The Return Of Soft Goth Makeup: Brooding Beauty With An Edge

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A pendulum swing from the Instagram baddie-era makeup and clean girl aesthetics , soft goth makeup is a more approachable version of true goth (think Siouxsie Sioux and the Banshees), with less elaborate eye makeup, an emphasis on contour over blush, with a greige or berry lip for added contrast. It leans more toward Fairuza Balk's in the 1996 cult classic The Craft than Elvira Mistress of the Dark .

So, how can you get the soft goth look? "In recent years, we've been focused on celebrating glowing, natural skin—but there's something refreshing about interrupting that with a dark eye or vampy lip . That contrast feels like what soft goth is to me," says Ffrench, who's previously shown the look can be achieved in five minutes or less for a quick makeup routine . She warns that soft goth is not to be mistaken for grunge, a look characterized by smudgy eye makeup and raw imperfection. "You can modernize the soft goth look by picking innovative formulas that didn't exist a few years ago. Lip stains, putty eyeshadows, or duo-chrome glosses will do the trick." This distinction underscores that soft goth, while rooted in rebellion, embraces innovation and polish rather than nostalgia alone.

When it comes to recreating Ortega's recent string of goth-glam looks, Inglessis follows a few main rules: firstly, ensuring the starlet still feels like herself and that the "makeup isn't wearing her"; secondly, opting for dark colors or cool-toned neutrals; and lastly, ditching blush altogether. "It's either a smoky eye, or a dark lip (or both!) and definitely no blush," says Inglessis. Another key element soft-matte skin, and carved-out cheekbones (if you've ever watched any Tim Burton movie, you get the vibe). To achieve this, Inglessis contours with a cool-toned brown (not to be confused with a sun-kissed bronzer). The finishing touch? Something that can't be cosplayed: "Really, it's about getting across mood and an attitude," she adds.