THE KEY TO
SOFT GOTH IS
A LIP PENCIL
November 7, 2023 by Cat Quinn
If you managed to squeeze your way through London’s Batcave club in the early 80s, you’d quickly notice a few consistent looks: black backcombed hair, dark straight brows and a sea of ripe, oxblood-coloured lips.
All markers of the Goth subculture – dark hair and makeup – went far beyond trends and represented its wearer’s values and interests, from music and literature to a shared sense of rebellion and melancholy. “Goth didn’t have to be aggressive,” explains Terry Barber, M·A·C, Creative Director of Artistry. “Goth was about a slightly dark romanticism. It was still beautiful, but it had this storybook feel to it.”
Since those early days in London, goth has spread around the globe, splitting off into subcultures like Cyber Goth and Gothabilly, and inspiring countless films and TV characters. Most recently, it’s reinvented itself on screen in the form of Soft Goth: a more casual take on the classic look. This Goth aesthetic is still rooted in the signature deep tones of black, burgundy and brown, but diffused into a blurred finish more in line with the makeup trends of today.
To get the runway-approved look, grab tried-and-true Goth favourites dating back to the 90s such as Lip Pencil in Nightmoth or Eye Shadow in Carbon. Or pick up new Goth go-tos, including the Connect in Colour Eye Shadow Palette: Embedded In Burgundy or M·A·C Locked Kiss Ink 24HR Lipcolour in Carnivore. Use your fingers or a 224S Blending Brush to buff the shades into a soft haze of colour. Then, add a touch of Clear Gloss and a generous amount of attitude. It’s not just a look – it’s a lifestyle.
All markers of the Goth subculture – dark hair and makeup – went far beyond trends and represented its wearer’s values and interests, from music and literature to a shared sense of rebellion and melancholy. “Goth didn’t have to be aggressive,” explains Terry Barber, M·A·C, Creative Director of Artistry. “Goth was about a slightly dark romanticism. It was still beautiful, but it had this storybook feel to it.”
Since those early days in London, goth has spread around the globe, splitting off into subcultures like Cyber Goth and Gothabilly, and inspiring countless films and TV characters. Most recently, it’s reinvented itself on screen in the form of Soft Goth: a more casual take on the classic look. This Goth aesthetic is still rooted in the signature deep tones of black, burgundy and brown, but diffused into a blurred finish more in line with the makeup trends of today.
To get the runway-approved look, grab tried-and-true Goth favourites dating back to the 90s such as Lip Pencil in Nightmoth or Eye Shadow in Carbon. Or pick up new Goth go-tos, including the Connect in Colour Eye Shadow Palette: Embedded In Burgundy or M·A·C Locked Kiss Ink 24HR Lipcolour in Carnivore. Use your fingers or a 224S Blending Brush to buff the shades into a soft haze of colour. Then, add a touch of Clear Gloss and a generous amount of attitude. It’s not just a look – it’s a lifestyle.
Lip Pencil
$46.00
An ultra-precise lip liner in a wide range of creamy shades designed for shaping, lining or filing in lips.
Eye Shadow
$41.00
A saturated pressed powder eye shadow in four textures featuring even more pigment-packed payoff.
Connect In Colour Eye Shadow Palette: Embedded in Burgundy
$98.00
A burgundy-toned six-pan eye shadow palette innovated with one-swipe, pure pigment payoff for limitless sultry to sophisticated looks.
M·A·C Locked Kiss Ink 24HR Lipcolour
$66.00
A kissproof, transfer-proof and waterproof liquid lipstick with 24 hours of weightless wear and rich matte colour.
224S Tapered Blending
$72.00
A brush for the sheer application and blending of shadow, especially in the contour.
SHOP SOFT GOTH
From Lip Pencil in Nightmoth to Eye Shadow in Carbon, embrace the trend with shades that have created Goth makeup looks for decades.
Smoky metallic eyes and a rich burgundy lip colour pair together for the ultimate Soft Goth look.
Whether smudged out or drawn on with precision, Lip Pencil in Nightmoth perfects this trend.
HOW TO GET THE TREND
LOOK 1: Go for a casual spin on goth makeup with shades of black, brick, grey and the iconic Nightmoth lip liner.
- Prep lids with Prep + Prime 24-Hour Extend Eye Base.
- Smudge Eye Liner in Glide or Die onto lids and along lower lash lines using a 217S Blending Brush.
- Press shade On The Cloud from the Connect In Colour Eye Shadow Palette: Encrypted Kryptonite overtop using a 240S Large Tapered Blending Brush.
- Coat lashes with a generous amount of M·A·CStack Mascara.
- Define and fill lips with Lip Pencil in Nightmoth.
Prep + Prime 24-Hour Extend Eye Base
$58.00
A shadow primer specially formulated to prolong the look of your eye makeup.
