A Step-By-Step Gothic Eye Makeup Tutorial With Pictures

Gothic eye makeup tutorials are all over social media today complete with catchy background music. However, this trend has an interesting and long history. It originated around the 1970s and 1980s and was a part of the Gothic subculture. This style majorly draws inspiration from Victorian fashion, punk rock, and dark romanticism. It is popularly characterized by applications of black eyeliner, kohl, and deep eyeshadows. This style of makeup has been influenced by music icons such as Siouxsie Sioux and Robert Smith of The Cure, who made dark, intense, and expressive eye makeup look attractive. Modern versions of the style continue to incorporate its vintage darkness and moody feel. If you want to create a unique, avant-garde, and dramatic Gothic look for your eyes, we can help you. Mastering the art of Gothic eye makeup might seem a little intimidating at first, but you only have to get a few techniques right to nail this makeup look.

Rose, a blogger, shared techniques for blending and creating definition for gothic eye makeup in her blog. She said, “Just tilt your head back and gently use the end of a brush to kinda feel around for the contours (i).” She completes the look with dramatic lashes and a contoured complexion.

There are endless tutorials available online that will help you learn this grunge makeup art. Once you have learned how to pick the right eyeshadow colors and apply smokey eyeshadow and eyeliner, you will be all set to show off your Gothic eye makeup.

Creating this look is no difficult task with some dark eyeshadow colors.

Don’t know where to wear this bold eye makeup look? You can wear it for Halloween parties, open-air concerts, or other occasions. This punk eye makeup look will make you stand out from the crowd.

Keep In Mind

• Foundation: Choose shades 1-2 tones lighter than your natural skin tone as they help you look naturally pale and achieve a stronger gothic look.
• Glitter: Apply glitter on the inner corner of your eyes, your lower lash line, or on the eyelid. Use a glitter primer for a smooth finish.
• Colors: For variation try red, purple, or blue for eyeshadow and lipsticks for added drama and depth.
• Setting Spray: Alcohol-free sprays are gentle and ideal for dry skin as they increase hydration. Alcohol-based sprays are great for oily skin as they help to control excess oil and keep your makeup in place.

Gothic Eye Makeup Tutorial

We shall cover the entire process of this makeup tutorial. But first, let us gather all the things you need to execute the perfect Gothic eye makeup look.

Essential Products For Gothic Eye Makeup

Some simple and easy things that you will need for this eye makeup look are as follows:

• A concealer and foundation
• A face compact
• Eye shadow (Colors needed for this look are, black eye shadow, a shimmery grey eye shadow and a silver highlighter)
• Kajal pencil/Black liner pencil
• Liquid Eye Liner
• Mascara
• Lash Curler
• Lash Comb

Quick Tip

You can add teal or deep purple eyeshadow to your eyelids for a more dramatic, mysterious, and edgy gothic look.

How To Do Gothic Eye Makeup?

Following is the step by step process included in Gothic eye makeup.

Step 1: Apply Concealer, Foundation and Compact

On clean eye lids, apply concealer and foundation. Follow it up with a compact for a flawless texture. Before starting any makeup on any part of the body, it’s very important that your skin is free from oil, dirt or grime. If your pores have oil or sebum locked in them and you are doing makeup over it, neither will your makeup sit and stay on your skin properly nor will your skin be able to breathe. Make sure your face is cleansed and dry from any hint of oil and dirt. For visual inspiration, check out eye makeup pictures to see how a well-prepped base can enhance the Gothic look.

Step 2: Apply Silver Highlighter

This is a 3 tier makeup look. Easy and simple gothic look. Take your silver highlighter and start using it on to the brow bones. Next, use the same high lighter at the eye nose junction. Here follow light to dark colors tier.

Step 3: Apply The Burnt Shimmer Grey

Apply the burnt shimmer grey on to the crease just below the brow bones next. Blend well.

Step 4: Apply Black Matte Eyeshadow

Now take the black matte eye shadow and use it on to whole of the lid. Make sure you do not form a wing. Gothic looks with a shadow wing are not a choice of thing you would generally find. Understanding how to apply eyeshadow correctly can significantly improve the precision of the application and achieve the desired Gothic effect.

Step 5: Apply Black Pencil Liner

Use a black pencil liner or kajal on to the lower rim. Make sure the lower rim lining is quite broad. This is a special gothic touch.

Step 6:

A tailed upper lining can be cool or just a broad lining keeping to the rim area.

A. Without Winged Formation

B. With Winged Formation

Step 7: Gothic Eye Makeup Look

This is how the completed eye makeup look should look like.

Step 8: Use Mascara

Use a mascara in top to down way on the upper lashes and a zig zag form on to the lower lashes.

