GOTH MAKE UP LOOKS: THE RISE AND RISE OF GOTHCORE
With the likes of Kravis (that’s Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker, for the uninitiated), Doja Cat, Olivia Rodrigo and more leading the way, the gothcore and goth makeup look trend has well and truly taken over our TikTok feeds, wardrobes and make up bags, too.
But the gothcore trend isn’t new. Forming in the mid-seventies off the back of the punk rock movement which dominated the sixties (special mention to Vivienne Westwood, here), the goth scene was born of a musical taste but soon evolved into more of a treat for the eyes than the ears.
From dark (preferably black) clothing to tattoos and piercings, alternative hair styles and shock-factor makeup, the goth makeup look trend is certainly recognisable — as are the subcultures it has inspired, such as cyber goth, vampire goth and bubble goth. Whatever goth you want to channel (we’re suckers for the timeless trad goth make up look), the ways in which you can get involved are almost infinite. And the array of famous faces who’ve joined in on it is evidence of that. If Kourtney can do it, so can all of us.
In This Article:
GOTH MAKE UP LOOK ESSENTIALS
COMPLEXION
Inspired by Victorian melancholy and the supernatural, the trick to achieving the ultimate goth make up look is of course the pale, matte face. Goth make up looks tend to have quite a heavy base – usually using a full coverage foundation (we love NARS’ Soft Matte Complete Foundation and FENTY Beauty’s Pro Filt'R Soft Matte Longwear Foundation). Remember to achieve the look, pick and choose a foundation that’s 1-2 shades lighter. Then, set everything in place (and ensure your skin looks impeccable and shine free) with a face powder like Laura Mercier’s Translucent Setting Powder or Huda Beauty’s Easy Bake Loose Setting Powder. Goth make up looks avoid an obvious blush, but a contour is definitely used. Opt for cool toned contour sticks and use a cream formula over a powder for a more seamless finish. We like Anastasia Beverly Hills’ Contour Stick in ‘Mink’ for those with paler complexions.
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EYES
Gothcore wouldn’t be gothcore without heavy-on-the-shadow eye make up (think: a smokey eye, but smokier). A one-palette-wonder when it comes to nailing the gothcore trend, is Huda Beauty’s aptly named Pretty Grunge selection, which is brimming with shades like ‘Renegade’ and ‘Strong AF’. Also boasting gothcore-worthy shades is the iconic Mothership V: Seduction Palette from Pat McGrath Labs, as well as Charlotte Tilbury’s Luxury Palette - The Rock Chick which offers a softer entry point for those wanting to test out the trend without fully committing.
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LIPS
As with your eye make up, to achieve the gothcore look, you need a dark lip too. Try a punchy red pout á la Hourglass' Confession Ultra Slim High Intensity Refillable Lipstick in 'Red 0' (housed in a vessel that couldn’t be more on trend if it tried) or a deep plum courtesy of the Soft Matte Lip Cream in ‘Amsterdam’ from NYX. And don’t forget to line your lips with Natasha Denona’s I Need A Rouge Lip Crayon in ‘Emilia’ for a precisely defined and smudge-proof pout.
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HAIR
Complete your look with a bit (or rather, a lot) of backcombing — a signature of the trad goth aesthetic. Promising maximum results, the namesake Maximista Thickening Spray from Oribe instantly imparts body and lift, as does Color Wow's Raise the Root Spray, which provides long-lasting oomph without stiffness or stickiness. Alternatively, go for a sleeker ‘do (favoured by more recent sporters of the gothcore trend, Kourtney and Olivia) with a nourishing hair oil like the OUAI's Hair Oil— is the ultra-hydrating and divinely scented floral-infusion that softens, strengthens and add shine.
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GOTH MAKEUP LOOKS
Now we know what we need to achieve goth make up looks, let’s get into some of the subcategories of the genre to get some much-needed inspiration...
TRAD GOTH MAKE UP
Iconic for all the right reasons, this traditional goth make up looks leans heavy on the pale complexion and ultra defined eyes. A staple to creating this goth make up look is a seriously pigmented black eyeliner, a matte complexion and a pop of dark red on a plump and defined pout.
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SIMPLE GOTH MAKE UP
If, however you want to dip your toe into the trend, this simple goth make up look forgoes the exaggerated eye liner in favour of a dark smoky eye instead. To make it pop, apply a dark black, glossy lip and you’re good to go.
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SOFT GOTH MAKE UP
For something softer, take a leaf out of your favourite vampire book/tv/movie and use some red eyeshadow as your secondary blending hue on your eyes. Keep your complexion pale, matte and blusher free but use the softer red tones on your lids and lips.
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ROMANTIC GOTH MAKE UP
A step up from the soft goth make up look is the romantic goth make up look. This plays into the red tones of the soft goth make up look but elevates it by using blusher and less black eyeshadow, a little red toned glitter and a bold and bright red lip.
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GLAM GOTH MAKE UP
For a glam goth make up look get ready for glitter and more glitter. Taking the traditional goth make up look and using more grey and shimmery shades, the glam goth make up look is still heavy on the eyes but is more on the glamourous scale of the make up spectrum. Notice how again, blusher is omitted but contour is used instead.
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GOTH MAKE UP FAQs
Can I wear goth makeup without being goth?
Yes! Make up has and will always be a way for people to express themselves and their creativity, so although you may not be part of the goth community, you can still play with the look and create captivating finishes inspired by culture.
Why is goth makeup pale?
Goth makeup is often pale because it reflects the subculture’s deep aesthetic roots in themes like romanticism, Victorian mourning fashion, melancholy and the supernatural — all of which are symbolically tied to paleness. Plus, this then creates a high-contrast base for dark eyeshadow, contour and deep-toned lipsticks.
Do goth people wear blush?
Blush isn’t necessarily off-limits when doing goth make up looks, but blush placement and tone vary dramatically depending on the look and finish you’re after. For example, goth make up looks tend to avoid typical peach and pink tones when they do use blusher, but they tend to rely heavily on deep reds, plums, wine or burgundy and cool mauves. For the location of your blush, this heavily depends on the sub-category of goth make up. If you’re doing a romantic goth make up look then you may use blush subtly to enhance a poetic, more sorrowful look while for others you might place it higher on the cheekbones for a sharper more sculpted effect. Ultimately, blush is used intentionally to enhance the dark, moody, or supernatural vibe rather than to look fresh-faced or sun kissed.
And there you have it – from the history behind gothcore to how to achieve everything from the dramatic traditional goth make up to the softer, more romantic version, now you can delve into this Victoriana-inspired culture and look the part.
Rina is Cult Beauty’s Midweight SEO Copywriter and has always had a passion for beauty and skin care (rich moisturisers are her obsession). What started as a love for The Body Shop and their famed Born Lippy lip balms (in ‘Watermelon’ of course!), she is now more interested in finding products with proven effectiveness instead of broken promises. A loud and proud VIEVE fan, Rina owns nearly every item of the range and recommends the brand to anyone who will listen... When she’s not intently reading ingredient lists, you can find her either immersed in multiple true crime podcasts or a fantasy romance novel, with an *extra* hot cappuccino in hand.
