The 1990s were a transformative time for both pop culture and beauty trends.
While the over-the-top glamour of the 80s dominated headlines, the 90s ushered in a more dramatic and edgy aesthetic.
One of the defining beauty looks of the decade was dark, vampy makeup inspired by gothic styles.
Emulating the gothic fashion popularized by artists like Sioux Sie Sioux and bands like The Cure, 90s vampy makeup took a darker turn.
Heavy black eyeliner, dark lip colors, and pale skin were hallmarks of the style.
Makeup brands like MAC launched goth-inspired lipsticks and eyeliners in deep plums and blacks catering to the dark aesthetic.
The style aligned with the emerging rock and alternative scenes in fashion, films, and on MTV.
By the late 90s, the vampy makeup trend had infiltrated mainstream beauty.
Department stores sold dark lipsticks and products aimed at replicating the seductive goth-inspired look that was suddenly everywhere.
90s Vampy Makeup Gallery
Dark lipstick in deep reds, plums, burgundies
MAC Cosmetics was hugely popular for their Goth lipsticks, which came in shades like Vivid Grape and Mehr. These revolutionary lip colors ushered in darker lipsticks into the mainstream.
Drugstore brands also carried plenty of options. Revlon offered lipsticks in blackberry, wine, and raisin shades. Maybelline came out with their iconic Babewine shade – a deep plum that sold one every few minutes.
The pigmentation of 90s dark lipsticks was often very opaque so a little would go a long way in building up rich color. Formulas tended to be creamier and more moisturizing than modern matte liquid lipsticks.
Popular techniques included lining lips slightly beyond the edges with a darker pencil before applying lipstick. This made lips appear fuller. Outlining Cupid’s bow with liner was also trendy.
To blend in with pale skin, lip colors on the red spectrum were slightly desaturated while plums leaned cool-toned. Black and grays offered the most dramatic contrast.
Dark lipsticks demanded high maintenance with constant touch-ups. But the alluring, seductive effect complemented the vampy aesthetic perfectly.
So ,dark opaquely pigmented lipsticks allowed 1990s women to experiment with vampire-inspired makeup in a bold yet comfortable way.
Heavy black eyeliner on both top and bottom lash lines, extended outward at corners
Metallics and shimmery textures: Some popular lipsticks incorporated subtle sparkle or metallic flecks for an edgier effect. These provided dimension without being overly flashy.
Brands aside from MAC and drugstores: Indie makeup brands like Vapour Orginal and Kryolan catered directly to goths and carried an impressive array of dark lip colors. Urban Decay entered the scene in the late 90s with options like Gothflower.
In addition to lip liners, some wore dark lipstick and topped with clear or tinted lip gloss. Others layered two different deep shades. This allowed for more options while still achieving dense pigment payoff.
The popularity of dark lipstick coincided with the boom in underground rave/club culture. These edgier scenes embraced all-black including hair, attire, and makeup palettes.
Dark lipsticks gained mainstream traction through movies, music videos, and fashion editorials of the era that featured vampy aesthetics. This influenced average women’s beauty experimentation.
Brands from MAC to Urban Decay still carry and reformulate cult classic deep lipstick shades from this influential period. The aesthetic paved the way for today’s diverse lip color spectrum.
Dark, defined eyebrows to balance out the heavy eyeliner look
Eyebrows were often shaped with sharp arches and filled in heavily with dark brow pencils, pomades or powders. Common shades were charcoal, dark brown or black.
The goal was strong, bold brows that would frame and anchor the face when paired with dense liner looks. Over-plucking brows was no longer in style.
Products like MAC Spiked eyebrow pencil and Anastasia Brow Powder Duo made defining brows easy. Applying color outside and slightly above the natural brow added illusion of lift.
Grooming techniques involved brushing brows upward and outward for a feathery effect. Or stroking individual hairs gave a natural yet polished finish.
Well-defined brows created symmetry and visual balance against dark smoky eyes and provided structure when paired with pale skin.
On hooded or deep-set eyes, lush brows drew focus upwards and opened up the eye area countering heavily lined eyes.
The brow trend departed from the thin, pale looks of the 80s into statement-making feature that accentuated vampy eye makeup.
Dark, carved brows complemented smoky eyes perfectly and remained a signature element of 90s gothic-inspired beauty.
Black or dark gray eyeshadow blended along lash lines and crease
Deeply pigmented black and gray eyeshadows were essential for creating sultry, smoky eyes. Popular shades included MAC Carbon and Urban Decay Mushroom.
Application involved packing color along the lash line and blending it upwards into the crease with an angled brush or cloth. This created dimension without being too precise.
Darkening the entire lash line, including tightlining the upper waterline, made eyes appear more dramatic and finished the heavy liner look.
A small brush was used to softly blend shadow just above the crease for a lifted, elongated appearance to eyes.
