How to Do Goth Makeup: 9 Styles Step by Step
Gothic makeup is known for its dramatic, high-contrast aesthetic and offers a wide range of styles, from Victorian elegance to punk rebellion. Here's a step-by-step guide to creating different gothic looks with detailed instructions to help you master each style.
All products below are from Stargazer's goth makeup range — vegan, cruelty-free, and made in the UK since 1979.
How To Do Traditional Gothic Makeup
Traditional goth makeup combines pale skin, dark lips, and intense eye makeup for a classic, high-contrast look.
- Begin with a pale or white foundation to create a flawless, porcelain base. Apply evenly and blend well, setting with translucent powder for a matte finish.
- Define the lips using a bold black lipstick to create the classic gothic focal point.
- Finish the eyes with a sharp, winged eyeliner look. Use a liquid liner to create precise wings, or blend it along the lash line for a smoky effect.
How To Do Victorian Gothic Makeup
Victorian Gothic is inspired by the elegance of the 19th century, with a focus on rich colours and vintage flair.
- Apply a pale foundation, blending well, then set it with a light powder to create a smooth, matte base that reflects Victorian-era makeup.
- Choose a deep red or burgundy lipstick and apply to the lips for a romantic, historical look.
- Use dark eye shadow shades like plum or grey to create a smoky eye. Blend the shadow on the lid and into the crease, then finish with a thin line of semi-permanent eyeliner close to the lash line.
How To Do Cyber Gothic Makeup
Cyber goth adds a futuristic twist to goth style, often featuring neon colours and UV-reactive makeup.
- Start with your regular foundation, adding highlighter to key points like the cheekbones and nose to enhance your features under UV light.
- Choose a neon eye dust pigment in a bold colour like green or pink. Apply it to the eyelids and blend outwards for an intense, vibrant look.
- Apply black eyeliner to the upper and lower lash lines for contrast, and add glitter gel along the cheekbones or around the eyes for an edgy, futuristic finish.
How To Do Romantic Gothic Makeup
Romantic goth is softer and more ethereal, influenced by medieval and Renaissance aesthetics.
- Use a foundation one to two shades lighter than your skin tone to create a soft, pale complexion. Add a subtle blush in a light rose or peach for a natural glow.
- Apply a muted lip colour, such as mauve or dusty rose, for a soft, romantic effect. You can use the lip stain pen.
- Choose eyeshadows in soft, smoky shades like taupe or lavender. Blend to create a gentle smoky eye, adding depth to the eyes without overpowering the look.
How To Do Punk Gothic Makeup
Punk goth is all about rebellion, combining goth and punk aesthetics with bold, edgy features.
- Apply your regular foundation, blending well to keep the look natural.
- Smudge a kohl eyeliner heavily around your eyes for a rebellious, punk-inspired effect. Add bright-coloured or black eyeshadow for a grungy touch.
- Complete the look with dark lipstick, like black or deep purple, and finish with black nail polish for a full punk aesthetic.
How To Do Vampire Gothic Makeup
Vampire goth takes inspiration from vampire lore, emphasising dark, seductive tones with a touch of mystery.
- Apply a pale foundation to create an ethereal, almost ghostly base.
- Use deep purple or black eyeshadow on the eyelids, blending out to create a smoky effect. Add a hint of red shadow under the eyes for a haunting look.
- Apply blood-red or deep maroon lipstick for a seductive, vampiric finish.
How To Do Pastel Gothic Makeup
Pastel goth is a playful blend of gothic and pastel colours, creating a soft yet edgy look.
- Start with a pale foundation, adding a subtle blush to create a soft, fresh complexion.
- Use pastel eyeshadows like lavender, baby blue, or mint on the eyelids, blending outwards for a soft look.
- Finish with a pastel lip shade, like soft pink or lavender. Use white eyeliner on the lower lash line for a bright, wide-eyed effect.
How To Do Glam Gothic Makeup
Glam goth combines gothic darkness with glitzy, eye-catching elements, like metallic and glitter.
