The allure of a brooding aesthetic is once again capturing the beauty world, with 'soft goth' makeup emerging as a prominent trend. For those who once embraced the darker styles of their youth, this updated gothic look provides a sophisticated yet edgy appeal. It stands in stark contrast to the prevalent 'Instagram baddie' and 'clean girl' aesthetics, offering a more nuanced approach to dramatic beauty.
This contemporary take on goth makeup is characterized by subtle eye accents, a focus on contouring over blush, and a choice of greige or berry tones for the lips. Celebrity makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench notes that traditional goth, born from the late 1970s punk movement, represented a rebellion against conventional beauty standards through pale skin, dark eyes, and exaggerated features. Soft goth, while drawing from this rich visual history, reinterprets it with a lighter touch. Its resurgence is further amplified by current pop culture phenomena, such as Tim Burton’s Netflix hit 'Wednesday' and the upcoming 'Nosferatu' and 'Frankenstein' adaptations. Mélanie Inglessis, another renowned celebrity makeup artist, points to Jenna Ortega's 'soft goth glam' as a key driver, alongside the revival of '90s-inspired makeup seen on artists like Charli XCX and Rosalía. This cultural alignment creates a fertile ground for the aesthetic's comeback, as evidenced by its appearance on recent fashion week runways with greige lips and smoky eyes.
Achieving the soft goth look involves a strategic play with contrasts. Ffrench suggests that breaking from the norm of glowing, natural skin with a dark eye or a deep lip color defines this style. She distinguishes soft goth from grunge by emphasizing innovation and refinement, advocating for modern formulations like lip stains, putty eyeshadows, and duo-chrome glosses. Inglessis advises adhering to a few core principles: ensuring the makeup complements the individual rather than overpowering them, utilizing dark or cool-toned neutral shades, and completely omitting blush. The key elements also include a matte complexion and sculpted cheekbones, which evoke a distinctly Tim Burton-esque mood. Ultimately, the essence of soft goth lies not just in its products but in projecting a certain attitude and mystique. In a beauty landscape often saturated with polished perfection, this embrace of tasteful darkness feels like a compelling act of defiance.
The enduring fascination with dark aesthetics, as Ffrench highlights, often stems from a cyclical nature of trends. After a prolonged period dominated by a more glamorous, Kardashian-inspired look, the understated rebellion of Wednesday Addams provides a refreshing alternative, signaling a shift towards celebrating individuality and a bolder, more expressive beauty narrative.