M·A·C Colour Excess Gel Pencil Eye Liner
$55.00
A waterproof, highly pigmented gel pencil eye liner that wears for 24+ hours on lids and 12 hours on waterlines.
Connect In Colour Eye Shadow Palette: Encrypted Kryptonite
$98.00
A smoky-toned six-pan eye shadow palette innovated with one-swipe, pure pigment payoff for subtle to dramatic looks.
240S Large Tapered Blending
$72.00
A large and fluffy brush with a tapered tip that blends out shadows and allows for soft washes of colour.
M·A·CStack Mascara
$65.00
MEGA
A continuously buildable mascara that stacks on infinite layers of volume and length, with a bigger brush that delivers instant volume and is ideal for longer or upper lashes.
MICRO
A continuously buildable mascara that stacks on infinite layers of volume and length, with a smaller brush that delivers ultra-precise application and is ideal for shorter or lower lashes.
A continuously buildable mascara that stacks on infinite layers of volume and length, with a bigger brush that delivers instant volume and is ideal for longer or upper lashes.
MICRO
A continuously buildable mascara that stacks on infinite layers of volume and length, with a smaller brush that delivers ultra-precise application and is ideal for shorter or lower lashes.
Lip Pencil
$46.00
An ultra-precise lip liner in a wide range of creamy shades designed for shaping, lining or filing in lips.
Use fingertips or a lip brush to smudge out Lip Pencil in Nightmoth for a lived-in look.
Embrace the trend with soft shades from the Connect In Colour Eye Shadow Palette: Embedded In Burgundy.
LOOK 2: Romanticize rebellion with this subtler, smoky take on Goth makeup.
- Prep lids with Prep + Prime 24-Hour Extend Eye Base.
- Tightline waterlines using Eye Liner in Glide or Die.
- Sweep shade Wanna Chat? from the Connect In Colour Eye Shadow Palette: Embedded In Burgundy onto lids using a 217S Blending Brush, blending up toward creases and along lower lash lines.
- Tap Lip Pencil in Nightmoth onto lips for a stained-lip effect.
Prep + Prime 24-Hour Extend Eye Base
$58.00
A shadow primer specially formulated to prolong the look of your eye makeup.
M·A·C Colour Excess Gel Pencil Eye Liner
$55.00
A waterproof, highly pigmented gel pencil eye liner that wears for 24+ hours on lids and 12 hours on waterlines.
Connect In Colour Eye Shadow Palette: Embedded in Burgundy
$98.00
A burgundy-toned six-pan eye shadow palette innovated with one-swipe, pure pigment payoff for limitless sultry to sophisticated looks.
Lip Pencil
$46.00
An ultra-precise lip liner in a wide range of creamy shades designed for shaping, lining or filing in lips.
The foundation of any good Goth look: Eye Shadow in Carbon.
Glossy lids give this look a modern, grungy edge.
LOOK 3: Redefine goth makeup with a softer, more casual alternative that plays with shades of black, burgundy and grey.
- Prep lids with Prep + Prime 24-Hour Extend Eye Base.
- Colour lids using Eye Shadow in Carbon and a 240S Large Tapered Blending Brush, then use a 210 Synthetic Precise Eye Liner Brush to blend the shade along lower lash lines.
- Coat lashes with a generous amount of M·A·CStack Mascara.
- Press a small amount of Clear Gloss onto lids for a shiny finish.
- Define and fill lips with M·A·Cximal Silky Matte Lipstick in Smoked Purple.
Prep + Prime 24-Hour Extend Eye Base
$58.00
A shadow primer specially formulated to prolong the look of your eye makeup.
Eye Shadow
$41.00
A saturated pressed powder eye shadow in four textures featuring even more pigment-packed payoff.
240S Large Tapered Blending
$72.00
A large and fluffy brush with a tapered tip that blends out shadows and allows for soft washes of colour.
210 Synthetic Precise Eye Liner Brush
$59.00
A brush with an extra-fine tip that has just the right length and density for lining eyes.
M·A·CStack Mascara
$65.00
MEGA
A continuously buildable mascara that stacks on infinite layers of volume and length, with a bigger brush that delivers instant volume and is ideal for longer or upper lashes.
MICRO
A continuously buildable mascara that stacks on infinite layers of volume and length, with a smaller brush that delivers ultra-precise application and is ideal for shorter or lower lashes.
A continuously buildable mascara that stacks on infinite layers of volume and length, with a bigger brush that delivers instant volume and is ideal for longer or upper lashes.
MICRO
A continuously buildable mascara that stacks on infinite layers of volume and length, with a smaller brush that delivers ultra-precise application and is ideal for shorter or lower lashes.
M·A·CXIMAL SILKY MATTE LIPSTICK
$46.00
A silky matte lipstick with full-coverage, pigment-rich colour and 12 hours of comfortable wear.
Terry Barber, M·A·C Creative Director of Makeup Artistry, shares his perspective on the Soft Goth makeup trend.
