All goth culture revolves around the look. Make-up is only one of the constituent elements of the gothic look, but it represents a fundamental aspect. This is a very dark type of makeup, which can be beautiful.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Choosing the Makeup
Step 1. Get a foundation two shades lighter than your skin tone
Goths generally have an extremely pale appearance, with practically bloodless and almost white skin. For this, it is important to use a good foundation as a make-up base. Choose one that is two shades lighter than your complexion color, which will give you a pale but not kitschy look and avoid the "white mask" effect.
- If you have rather dark skin, in addition to taking a lighter foundation, also get some white powder to spread over the foundation. This will give your skin an ethereal and opalescent tone, thus avoiding the "white mask" effect and too strong a contrast with your complexion.
- As a base for make-up, you should use a good primer, preferably containing a sun protection factor. It is a product that is used to prepare the skin for foundation and to make make-up more resistant. The presence of a sunscreen also helps to give you an even paler look, because it contrasts the tan.
Step 2. Use dark eyeshadow
The base is certainly dark, but that doesn't stop you from having fun with different shades of makeup. Use a dark shade of eyeshadow, such as black, purple, blue, or dark red.
Many goths play with makeup by mixing eyeshadow with lipstick and vice versa. You too should consider making a mix, based on color compatibility, to further accentuate the goth effect
Step 3. If you are not particularly experienced in using eyeliner, it is best to opt for a black eye pencil
If you are not comfortable with eyeliner or you are not particularly experienced, you may want to try a black eye pencil at first. It is easier to spread and any inaccuracies can be easily corrected with a moistened cotton swab or with your fingertips.
Ideally, it's a long-lasting, smudge-free eye pencil to prevent makeup from dripping disastrously throughout the day. You would risk a raccoon look rather than goth
Step 4. If you are perfectly capable of applying eyeliner, choose a liquid one
If you feel like experimenting with something new to eyeliner, or are already good with eyeliner, try using a liquid black one. This product is able to draw a more defined line along the contour of the eyes, as well as resist, generally, all day.
If you have a tendency to sweat a lot, or have eyes that tend to water, a waterproof eyeliner is better. This will prevent it from leaking later in the day
Step 5. Use black mascara
For goths it is a must, because it darkens the eye area further and gives you a vampire look. Choose an eyelash extension mascara, which gives an extra touch of black to your look.
If you are in the mood to play with colors, opt for a colored mascara, but always in a dark shade, such as a dark blue or a deep red. You can spread it directly on the lashes, or you can put a second layer, after the black one: it will add a touch of originality to your look
Step 6. The lipstick must also be dark
Without this fundamental detail, yours will never be a true goth look. A simple black lipstick is more than enough in theory, but you can indulge yourself with other shades of color, such as burgundy, brick red or dark purple.
You can also stock up on lipsticks of different shades and alternate them according to your mood. Color also serves to tailor your look to a specific occasion
Part 2 of 2: Put on makeup
Step 1. Exfoliate and moisturize the skin before applying foundation
For a perfect look, it is important to first exfoliate your face with a foaming cleanser, followed by a skin tonic. Foundation looks much better on smooth, well-cleansed skin.
The best is also to put a veil of moisturizer, which accentuates the softness of the complexion. It is also used to prevent the skin from losing moisture due to makeup over the course of the day
Step 2. Then apply sunscreen and primer
To prevent skin aging and damage from UVA exposure, always apply sunscreen to your face. Look for one with an SPF of at least 30. Alternatively, you can get a primer that already has a sunscreen in the ingredients, to have two products in one. The protection, in addition, is able to counteract the tan, giving you that pale look that is ideal for a goth look.
Spread a thin layer of primer all over your face with your fingers. If it contains sun protection factor, spread it on your neck as well
Step 3. Now spread the foundation with a make-up sponge
Now that the surface of the face is smooth and perfectly cleansed, apply the foundation with the help of a make-up sponge. It is an accessory that you can easily find in perfumery or in the cosmetic department of department stores. You can also use your fingertips to apply the foundation, but the result will hardly be so uniform.
- Spread a thin layer of foundation on the face, focusing on the areas that tend to redden, i.e. the sides of the nose, the space between the eyebrows and the chin.
- Limit yourself to a single layer: too much foundation tends to form a sort of "mask". You would also run the risk of giving the impression that you are wearing some kind of white mask, instead of giving light to your face.
Step 4. Fix the foundation with a thin layer of powder
To keep the foundation from going away during the day, fix it with some light powder. For application, use a pad or duvet. Putting the powder all over your face is important, as it prevents the foundation from dripping or streaking.
Step 5. Apply eyeliner or eye pencil
If you are using the pencil, simply draw a line along the edge of the upper and lower eyelid. Try to tread your hand and draw a very clear line, to emphasize the goth look.
- If you use liquid eyeliner instead, you can indulge yourself with more complex eye makeup. For example, you can draw a small "wing" that starts from the upper eyelid and extends outwards, for a "winged eyeliner" effect. To do this, start from the inside of the eyelid and, as you work your way out, continue to pass the eyeliner up to 2-3 cm beyond the outer corner of the eye. This will accentuate the vampire look.
- If you have a hard time tracing the "wing" shape with liquid eyeliner, outline it first with the pencil and then go over it with the eyeliner.
Step 6. Apply the eyeshadow with a makeup brush
To further emphasize the "black eye" effect, choose a very dark shade of eyeshadow and apply it with a brush. Eyeshadow is a very important element of makeup for the originality of the look.
For example, you can decide to put a purple eyeshadow on the lower eyelid and a black one on the upper one or at the crease of the eye. This will give your eyes a very dark shade
Step 7. Apply mascara
Complete your eye makeup with black mascara. First, you can curl your lashes with an eyelash curler to better frame the look. Apply a first layer of mascara and let it dry. Then spread a second layer, if you want to take on an even more intense and dramatically dark air.
If you have very thin or very sparse lashes, it is advisable to apply false lashes, to make them more defined
Step 8. Finish with lipstick
Finish off your look with a dark, black or purple lipstick. You can apply it with a make-up brush, or directly from the tube.
Remove any imperfections in eye and lip makeup with a cotton swab. Also pass it under the lip line, for a perfect contour
Step 9. Use a face spray toner to fix your makeup
Goth make-up looks best on a smooth and clean face: then use a face spray tonic to add a touch of firmness and freshness. You can find it in the pharmacy or in the cosmetic department of the supermarket. The toner is ideal for keeping your skin hydrated, especially if you live in a country with a warm climate.
