Five Ways To Get Your Grunge On

by BR Kellie

First of all, can we talk about how hard it is to find a stock image of grungy beauty looks? The models either look like they've just been dumped and cried for a week, or they're too pretty. And that in itself sums up the dilemma with grunge - it's not a look that can easily be captured. It's a vibe. An attitude. A way of being. One that I'd argue isn't easily imitated... you either have it or you don't. But that doesn't mean we can't try.

You see, my beauties, grunge is back. Something I was in the dark about until recently when my ten year old daughter (who usually has zero time for my lack of style) commented admiringly on my outfit and declared it 'so grunge'.

A plain black top paired with wide-legged stiff-fabric-ed beige pants and black boots? Grunge? Not in my day, honey. These days? Apparently that passes for grunge, and apparently grunge is back. Ish.

So how can we get this new grunge look on our faces? Check out five products that'll have you wanting to pull out your flannelette tops, ripped wide-legged jeans, floral slip frocks and Docs.

Foundation

Do not dare glow with good health if you want to get the grunge look. Step away from the luminous foundations and the highlighters and the glowing blushes, and reach for a matte foundation. Then use your fingers to apply. Grunge has no time for bouncing and blending with sponges and brushes. Get down and dirty with it. But wash your hands first.

Eyeliner

If you have to use one product for your eyes when going grunge, make it a black eyeliner. Line the heck out of your eyes, then smudge them with your little finger. You don't want to look like you've gone ten rounds in a ring with someone, but you do want to look like you've just rolled out of bed after a three-hour nap and couldn't be bothered tidying yourself up before heading out. 

Eyeshadow

Want to play up your eyes? Go smokey. Take cool tone shadows in darker shadses and pat them on your eyelides with your fingers. Feel like keeping it neutral? A wash of brown will do the trick. Can't be bothered with eyeshadow? Skip it altogether. 

Lipstick

Do you need to wear lipstick while popping an Ollie with your mates as you skateboard down to wherever to, like, just hang out? No. But, aside from eyeliner, if there was one cosmetic that made me think grunge it would be lipstick. Matte browns, vampy glossy purples, slashes of red. Again the trick is to just whack them on and not get too perfect about it... but you probably don't want to look like you've eaten a greasy double cheeseburger and forgotten to deal to smearage either. There's a difference between grunge and gross.

Dry shampoo

Lastly, you want your hair to look undone, but that doesn't mean you want it to look like you've not washed for two weeks, either. Dry shampoo to deal to any greasy bits, while giving your hair a bit of oomph, is a must.

What makes this grunge look different from back in the day? It's a little more low key. A little less rebellious. Dare I say it... a little more pretty. But only if you let it be. You do you... and I don't think there's anything more grunge than exactly that.

So, is this modern version of grunge one you'd like to emulate? Have you been there, done that, and - in your opinion - done it better? Or is this a pass now, then, forever? Get chatting below!