Isn’t it wonderful how you don’t have to stress about getting your makeup perfectly flawless and clean every time now that you’re free to embrace your messy girl era?
Messy doesn’t have to be ‘disgusting’ or ‘ugly’.
You can walk out of that bathroom stall, with your mascara running, and with a smudge of lipstick on your cheek, still look like you stepped off a makeup tutorial reel.
Thereâs a certain charm in the carefree attitude of grunge makeup.
Messy grunge makeup is all about making whatever makeup mishaps you find yourself in work for you. Sort of like controlled chaos.
The smudged eyeliner is so in, and so is the slightly overdrawn lips.
A rebellion against the polished, the perfect, and the pristine.
That makes one of the best things about messy grunge makeup how incredibly forgiving it is. Running late? No problem. A quick swipe of eyeliner, a dab of lipstick, and a tousle of your hair, and youâre good to go.
But, let’s explore a few ideas.
Grunge Makeup Low Down
Grunge makeup is a style that emerged in the early 1990s, closely tied to the grunge music scene. Itâs characterized by its effortlessly cool and edgy vibe, often giving off a âjust-rolled-out-of-bedâ look.
What grunge makeup intends to achieve is simply the natural acceptance of a raw and unrefined aesthetic, breaking away from, as mentioned, the polished perfection typically seen in mainstream beauty trends.
The focus is on creating a look that feels natural yet rebellious, blurring the lines between beauty and a DGAF attitude.
Key elements usually feature a laid-back, slightly messy base, giving the skin a fresh look without being too heavy on the makeup.
Dark, smudged eyeliner plays a significant role in the whole grunge makeup look, often paired with shadowy hues that evoke the moody ambiance of grunge music. Lips may vary from bold, dark colors like deep reds or purples to more understated, worn-in shades that look like theyâve been kissed away after a long night.
It’s the nonchalance.
Think messy buns, tousled hair, and hints of vintage wear with a preference for chokers, layered necklaces, and oversized flannels tossed over the shoulders.
Ultimately, grunge makeup isnât just about how you lookâitâs an expression of identity, a nod to the music and lifestyle that shaped a generation.
Okay…okay…ideas already!
1. âI Woke Up Like Thisâ Smudged Liner
Step 1: Start with your usual barely-there foundation. Weâre not aiming for perfection, just enough to convince others you made some effort.
Step 2: Use a black kohl pencil to line your upper and lower lash lines. Donât bother with precision; perfection is overrated.
Step 3: Now, take a finger (yes, your finger) and smudge the liner. Make it messy, like youâve had a long nightâand an even longer morning.
Step 4: Apply mascara with the same disregard for order, letting it clump and smear just a tad.
Step 5: Finish with a barely-there lip balm, because who needs the drama on your lips when your eyes are doing all the talking?
2. âRockstarâs Girlfriendâ Faded Red Lips
Step 1: Apply a deep red lipstick, but donât bother with lip liner. Weâre not aiming for a runway-ready pout.
Step 2: Now, grab a tissue and blot the lipstick until it looks like itâs been on for hoursâor days.
Step 3: Smudge the edges with a cotton swab or your finger. Perfection is so mainstream.
Step 4: Skip the gloss, because shiny lips would just ruin the whole vibe.
Step 5: Pair with barely-there eye makeup. Maybe some leftover mascara from yesterday, if youâre feeling fancy.
3. âJust Survived a Mosh Pitâ Grungy Eye
Step 1: Start with a dark, matte eyeshadow (black, brown, or even a deep burgundy). Slap it onto your eyelids without worrying about blending.
Step 2: Using a pencil brush, drag the shadow down under your eyes. Youâre going for âI havenât sleptâ rather than âIâm a makeup artist.â
Step 3: Add some eyeliner to your waterline, then immediately smudge it out with your fingers. It should look like itâs been there for a while.
Step 4: Finish with mascara thatâs seen better days. Let it clump for that lived-in effect.
Step 5: Keep the rest of your face neutral. Or donât. Who cares?
4. âCigarette Smoke and Whiskeyâ Brown-Orange Smokey Eye
Step 1: Grab a rusty orange eyeshadow and apply it all over your lids. Donât worry about precisionâthis isnât your wedding day.
Step 2: Blend the edges with a burnt brown shadow, but not too well. Weâre aiming for âjust smudged enough.â
Step 3: Drag the orange shadow under your lower lash line. You should look like youâve been up all night in a smoky bar.
Step 4: Finish with a hint of gold shimmer on the center of your lids, because even grunge needs a little glam.
Step 5: Pair with a nude lip, or just skip lipstick altogether. No oneâs looking at your mouth, anyway.
5. âLipstick Smudgeâ Post-Makeout Mouth
Step 1: Start with a bold lipstickâsomething dark and moody, like plum or deep red. Apply it as you usually would, full coverage.
Step 2: Now comes the fun part: take a tissue and lightly smudge the lipstick all over your lips and just beyond the lip line. Think post-passionate-kiss vibes.
Step 3: Pat the smudged edges with your fingers to make it look even more worn-in.
