recently trending “mob woman aesthetic” to a widespread desire to bring the ~drama~ back into makeup: “Bolder, more vibrant looks are popping up more and more. “Mob Wife Aesthetic was one of the latest trends to go viral, focusing on smoky eyes and over-done lips — just an example of grunge glamor coming back,” she says.
If you’ve stripped your makeup routine down to the bare essentials and it all seems intimidating, don’t be afraid. Khan explained exactly how you can achieve the grunge makeup look without having to teach yourself how to do super complex eyeliner. Here are her top tips:
“If you’re intimidated by a grunge makeup look, it’s best to start subtle and match the products to the look you’re going for,” suggests Khan. “Neutral, brown eyeshadows and a brown or black eye pencil are the perfect place to start.” She recommends using a fluffy eyeshadow brush to blend the dark brown and black hues into the crease and lower lash line. Depending on how dark you want the makeup to look, you can then apply some mascara and call it a day. However, if you want to take it a step further, bring a smudged eyeliner. “Follow foundation by gently applying a black eyeliner pencil to the lash line and blending with an eyeliner brush as desired,” she says. For true rock ‘n’ roll energy, Khan suggests adding a dark, swept lip as the finishing touch.
The good news about the grunge eye makeup trend is that perfection, literally, should be the last thing on your mind when taking part in it. “The best thing about grunge makeup is that there are no strict rules, it’s meant to look raw and rugged,” says Khan. “While the grunge looks are bold, in practice applying makeup is meant to be easy.” This means you don’t have to try too hard when applying your eyeliner, nor do you have to stress about something at eye level doesn’t look perfect – that’s the point. For the best grunge look, Khan even recommends smudging the eyeliner with your finger. In many ways, the undone trend is actually about experimenting and bringing some fun and creativity back into your makeup routine.
Even though you don’t have to worry about following any strict rules when applying your grunge makeup look, Khan still recommends sticking with neutral colors, especially if you’re starting out for the first time. “There are definitely a few tips to keep in mind when trying to achieve the grunge look: a matte base, blurred eye makeup with a flattering neutral eyeshadow, and lined lips with a darker nude. “Liner that suits your skin tone,” she says. When first starting out with these looks, skip the glitter and opt for matte browns, blacks, and dark blues when choosing your eyeshadow and eyeliner. If your As technology advances, you can add a few blurred colors to spice it up, but the core of the grunge eyeshadow palette is dark neutrals.
You don’t want your dramatic eye makeup look to run down your face in the middle of the night (or day). That’s why Khan recommends prioritizing long-lasting products when crafting your look. “Any basic black eyeliner pencil, especially a waterproof one, works best to make this look last all day and night,” she says. “I also recommend applying multiple coats of a buildable mascara to accentuate the lashes.” If your current makeup collection is completely free of blurry eyeshadow and eyeliner, here are a few makeup artist-approved products for Getting started with your grunge eye makeup:
