MAKEUP TRENDS

Rockstar girlfriend glam is the cool-girl way to wear grunge makeup

Here's how to master the trending aesthetic.

9 April 2023

Grunge Makeup Rockstar Girlfriend Glam Is Trending for 2023

Now that it’s spring, and everyone just finished Daisy Jones & the Six, beauty buffs are channeling their inner rockstar girlfriend with goth-glam-inspired grunge makeup. But while the term rockstar girlfriend is in reference to literal rock star girlfriends and spouses like Megan Fox and Kourtney Kardashian Barker (and if you think about it, Hailey Bieber), you don’t need to be a musician’s partner, or even like concerts, to embody the style. In fact, most beauty pros (myself included) prefer the interpretation that you can and should be the rockstar in the scenario.

“Rockstar girlfriend glam is all about presenting a strong, ‘no BS’ fierceness through your makeup—think of it like putting on your war paint to go out into the world,” says professional makeup artist Nick Lujan. “The look makes a statement of fearlessness and tends to break out of the mundane and norm ideals of beauty. When everyone else is wearing glam and glitz on the red carpet, it’s pushing the boundaries and standing out amongst the crowd. Being your own style icon.”

Makeup artist Sara Talias agrees, pointing to fashion icons from the ’90s and ’00s as pioneers of the trend. “This edgy look with a sultry vibe is reminiscent of Stephanie Seymour when she was dating Axl Rose, the iconic Pam and Tommy, and Kate Moss when she was with Pete Doherty,” she says. ”Rockstargirlfriend glam is the ultimate cool-girl makeup look.”

grunge makeup rockstar girlfriend aesthetic

There are plenty of rockstar women (not “girlfriends”) who inspired this look too, Lujan points out. “I think every decade and era has its version of ‘rockstar women’ who pushed the boundaries and put together groundbreaking and iconic looks,” he says, pointing to Courtney Love, Gwen Stefani, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Lil’ Kim, Paula Abdul, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Shirley Manson, Avril Lavigne, and the cast of The Craft as inspiration for the trend.

As for what rockstar girlfriend glam actually looks like? “Rockstar girlfriend glam consists of a smudgy matte black eye, loads of black mascara, sculpted cheekbones, and a cool tone nude lip with visible lip liner,” says Talias, though if you want a more goth-grunge makeup look, you can opt for a bold dark lip. “It’s very feminine, but nothing too pink or girly, and pairs perfectly with an oversized leather jacket over a silky black minidress, ready for a night out.”

If you’re feeling inspired, here’s what you need to create a classic rockstar girlfriend look yourself. “A rockstar eye always incorporates a smudgy black liner pencil and neutral and black eye shadow, and requires lots of lash,” says Lujan, who prefers Makeup by Mario’s Master Pigment Pro Eyeliner Pencil for the job. Start by lining the inner rim of the eye with black eyeliner and smudging in the lash line for a soft smoky look.

“Then, smudge over the entire lid, softening edges for a dramatic smoked look, and use neutral shadows to soften edges or base the eye look,” Lujan continues. “Use a neutral shade of shimmer to highlight the arch of the brow bone, and a highly reflective fun texture (sparkle, shimmer, metallic, frosty) to add elements of contrast for edgy fierceness.” Get yourself a neutral eye shadow palette if you haven’t yet.

Next, curl your lashes, apply a few coats of mascara to the top and bottom lashes (Talias swears by YSL’s Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara), and finish with a bold lip. “This is where you can go for it and choose any colour,” says Lujan, who personally recommends “a timeless ’90s grunge lip shade,” a rich, creamy terracotta brown shade, like MAC’s matte lipstick in Marrakesh. For more glam and less goth, Talias suggests lining your lips with Mac Whirl lip liner and topping with YSL #10 lipstick.

Finish with loose powder and setting spray, and you’re good to go (to your boyfriend’s concert).