True story: It was 1994. I was in my second year of college at Davis, and I’d become full-on obsessed with the idea of wearing a dark, almost black, matte red lipstick, but I couldn’t find the color at any of the drugstores in town.
It didn’t help that Davis was a small town out in the middle of nowhere. No, seriously, it’s pretty built up now (they have a Gap!), but back then it was just farms and cows as far as the eye could see.
Cutting-edge makeup (for the time) was not easy to track down.
Eventually, I realized that I probably wasn’t going to find what I wanted on a shelf. I was about to give up when, one day, inspiration struck!
With a black eyeliner, I lined and filled in my lips, and then layered my darkest red lipstick on top.
Eureka!!
I ended up rockin’ that look so hard to chem class, you don’t even know.
Today that same trick with eyeliner on my lips came in handy again while I was getting ready.
So, I’ve been wanting to try something like that Goth-ish look from Lorde’s Tennis Court video. In the video she wears a striking look with eyeshadow in a cat eye shape, with white liner on her lower water line and a dark, dramatically delicious purplish black lip.
Since there isn’t a lot of color on her eyes and cheeks, it puts the focus firmly on her lips.
Gah! I love it.
The eyes? Super easy. I used a few MAC neutral eyeshadow staples (Bamboo, Soba and Cork) to create the lifted, cat eye shape.
Wouldn’t you know it, though? The ONE TIME I needed the white eyeliner that I hardly ever use, I couldn’t find it, so I used a pale beige eyeliner on my water lines instead (Rimmel Scandaleyes in Nude).
I didn’t do much with my cheeks. Just some light contouring (using MAC Give Me Sun Bronzer) and highlighting (Becca Opal).
Last, but not least — the lips!
I really wanted them to look dark, almost black, so I ended up using — yup, you guessed it — an eyeliner, MAC’s Pro Longwear Eyeliner in Strong Willed ($19.50), a matte plummy black.
First, I prepped my lips with a lip balm to help the liner apply smoothly. Then, I lined and filled in my lips.
To get a crisp edge all the way around (really makes bold lips pop), I took MAC’s Chromagraphic Pencil in NW25/NC30 ($16), a flesh-colored multi-purpose liner, and outlined just outside my natural lip line. Then I carefully blended the edge with a pencil brush.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Noon says
September 27th, 2013 at 4:06 pmUgh you make goth look so classic and wearable, I love it.
Noon recently posted … this is your lash chance, come out with your lids up!!
Karen says
September 27th, 2013 at 4:23 pmThanks, Noon! Happy Friday. 🙂
ReneeP says
September 27th, 2013 at 4:06 pmI used a blue eyeliner with a pink to make my perfect purple lip color in ’96. I was in 11th grade. I made it like the ‘ombre’ thing they are doing now, where it was more purple on the outer bit. Loooved i
Karen says
September 27th, 2013 at 4:22 pmYa know, I never thought to try blue liner! I will give that a go. 🙂
Did you ever wear dark purple lip liner with frosty beige lipstick? That was my jam in ’96.
Vanessa says
September 27th, 2013 at 4:14 pmOh my gosh, I love this! You look absolutely amazing!
Karen says
September 27th, 2013 at 4:21 pmThanks Vanessa! Do you ever wear dark lips like this?
Happy Friday!
Vanessa says
September 27th, 2013 at 8:30 pmI really want to try dark lips, but I’m worried about buying a lipstick that I won’t use very often (as you can see, I’m a little on the frugal side haha). I guess I could try the eye liner + lipstick combo.
I love your eye make-up in this look too, by the way. It goes so well with the lip!! 🙂 Squeeeee *excited*
hanna says
September 27th, 2013 at 4:39 pmThis look is much more wearable than I thought!
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Karen says
September 27th, 2013 at 5:10 pmYup!
Lena says
September 27th, 2013 at 5:42 pmoh my god karen, i caught my breath when i saw the first picture! what beautiful makeup and beautiful photography, awesome!
to be honest, i’ve never seen the appeal of goth. you changed me with this post!
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Karen says
September 27th, 2013 at 7:38 pmHi Lena,
Thank you! Try the dark lip sometime (just wear it around the house for fun). You never know if you’ll love it!
meredith says
September 27th, 2013 at 6:17 pmFierce, I love it.
Karen says
September 27th, 2013 at 7:39 pmThanks, Meredith!
Rachel P says
September 27th, 2013 at 6:35 pmThis look. is so. ROCKIN!!! I love how you experiment and bring us back in time to your old go-to looks, it’s all just so exciting, seriously- I am a very be-as-you-are person but sometimes I just think people who don’t wear makeup are missin out on fun stuff like this!!
Karen says
September 27th, 2013 at 7:40 pmHi Rachel P,
Thanks lady! If you try this lip you have to send me a pic. I would love to see it!
Rachel P says
September 28th, 2013 at 8:57 amI have to try it for sure! When I do, I’ll definitely send along a pic. This particular eye is something I do fairly frequently, but the lip is different and I gotta attack the look just right!
Rae // theNotice says
September 27th, 2013 at 8:13 pmKAREN. I love this! I can’t for the life of me wear black lips (I always end up looking like an awkward goth), but on you — WOW.
Absolute, complete love! 😀 😀
Rae // theNotice recently posted … On finding your niche, and making the most of it | Elie Saab: an overview
Katie says
September 27th, 2013 at 9:09 pmThis look is a big fat “YES.” Karen, you look so ~*cool*~ in this minimal goth look. I cannot wait to break out the vampy lip come fall. (Why is still sunny in the Bay Area??)
Maggie says
September 28th, 2013 at 12:56 amWhoaaa…Davis alumna here too! Yay! What a coincidence! =D
Haven’t worn lips that black out in a while–last time I tried something similar it was more of an ombre look–with plum in the center gradually darkening to black.
Isabelle says
September 28th, 2013 at 1:45 amYou look absolutely gorgeous here! A lot of others wouldn’t be able to pull this off with still looking classy.. But you do! I also love your hair here, it’s a great combination 🙂
buckycatt says
September 28th, 2013 at 8:59 amU may b an evil genius! I will ponder while looking at your dark lips for awhile.
Danielle says
September 28th, 2013 at 10:03 amI absolutely love this look on you! I am a huge fan of dark lips!
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Frances says
September 28th, 2013 at 12:05 pmI LOVE THIS!!! Do you have any recc’s for a drugstore purply-blue plum black like this one? I have Nightmoth and RiRi Heart’s MAC Talk That Talk but they are more red-wine blacks… you know what I mean? I’ve been obsessed with dark lips and did a dark emerald lip with Maybelline Eye Studio Master Smoky Shadow Pencil in Emerald Fury topped with a little fix plus prayed brush pat of L’Oreal
Infallible Eyeshadow in Golden Emerald. It was awesome!!!
Marina(Makeup4all) says
September 28th, 2013 at 1:50 pmI actually love this look on you and all the kitty rings 🙂
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MinxyMoo says
September 29th, 2013 at 12:59 amI usually just lurk, I mean look, around here. But I LOVE LOVE LOVE this look on you and just had to comment! You really work it, girl!!!! So awesome and “out there,” but still accessible. Totally cool. And I have to ask about your top. Love that too! Do tell where it’s from. Pretty please!!
Kim says
September 30th, 2013 at 6:54 amThis looks great on you. I thought Lorde’s look was a bit stark but it’s much more wearable on you. And I think your hair is cute like that. 🙂
Elisa says
October 1st, 2013 at 6:04 amWow! I LOVE this look! Girl, you’re like a chameleon 🙂 and everything seems to suit you! Niiiiice…