Step 9: Brush out Excess Mascara

Brush out any excess or clumps of mascara with a mascara brush.

Step 10: Curl Your Lashes

Use a lash curler if you want added curl.

This is how it looks when completed. Use a real light nude pink lipstick. You may even just use a simple lip gloss and keep it extremely simple on the lips to set it in tune with the dark eyes. Accessorize your look with some metal neck pieces and black nail polish.

Trivia

Gothic eye makeup is quite popular with many celebrities. While Kristen Stewart often sports her goth glam look, Margot Robbie flaunts a rather subtle and sultry gothic vibe on her eyes.

Now that we have covered how to do Gothic eye makeup, it is time to touch on the technical end. Dark and dramatic eye makeup might seem effortless and easy to master, but a few missteps can turn your dramatic eye into a makeup mishap. So let us discuss some common mistakes to steer clear of before you begin.

Common Mistakes To Avoid With Gothic Eye Makeup

Gothic eye makeup adds drama and intensity to everything you wear. But the question is, how to achieve the perfect Gothic style? or rather, what to do when you are new to the look? And the answers are right here. Find below some common mistakes to watch out for and how to avoid them as you attempt to perfect your Gothic eye makeup.

• Lack Of Prep: The lack of preparation of the skin is a major no-no. Apply lots of moisturizer and primer to create a smooth base beneath your makeup and prevent creasing.
• Overusing Black: Black eyeshadow is a must for Gothic eye makeup, but overusing it can make it too dramatic and heavy. Always gradually add the color to increase the intensity optimally.
• Thin Brows: Full, bold brows frame the entire Gothic makeup perfectly. Thin, unshaped brows will ruin the look. So, define and fill in your brows for bold eye makeup.
• Incorrect Blending: Goth eye makeup includes building dark layers. However, ensure each layer blends well together so that you do not get harsh, non-blended lines that have a jarring effect.
• Bleeding Makeup: Low-quality makeup products can get runny and Raccoon eyes are not part of the Gothic design unless it is intentional! Use waterproof, long-lasting, smudge-proof eye makeup products for the perfect look.

Gothic Eye makeup is an art that starts with proper preparation of the skin. Build on that slowly and then move on to those finer details. With these common mistakes out of the way, you can apply Gothic eye makeup with finesse for a perfect killer look.

Infographic: How To Do The Perfect Goth Eye Makeup Looks

Creating a goth eye look can be challenging and often involves numerous stages. But fret not. In the infographic below, we have discussed simple instructions for applying goth eye makeup by using basic cosmetics. Check it out and rock your look!

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I modify gothic eye makeup for a more subtle look?

For a softer, subtle Gothic eye makeup look you can use plum, deep brown, and charcoal colors instead of black. Also ensure you are using lighter application techniques, gently blending out the shades. Lastly, use a thin line of eyeliner to seal the look. Add shimmer or metallic shades to make it glamorous without sacrificing the Gothicness of the look.

Can I wear Gothic eye makeup during the day?

You can apply Gothic eye makeup throughout the day, though not in all circumstances. It may not be appropriate in some professional or conservative environments because many people associate it with a bold and dramatic appearance.

How do you remove Gothic eye makeup?

Using a mild, oil-based makeup remover or a washing oil to break down and dissolve the makeup is the best way to remove Gothic eye makeup. Avoid pulling or tugging at the delicate skin around the eyes when applying the oil or remover using a cotton pad. To get rid of any last bits of makeup, gently cleanse the eye region after rinsing it with warm water.

What type of brush is best for gothic eye makeup application?

When applying and blending eye shadow and eyeliner for a gothic look, it’s preferable to use brushes that are precise, hard, and dense, such as angled brushes and pencil brushes.

How can I create a gothic eye makeup look that will last all day?

Use an eyeshadow primer to let your eyeshadow stick to your lids. After that, draw bold lines with a waterproof, smudge-proof liner. Choose eyeshadows with a long-lasting matte finish, and consider setting them with a coordinating powder to increase their wear. To hold everything in place, spritz a setting agent on toward the end.

Illustration: Gothic Eye Makeup Tutorial - With Detailed Steps And Pictures

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

Learn how to create dramatic gothic eye makeup with this easy tutorial video! Follow along step-by-step to get the perfect dark and mysterious look.

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Fiona TaylorHair & Makeup Artist

     

Fiona Taylor is a professional hair and makeup artist with 15 years of experience in helping her clients look and feel their best by understanding the desired theme, mood, and individual facial anatomy. She studied fashion design at the Miami International University of Art and Design and partnered with MAC Cosmetics, Sephora, The Body Shop, and The Red Door Spa to gain hands-on experience in the field.

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