It is mandy again with a new look. Hair done (a little toner over it) (addiction to the hairdresser).There are many addictions for me yes.
Alright, here’s the thing: I’m not saying this to be a sweet little guy – lately, the beauty industry has been playing it way too safe. Especially now that everyone’s obsessed with that ‘clean girl’ aesthetic and perfect dewy skin. Other times you’re trying to live out your 90s music video fantasies and want to look like you just crawled out of one and own every second of it. That’s where grunge make-up ideas come swooping in to save us from another boring highlight-and-contour routine.
Grunge makeup isn’t just having a moment, it’s having a full blown renaissance and I am so on board. Smudged eyeliner, dark lips, the look of I didn’t try and it turns out I look cooler than everyone else which is why we’re talking about Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love.
Why Grunge Makeup Is Taking Over 2025
Here’s the thing about grunge make-up ideas – they’re rebellion in a compact. Grunge makeup celebrates ‘screw beauty standards’ and does its own thing as everyone else is trying to look Instagram perfect. Makeup for people who want to express their inner angst; their creativity; or just their Monday morning mood.
Also, the thing about grunge makeup is that it is so authentic. You aren’t stuck blending everything together and the ‘symmetrical wings.’ It’s real, it’s unapologetically bold and it’s messy. Billie Eilish is just one of a number of artists who have been providing us with this grunge inspired look which proves that this is not an 90s thing of the past, but is growing and becoming even better.
The Foundation of Grunge: Starting Your Look
When diving into grunge make-up ideas, forget everything you know about flawless base makeup. The whole thing about grunge is all about the texture, the dimension, even a little chaos. You don’t need your skin to look like it’s been filter through seventeen different apps.
Begin with a medium coverage foundation – in other words don’t go overboard with a heavy foundation nor a light foundation. The aim is, not to look like a porcelain doll, but human. Here too tinted moisturizer works perfectly. That “I have skin and I’m not ashamed of it” energy is what we want.
Leave the heavy contouring and bronzing. Now, instead of focusing on creating depth everywhere, make sure you focus on devoting depth around your eyes only. It’s okay if you put a little concealer under the eyes, but don’t try and cover every single imperfection. With grunge makeup we celebrate the perfectly imperfect.
Eyes That Tell Stories: The Heart of Grunge
This is where grunge make-up ideas really come alive. Your eyes are going to be doing all the talking so let’s make sure they’re saying something good. To think smoky, think smudged, think ‘I have been up all night listening to Nirvana and thinking about existence’.
First start with dark neutral shadows for the classic grunge eye. This doesn’t mean sparkly eyeshadow nonsense, but more deep browns, charcoals and blacks. ‘Blend these colors all around your eye area to get that smoky, lived in effect’ she advises. You don’t have to get the edges perfectly figured out nor the gradients. It is possible that the messier, the better applies to ones cleaning profile.
Your best friend here is eyeliner! Thick and heavy application then smudging with your finger or a brush. You don’t want it to look like ever; you want it to look like it has been on since hours ago and you have been living your life in it. You should do both upper and lower lash lines. FKA Twigs and many other artists in recent years have gotten very good at doing this, making eye looks dramatic yet effortlessly cool.
Mastering the Grunge Lip Game
Grunge make-up ideas wouldn’t be complete without addressing the lips, and honey, we’re going dark. Lip trends were all about glossy, plump pouts – grunge lips are matte and deep and make a statement.
Grunge lip colors are deep burgundy, dark plum, chocolate brown and classic black. Here the application technique is most important. You aren’t looking for crisp perfect lines. But use the color outside your natural lip line here and there, while using it within others. By doing this it makes the track sound more worn in or imperfect as is quintessentially grunge.
The ‘bitten lip’ effect is for an extra grunge touch. Put on your dark lipstick and then very gently rub the centre of your lips to make a gradient. You’re chewing your lip (in the sexiest way possible).
Textures and Techniques That Define the Look
The secret to authentic grunge make-up ideas lies in the textures you create. None of this should be perfect, it should look a bit weathered, a bit worn, a bit real. Perfection is not what this is about; it’s about character.
In some areas you can try to use fingers instead of brush for your eyeshadow. It look more natural and blended and less ‘done’. Also, layer different textures (matte shadows as your base and pat on some cream shadows on top for dimension).
You don’t have to be scared to mix formulas. Use eyeshadow as eyeliner, lipstick as blush or even mascara to fake freckles! Grunge makeup means rule breaking and experimentation. It was also an approach artists like Siouxsie Sioux were happy to build entire careers around.
Color Palettes That Capture the Grunge Spirit
While grunge make-up ideas are often associated with dark, moody colors, there’s actually more flexibility than you might think. The trick to that you have to stay within specific color families which still keep that edge from that kickass vibe.
Strong browns, charcoals, blacks and dark plums should all be familiar colors in your core palette. These are the colors that you bread and butter colors that will be the base of most of what you wear. However, don’t get scared from having deeper forest greens, burgundies or even dark navy blues included.
If you want to be a little adventurous with some unexpected colors, try some deep orange or rust tones. When it comes to grunge they can add a warm touch to your look without losing that alternative edge. The trick is making the tone muted and completely making sure that nothing is way too bright or can come out anything like artificial.
Making Grunge Work for Your Lifestyle
The reality check – not everybody rolls into their corporate worksite dressed like they just stepped off the set of a Soundgarden music video. But that doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate grunge make-up ideas into your daily routine.
But tone down the intensity on this one for a more work appropriate grunge look. Instead of using black, use brown for your smoky eyes. Instead of straight up black choose a deep berry lip. Change the eyeliner to be thinner though it is smudged. You turn that grunge energy, except in a way that won’t have you getting hauled in front of HR.
Weekend issue is the main place to go with your grunge shoes. This is your time to experiment with those bolder grunge make-up ideas you’ve been wanting to try. Go darker with the eyes, bolder with the lips, and messier with the overall application.
The Tools You Actually Need
No need to spend some money in some million different brushes and tools. Fortunately, grunge makeup is a pretty low maintenance style, for equipment at least. Yes, you need good eyeshadow brushes but you also need to be comfortable using your fingers.
That lived in eyeliner look is a must and, for a good smudging brush you’ll want to invest in. Packing on eyeshadow, flat shader brushes work great. Honestly the best friend you can possibly have for those perfectly imperfect smudged effects might be a damp cotton swab.
Also don’t forget how useful setting spray can be. Because grunge makeup is about layering and smudging products, you want everything to stick all day long. A good setting spray will keep your look locked in had it keeping that slightly undone texture that I like.
Embracing the Grunge Mindset
The most important aspect of mastering grunge make-up ideas isn’t about technique or products – it’s about mindset. Grunge makeup is a craze of authenticity, rebellion and self expression. It’s all about not giving a shit about that your eyeliner doesn’t match and that your lipstick has worn off in certain spots.
This is about letting you play, screw up and own whatever look it’s going to be. This is about loving yourself and being confident in your imperfections and seeing beauty in unlikelihoods. Doing grunge makeup is not about looking like everyone else, it’s about looking as most authentic of yourself.
Grunge has never just been about the appearance. It’s a whole attitude, it’s a way of living and style that tells you that you don’t need anyone’s approval to do you. That same energy should show through your makeup.
But smoosh that liner, suffocating those thick lips and rage it like a real bad believer in whatever grunge they declare you to be. After all, the best grunge make-up ideas are the ones that make you feel like the badass you already are.