Step 4: If you want to go all out, add a touch of gloss to the center of your lipsâjust enough to make it look like things got heated.
Step 5: Skip the blush; your lips are the star here.
6. âCrying at 3 AMâ Tear-Streaked Mascara
Step 1: Start by applying your usual mascaraâseveral coats, so itâs nice and thick.
Step 2: Now, take a damp cotton swab and drag it down from your lower lashes, creating the illusion of tear streaks. No need to be too neat; messiness is the goal.
Step 3: Lightly tap the swab under your eyes to create a slightly smudged effect, like youâve been crying (but in a sexy way).
Step 4: Apply a bit of clear lip gloss to your lips, so you look like youâve been crying in the rainâor the shower, perhaps.
Step 5: Donât bother with blush or contour; this look is all about that raw, emotional vibe.
7. âOvercooked Grungeâ Charred Eyeshadow
Step 1: Apply a black cream eyeshadow to your lids, extending it well beyond the crease. Weâre going for that âI tried, but not reallyâ look.
Step 2: Smudge the edges with a brush or your fingers. The more uneven, the better.
Step 3: Take a metallic silver or charcoal eyeshadow and dab it in the center of your lids for a hint of dimension.
Step 4: Line your lower lash line with the same black cream shadow, then smudge it out as if youâve been wearing it for days.
Step 5: Finish with a nude or pale lip, but donât bother reapplying if it wears off.
8. âSmeared Lipstick & Coffee Stainsâ Morning After Lips
Step 1: Start with a deep, vampy lipstickâsomething that says âIâve been out all night.â
Step 2: Apply it generously, then blot it off with a tissue until it looks like a stain.
Step 3: Now, take your finger and smear the lipstick just beyond your natural lip line. No precision needed.
Step 4: Add a touch of clear gloss to the center of your lips, but only if you feel like it. Gloss is optional, unlike your exhaustion.
Step 5: Pair with smudged eyeliner and dark circles under your eyes. Bonus points if you add an actual coffee stain somewhere on your outfit.
9. âGothic Fairyâ Faded Dark Eyes
Step 1: Apply a deep, dark eyeshadow (think black, navy, or dark plum) all over your lids. Donât worry about making it even.
Step 2: Smudge the edges with a lighter color, like a gray or taupe, but keep it messy.
Step 3: Line your waterline with a black pencil, then smudge it out with your finger.
Step 4: Apply mascara, but donât be too careful. Clumpy lashes add to the gothic vibe.
Step 5: Finish with a barely-there lip color, or just a dab of clear balm. This look is all about the eyesâeverything else is an afterthought.
10. âIâm With the Bandâ Slept-In Smokey Eye
Step 1: Start by applying a deep black or brown eyeshadow to your lids. Blend it out to the crease, but donât worry about making it perfect.
Step 2: Drag the same shadow under your lower lash line, smudging it out for a lived-in look.
Step 3: Apply eyeliner to your waterline, then smudge it out with a cotton swab or your fingers. The messier, the better.
Step 4: Finish with mascara, focusing on the outer lashes to give a slightly winged effectâagain, no need for precision.
Step 5: Pair with nude lips, or just go with your natural lip color. After all, youâve got more important things to worry about than reapplying lipstick.
11. âDusty Roseâ Barely-There Blush
Step 1: Start with a neutral, slightly dusty rose blush. Apply it to the apples of your cheeks, but donât blend it out too much. Weâre going for a subtle hint of color, not a full-on flush.
Step 2: Take whateverâs left on your brush and sweep it across your nose and forehead. Weâre aiming for that âIâve been out in the coldâ look, but with less effort.
Step 3: Use a soft, pale pink or nude lipstick, applied with your finger for a more natural, worn-in effect.
Step 4: Skip the eye makeup altogether, or just go with a touch of mascara if you must.
Step 5: Finish with a clear or lightly tinted gloss on your lipsânothing too shiny, just enough to look like you didnât totally neglect them.
12. âSmudged to Perfectionâ Under-Eye Shadow
Step 1: Start by applying a dark eyeshadow (black, navy, or deep purple) under your lower lash line. Donât worry about making it even.
Step 2: Smudge the shadow out with a brush or your finger, extending it slightly downward for that perfect grunge look.
Step 3: Add a touch of the same shadow to your upper lids, blending it out into a barely-there haze.
Step 4: Apply mascara, focusing on your lower lashes for extra emphasis.
Step 5: Keep the lips natural with just a hint of balm, or go bold with a dark, smudged lip. The choice is yoursâbut donât think too hard about it.
13. âRusty Lidsâ Earthy Grunge
Step 1: Start with a warm, rusty brown eyeshadow. Apply it all over your lids, blending it out slightly beyond the crease.
Step 2: Drag the same shadow under your lower lash line, smudging it out for that messy, lived-in look.
Step 3: Add a touch of copper or gold to the center of your lids for a bit of dimension. Just a touch, thoughâdonât go overboard.
Step 4: Line your waterline with a brown pencil, then smudge it out with your finger.
Step 5: Finish with a nude or brown-toned lip, applied haphazardly. Grunge isnât about looking perfect, after all.