When it comes to makeup, I often draw inspiration from various style icons from the past. It could be an iconic movie character's makeup I loved when I was younger, a fashion designer, or even a random music video that left an impact. The period from the late 90s to the mid-00s is one of my favorites. Messy smoky eyes, sharp eyeliner, thin eyebrows, and voluminous hair with colored strands bring back some of the best memories from my childhood.
Lately, I've been thinking about this grungy period in fashion history, and I decided to share with you some of my favorite makeup looks from the past. Of course, complete with proper step-by-step makeup tutorials and thorough instructions that will help you recreate these looks. I've settled on three of my favorite grunge makeup styles: a classic brown smoky eye look, a dramatic look with an under-eye accent, and the smudged eyeliner with a green highlight, inspired by Avril Lavigne's music video for "Smile." Let's take a closer look!
#1. A Classic Brown Smoky Eye
When I say the phrase "brown smoky eyes," which celebrity pops into your mind? The correct answer would be almost every female celebrity from the late 90s and 00s! A smoky brown eye is a classic makeup look that fits absolutely everyone. You can choose the intensity of this look depending on your eye color, skin tone, or personal preference.
My personal favorite is the messy, black and brown matte eye look. It is super easy, beginner-friendly, and requires only a few basic makeup products: black eye kohl, a light brown matte eyeshadow, a dark brown eyeshadow, and mascara. Here is the step-by-step tutorial that will help you recreate the look:
How to Create a Brown Smoky Eye Look:
- Begin by priming your eyelids with an eyeshadow primer. Apply it all over the lids, softly blending the primer's texture with your finger.
- Take your favorite black eye kohl and apply it all over the lid. Smudge the eye kohl with your ring finger or with the help of a synthetic brush.
- Go over the kohl with a black matte eyeshadow, blending it upwards and bringing the color out closer to the tail of the eyebrow.
- Apply a warm chocolate-brown eyeshadow to your crease with a pencil brush. Blend the transition between the black and brown eyeshadows with a clean blending brush.
- Finish your brown grunge makeup with some highlighter and mascara. Don't forget to highlight your inner corners and waterlines.
#2. Lower Lid Makeup or Reverse Makeup
Next up is one of my favorites—a lower lash line accent, also known as the "reverse makeup" look. This makeup technique is a popular, low-key way to give your makeup the necessary grunge without overcomplicating things. You can use any eyeshadow color you have at your disposal, perfecting the look as you apply it.
Unlike the classic brown smoky eye, this grunge makeup looks a bit more original. By the way, it is much easier to create as well. All you need is a black eye pencil or eye kohl (or a color matching your eyeshadow), an intense purple eyeshadow (mine has a fine shimmer to it), and a white eye pencil for the waterline for an eye-enlarging effect.
How to Create the 90s Under-Eye Eyeshadow Look:
- To get this grunge makeup look, start by underlining your eye shape with a black pencil or dark gray eyeshadow, creating a wing shape under the eye.
- Gently blend the pencil with a synthetic brush, further winging it out toward the tail of the eyebrow.
- Now, it is time to apply a purple eyeshadow over the pencil and blend it with a brush.
- Apply a white eye pencil to the inner corner of your eye and on the waterline.
- Tightline the upper waterline with black eye kohl, filling the gaps between the lashes. Finish this grunge makeup look by curling your lashes and applying mascara.
#3. Smudged Pencil Eyeliner with Green Highlight Inspired by Avril Lavigne
I bet everyone remembers and loves this iconic makeup look! I'm talking about the green and black grunge eye look from the music video "Smile" by Avril Lavigne. Her outfit, vivid green hair, and black smudged eyeliner left a strong impression on my mind. At first glance, there is nothing too special about it: a bit of black, smudged eyeliner, and a shimmering highlighter on the center of the lid.
Still, this makeup look perfectly matches her outfit and the mood of the song. Here is how you can recreate this rebel grunge makeup look:
How to Create Avril Lavigne's Makeup from the "Smile" Video:
- Start the look by drawing a very thick line with a black pencil, creating a bold winged eyeliner in the outer corner of your eyes.
- Smudge it with the help of a black matte eyeshadow and a thin brush.
- Now, it is time to apply a lime-green, shimmering eyeshadow on the center of the lids. Apply it right on top of the pencil. You can opt for matte or glittery colors if you have them at your disposal.
- Blend the edges for that classic raccoon look, but keep it grungy enough for authenticity.
- Tightline your upper and lower waterlines with black eye kohl, and apply a few coats of the blackest mascara you own. The "Smile" music video makeup is done!
Finalizing...
Grunge makeup will never stop being trendy! Its dark, appealing vibe and relative simplicity allow for countless combinations. There is only one major rule to remember when creating a grunge makeup look—blending is key! So, what do you think of these three grunge makeup looks? I hope today's tutorials are helpful to you, and maybe you will actually try one of them out.
