The iconic grungey eye look of the 90s was back with a vengeance at New York Fashion Week. Catwalk models for Helmut Lang, Anna Sui and Prabal Gurung had dramatic smoky smudged lids, dark eye-shadow hues, and a generous touch of kohl.
Ceryn Askins, the Campaigns and PR Editor for online beauty retailer Escentual.com said it’s going to be a key beauty trend for spring.
Ceryn said: “The “Grunge” look of the 90s has definitely made a come-back at New York Fashion Week. This edgy aesthetic is one of the key beauty trends from the shows and quite a few of the new makeup products for this season are reflecting this with a darker palette of colours. This modern interpretation of this bold 90s look has a soft, smudged eyeliner, matte skin, heavy mascara and dark matte lips.”
Here we have curated some of the best new makeup products to create the new grunge look.
GIVENCHY Khol Couture Waterproof Retractable Eyeliner 0.3g – shade 01 – Black £17.85 at Escentual.com
This is the key product for the Grunge look, and clearly the 01 – Black shade is the one to choose. This essential eyeliner pencil glides over the skin to deposit a chic pop of long-lasting colour. Resistant to humidity and water, this pigment-packed formula doesn’t run or erase, and its retractable design makes application precise and fast. All you need to do is add the smudge after applying.
Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeshadow 1.8g £17.00 in Blackout at Escentual.com
This is a rich buildable velvet (and vegan) formula which can be layered for an easy transition from day to night and allows you to really build out the grungey, smokey eye. It’s long-lasting and also has a caffeine-infused complex that reduces puffiness and darkness around the eyes. The shade Blackout is the clear choice, but Mushroom will also work well for a softer grunge look.
GUERLAIN Noir G The Graphic Liner High Precision Eyeliner Pen 0.55ml 01 – Black £29.75 at Escentual.com
More precise than the Givenchy Khol Couture, the Guerlain Noir G The Graphic Liner is a slimline black liquid eyeliner which sits comfortably in the hand and has an ultrafine ink tip that makes applying your eyeliner easy. Whether you’re creating a natural fine line or a bolder cat-eye look, the versatile tip makes application effortless. The High Precision Liner is made from natural-origin charcoal, which gives the formula its dark black pigment and matte finish. You can smudge out the liner when it’s still wet when first applied but after that when the ink dries down it will stay for a long time and is waterproof.
Real Techniques Eye Shade and Blend Brushes £7.60 at Escentual.com
These Real Techniques Eye Shade and Blend Brushes are essential to blend out for the grunge look. This versatile kit is all you need for beautifully blended eyes. This kit contains two brushes to help you pack on colour or buff out any transition shades. Each brush is made from UltraPlush™ (synthetic) bristles that are easy to clean, and more hygienic than natural bristles. Their extended aluminium handles also help you to be more light-handed when applying any product for a softer finish.
bareMinerals Prime Time Eyeshadow Extender Primer 3ml £16.15 at Escentual.com
It’s vital to prime the eye area before applying the makeup for the grunge look. This will significantly increase the hold and duration of the look.
This vegan eyeshadow primer creates a flawless canvas on your eyelids, preparing them for eyeshadow and Kohl application. By smoothing out any imperfections and skin textures, it allows your eyeshadow to be seamlessly applied and blended.
The primer ensures that your eyeshadow remains fresh and vibrant for 24 hours. With its translucent colour, your eyeshadow’s shades can shine through with their true intensity. Plus, the formula is crease-resistant, sweat- and waterproof, keeping your eyeshadow smudge-free all day.
