How To Nail The Vamp Girl Beauty Trend This Season
Forget pumpkin spice and plastic fangs, Halloween beauty is having a ‘dark romance’ moment. Less goth, more sultry, it’s all about smouldering eyes, inky lips, and perfect skin. “The 90s revival is deepening into vampy grunge,” says Sculpted by Aimee founder and makeup artist Aimee Connolly, “with the trend sweeping from runway looks to your Instagram feed.” Here’s how to get the look.
Your inspo
Jenna Ortega has practically made “vamp girl beauty” her calling card, serving jet-black liner, berry-stained lips, and gothic-chic gowns with ease. While Kristen Stewart’s smoky-eyed, grunge-luxe vibe has also leaned into gothic territory, and Billie Eilish has turned vampy beauty into a stage-ready signature look with her jet-black nails and moody makeup. Even Zendaya has dabbled with the look on the Met Gala carpet, pairing sculpted cheekbones with a dark yet romantic palette juxtaposed against a crisp white suit.
The skin: flawless and polished
Start with skin that looks flawless. You don’t need to go full “vampire chic” with a talcum-powder complexion, but instead a soft matte base with great coverage.
Both give brilliant coverage without caking and keep shine at bay, so your dark lip doesn’t fight against an oily T-zone. Buff it out with a damp sponge to avoid a mask-like edge.
The eyes: dark and smoky
Dark, goth, romantic eyes don’t have to mean messy black kohl dragged from lid to jawline. Modern vampy eyes are smudged, smoky, and mysterious, and think more sultry than scary.
The exact palette Jenna Ortega wore during the recent Paris Fashion Week.
For an extra bonus, add a swipe of metallic silver in the inner corners (MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Evening Grey, works like a charm) for that glint-of-midnight effect.
The liner: Winged & wicked
Go bold with your eyeliner, an exaggerated flick that extends past the brow’s tail, or keep it smudged and grungy for a softer, undone vibe. Remember, a feline flick elongates the eye and adds instant drama.
The brows: Arched with attitude
Forget feathery, barely-there brows. The vampy girl needs structure, think bold arches that frame the face and balance the drama of your eyes.
for lifted strong arches
buildable definition in a brilliant selection of true shades
The cheeks: Sculpted shadows
Blush takes a backseat here; contour and highlight are your weapons of choice. Think sculpted cheekbones with a touch of bold rouge.
Add a touch of Benefit Benetint in Dark Cherry, £22.50, for that “just bitten” flush.
The lips: Bold & bewitching
This is where your vampy girl beauty really comes alive. Go as dark as you dare with deep berry, oxblood, midnight plum, or even black. Plus, dark lips will make your teeth look whiter. A bonus!
The ultimate dark plum that doesn’t budge
A deep red with a hint of purple, with just the right edge
The nails: Final touch
No vampy look is complete without claws to match. Whether you’re into glossy blood-red talons or something with a metallic sheen, your nails tie the whole look together.
The cult-classic, almost-black, purple shade
For drama, you can’t beat the iconic Chanel polish
Prefer someone else to do the hard work? Head to one of So.Shell’s London nail salons for the moodiest nod to ‘Dark Romance’ nails.
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