- Begin with a full-coverage foundation, adding contour to define your features.
- Apply metallic or glitter eyeshadow in shades like silver or deep purple for a dramatic, glamorous effect.
- Complete the look with bold metallic or dark lipstick and add winged eyeliner for a high-impact finish.
How To Do Casual Gothic Makeup
Casual goth is a toned-down version of gothic makeup, perfect for everyday wear.
- Use a foundation that matches your natural skin tone for a subtle base.
- Apply neutral eyeshadows in shades like grey or taupe for a simple, wearable smoky eye.
- Finish with a matte lipstick in dark plum or berry to add a hint of goth without going overboard.
Final Tips for All Gothic Makeup Styles
- Start each look with a white or pale foundation to create contrast.
- Use dark lip colours, especially black or deep reds, as a focal point for classic gothic style.
- Don't skip eyeliner — whether winged or smudged, it adds definition to your eyes and enhances the overall look.
Shop the Full Stargazer Goth Range
Gothic makeup is about individuality, mystery, and expression. Mix and match styles or add your own twist to create a look that's entirely unique to you.
Explore the Full Goth Makeup Range
Vegan, cruelty-free, and made in the UK since 1979.
Goth Makeup →Frequently Asked Questions
What is goth makeup?
Goth makeup is a high-contrast style built around a pale base, dark lips, and dramatic eye work. The classic look uses white or very pale foundation, matte black lipstick, and sharp winged liner. Modern variations include cyber, pastel, vampire, romantic, punk, and glam goth — all covered in the guide below.
What foundation do goths wear?
A full-coverage matte foundation, two to three shades lighter than your natural skin tone, or a true white base for the porcelain look. Stargazer White Liquid Foundation is the UK-made original — buildable to full opacity, matte, and holds all day. Cruelty-free since 1979.
How do I do goth makeup for beginners?
Start with the casual or traditional goth look above — pale base, black liner, dark lip. You don't need to tackle all nine styles at once. Master the basics first and build from there.
What eyeshadow do goths use?
Matte black is the staple, but metallics, deep purples, and UV-reactive pigments all feature heavily depending on the sub-style. See the cyber and glam goth sections above for bolder options.
Does goth makeup suit all skin tones?
Yes — the high contrast principle works across all skin tones. Darker skin tones may prefer a pale base that's 2–3 shades lighter than their natural tone rather than full white. Dark lips and dramatic eye work are universally flattering when executed well.
How do you do goth makeup step by step?
The traditional goth look in eight steps:
- Prime the skin with a matte primer.
- Apply pale or white foundation, blend evenly, set with translucent powder.
- Contour with a cool-toned bronzer along the cheekbones, jawline, and temples.
- Define brows with a cool ash pencil — sharper than your everyday shape.
- Apply matte black or charcoal eyeshadow across the lid and blend into the crease.
- Line the upper lash line with liquid eyeliner and flick out into a wing.
- Outline lips with black liner; fill in with matte black lipstick using a lip brush.
- Lock the look with matte setting spray.
How long does goth makeup take?
A full traditional goth look takes 25 to 40 minutes when you're practised. A casual goth look — pale base, smudged liner, dark lip — takes 10 to 15 minutes. The cyber and glam looks take 45 to 60 minutes because of the eye detail.
Is goth makeup hard for beginners?
No. Start with the casual or traditional look — pale base, black liner, dark lip — and ignore the more dramatic sub-styles until you're confident. The only difficult part is laying the foundation light enough without it looking patchy. Everything else is contrast and practice.
What products do you need to start?
Four essentials: a pale or white foundation, matte black lipstick, black eyeliner (pencil or liquid), and translucent setting powder. Add a cool-toned bronzer and a matte black eyeshadow once you want more depth.
What is the history behind Gothic Makeup?
For the history behind the look, please check out our blog post on how the Gothic look was created and evolved. Goth Makeup History
