Gothic Eye Makeup Tutorial – With Detailed Steps And Pictures

Give your eyes that dramatic vibe and see what things you need to achieve it.

Reviewed by Fiona Taylor, Hair & Makeup Artist
Written by Jyotsana Rao, BE

Edited by Madhumati Chowdhury, MA (English Literature)

Fact-checked by Bhumika Daga, MA (English) • Nov 24, 2023

Gothic Eye Makeup Tutorial – With Detailed Steps And Pictures

Image: Shutterstock

Do you want to create a unique, avant-garde, and dramatic look for your eyes? Mastering the art of Gothic eye makeup might seem a little intimidating at first, but you only have to get a few techniques right to nail this makeup look.

Mary, a blogger, shared her difficult relationship with doing gothic makeup in a post, detailing how being goth with brown eyes is not a common sight, “I have brown eyes and peachy skin- not quite moonlight lily white (sighs), but not tanned. With my combination, I have to focus on bringing out my eyes as best as I can. I love eyeliner. The way how it looks as it wings out from the eye and swirls around the temples, it’s just gorgeous. I find that my skin is too oily to accommodate such fine lines, and my hands tend to shake when I attempt intricate patterns (i).”

There are endless tutorials available online that will help you learn this grunge makeup art. Once you have learned how to pick the right eyeshadow colors and apply smokey eyeshadow and eyeliner, you will be all set to show off your Gothic eye makeup.

Creating this look is no difficult task with some dark eyeshadow colors.

Don’t know where to wear this bold eye makeup look? You can wear it for Halloween parties, open-air concerts, or other occasions. This punk eye makeup look will make you stand out from the crowd.

Keep In Mind

Foundation: Choose shades 1-2 tones lighter than your natural skin tone as they help you look naturally pale and achieve a stronger gothic look.
Glitter: Apply glitter on the inner corner of your eyes, your lower lash line, or on the eyelid. Use a glitter primer for a smooth finish.
Colors: For variation try red, purple, or blue for eyeshadow and lipsticks for added drama and depth.
Setting Spray: Alcohol-free sprays are gentle and ideal for dry skin as they increase hydration. Alcohol-based sprays are great for oily skin as they help to control excess oil and keep your makeup in place.

In This Article

Gothic Eye Makeup Tutorial

Things You Will Need For Goth Eye Makeup:

Some simple and easy things that you will need for this eye makeup look are as follows:

A concealer and foundation
A face compact
Eye shadow (Colors needed for this look are, black eye shadow, a shimmery grey eye shadow and a silver highlighter)
Kajal pencil/Black liner pencil
Liquid Eye Liner
Mascara
Lash Curler
Lash Comb

Quick Tip

You can add teal or deep purple eyeshadow to your eyelids for a more dramatic, mysterious, and edgy gothic look.

How To Do Gothic Eye Makeup?

Following is the step by step process included in Gothic eye makeup.

Step 1: Apply Concealer, Foundation and Compact

On clean eye lids, apply concealer and foundation. Follow it up with a compact for a flawless texture. Before starting any makeup on any part of the body, it’s very important that your skin is free from oil, dirt or grime. If your pores have oil or sebum locked in them and you are doing makeup over it, neither will your makeup sit and stay on your skin properly nor will your skin be able to breathe. Make sure your face is cleansed and dry from any hint of oil and dirt.

Step 2: Apply Silver Highlighter

This is a 3 tier makeup look. Easy and simple gothic look. Take your silver highlighter and start using it on to the brow bones. Next, use the same high lighter at the eye nose junction. Here follow light to dark colors tier.

Step 3: Apply The Burnt Shimmer Grey

Apply the burnt shimmer grey on to the crease just below the brow bones next. Blend well.

Step 4: Apply Black Matte Eyeshadow

Now take the black matte eye shadow and use it on to whole of the lid. Make sure you do not form a wing. Gothic looks with a shadow wing are not a choice of thing you would generally find.

Step 5: Apply Black Pencil Liner

Use a black pencil liner or kajal on to the lower rim. Make sure the lower rim lining is quite broad. This is a special gothic touch.

Step 6:

A tailed upper lining can be cool or just a broad lining keeping to the rim area.

A. Without Winged Formation

B. With Winged Formation

Step 7: Gothic Eye Makeup Look

This is how the completed eye makeup look should look like.

Step 8: Use Mascara

Use a mascara in top to down way on the upper lashes and a zig zag form on to the lower lashes.

Step 9: Brush out Excess Mascara

Brush out any excess or clumps of mascara with a mascara brush.

Step 10: Curl Your Lashes

Use a lash curler if you want added curl.

This is how it looks when completed. Use a real light nude pink lipstick. You may even just use a simple lip gloss and keep it extremely simple on the lips to set it in tune with the dark eyes. Accessorize your look with some metal neck pieces and black nail polish.

Trivia

Gothic eye makeup is quite popular with many celebrities. While Kristen Stewart often sports her goth glam look, Margot Robbie flaunts a rather subtle and sultry gothic vibe on her eyes.

Infographic: How To Do The Perfect Goth Eye Makeup Looks

Creating a goth eye look can be challenging and often involves numerous stages. But fret not. In the infographic below, we have discussed simple instructions for applying goth eye makeup by using basic cosmetics. Check it out and rock your look!

how to create the goth eye makeup look (infographic)

Save the high-quality PDF version on your device now.

Download Infographic

If you enjoy experimenting with different looks, gothic eye makeup is what you should try. It will give you that right dramatic vibe and let you steal the show. So, roll up your sleeves and get started. Remember, black matte eyeshadow is the key. So, keep trying till you achieve the look of your dreams. You can flaunt this vampy grunge look at your next Halloween party! Okay, now keep that imagination aside and work towards making it a reality! Goth makeup is headed for a reemergence from the 90’s! Since trends always circle back around, trying this makeup look now will have you look trendy. It can be a great statement look for your next night out!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I wear Gothic eye makeup during the day?

You can apply Gothic eye makeup throughout the day, though not in all circumstances. It may not be appropriate in some professional or conservative environments because many people associate it with a bold and dramatic appearance.

How do you remove Gothic eye makeup?

Using a mild, oil-based makeup remover or a washing oil to break down and dissolve the makeup is the best way to remove Gothic eye makeup. Avoid pulling or tugging at the delicate skin around the eyes when applying the oil or remover using a cotton pad. To get rid of any last bits of makeup, gently cleanse the eye region after rinsing it with warm water.

What type of brush is best for gothic eye makeup application?

When applying and blending eye shadow and eyeliner for a gothic look, it’s preferable to use brushes that are precise, hard, and dense, such as angled brushes and pencil brushes.

How can I create a gothic eye makeup look that will last all day?

Use an eyeshadow primer to let your eyeshadow stick to your lids. After that, draw bold lines with a waterproof, smudge-proof liner. Choose eyeshadows with a long-lasting matte finish, and consider setting them with a coordinating powder to increase their wear. To hold everything in place, spritz a setting agent on toward the end.

Key Takeaways

The alternative or gothic eye makeup exudes intense drama and darkness, and can be done for a dramatic Halloween look.
Over the concealer and highlighter base, a dark matte eyeshadow should be applied and be blended upwards toward the brow bone.
To make a thick winged liner, use an eyeliner in black or another dark color and ensure that the lower rim is a broad line.
For added drama, you can also add artificial eyelashes and mascara.
Pair with a nude lipstick or dramatic lip color to complete the gothic effect.