For an intensified effect, black or gray liner was blended over top the shadow and lengthened along the lashing.
Subtle gradient effects were popular – using two complimentary dark shades blended together on the lid and crease.
Fallout from intensely pigmented shadows required careful application and setting with powder or spray.
This smoky eye technique allowed eye makeup to read as dark, edgy and seductive from day to night.
Dark shadow blended along the lashing was a defining element of darkly romantic 1990s eye makeup looks.
Pale, alabaster skin created with white or light colored powder and foundation
Lightly buffing powder with a puff or brush in circular motions helped blend the opaque coverage seamlessly. Avoiding rubbing or disturbing the layer was key.
Achieving perfect pallor sometimes meant dealing with unwanted flashback in photos or ashen tones. Strategically placed blush prevented this.
Goth/industrial scenes embraced skin as white as makeup allowed. This took heavy layering and creative application beyond typical beauty norms.
A hint of lavender or pinky pigment underneath foundation counteracted any yellow tones in skin. This perfectionated the vampiric complexion.
Some alternated sheer washes of foundation with powder for amplified whitening over time in looks meant to last hours.
Finely milled translucent powders like MAC Blot Powder locked in the ultra-pale look without dulling or adding visible color.
Contouring was omitted and pale skin was the total focus, enhancing the otherworldly aesthetic over ‘natural’ appearance.
Obsessive lightening epitomized 1990s goth-vamp glamour and influenced mainstream pale skin trends through editorial and subcultural style.
Black or darkly colored mascara, ideally in a tubing or waterproof formula
Black mascara was a must to intensify the dark, seductive gaze created by heavy eyeliner and eyeshadow.
Formulas contained more pigment for maximum color payoff compared to today’s versions. Shades also included dark gray, navy, and plum colors.
Waterproof and tubing mascaras that wouldn’t smudge or run were especially popular since makeup involved so much black pigment that could transfer.
Coats layered onto lashes created full, dramatic fans without clumping. Multiple coats blurred into densley mascara-coated lashes.
Separating and defining each lash was less important than mass overall lash volume and darkness around eyes.
Dark mascara stayed put through tears, rain, or sweat without staining under eyes – important for rock concerts, clubs, and all-night makeup looks.
Brands like Maybelline and Dior offered long-lasting formulas enabling bold mascara styles within the Gothic-inspired aesthetic.
Intensely dark, waterproof mascara completed the defined, sultry gaze created by layered eye makeup trends of the 90s.
Dark blush swept up high on the cheekbones for a sculpted look
Dark plum, berry, and wine-colored blushes created definition and dimension while complementing the vampy color story.
Popular shades included MAC Trace Gold and Clinique Nouveau Riche blush.
Blush was swept onto the upper cheeks in one fluid motion almost up to the temples using a large brush or sponge.
This placed color much higher than usual, nearly under the eye socket, for a contoured, sculpted effect.
The dramatic sweep of pigment heightened cheekbones and framed faces for photo-ready angles.
Less was more with dark blush – strong pigment meant a light hand to avoid clownish results.
Subtle highlighting under the blush lifted features while monochromatic palettes dominated.
On very pale skin, dark blush made an impact without looking misplaced like today’s standards.
The sculpted look balanced heavy eye makeup and worked year-round with dark or bright lip colors.
So in essence, high-swept dark blush complemented vampy styles through Sculpted definition rather than natural flush.
Darkly tinted lip gloss or balm on top of lipstick for a shinier finis
Layering a clear, black or darkly pigmented gloss over lipstick created fuller, more lustrous lips.
Popular gloss shades included MAC Vamp lipless and Clarins Black Plum Shine Lip Perfector.
The gloss added moisture while also blending any lip color mistakes or edges for a seamless look.
By sheering out an opaque lipstick, gloss created a stain-like effect that woreoff gradually rather than in crisp lines.
This allowed for reapplication throughout lengthy evenings without needing to redo lipstick entirely.
For day, a single swipe heightened color while evening called for layering gloss for a wet shine.
Formulas contained emollients rather than gritty sparkles for a naturally plumped effect flattering to lip shapes.
The glossy finish made dark lips highly seductive and kissable, reflecting light versus strictly matte pigment alone.
So in essence, layering gloss amplified lip color into a seducing pout befitting 1990s vampy styles.
False lashes, especially spidery, wispy styles at outer corners
Falsies took dark eyeliner and mascara drama to new heights, making eyes the clear focal point.
Individual wispy lashes clustered at the outer corners drew attention outward and lifted eyes into an almond shape.
Popular brands like Ardell and Kiss Offered thin, delicate styles versus today’s thick, glam strips.
Application required precision, often using lash glue and letting it get tacky before placement at base of natural lashes.
Aiming lashes in the same direction was crucial but a softly separated, spidery look remained popular over uniform strips.
Subtle blending of false lashes into natural ones gave a gradual, blended appearance rather than a plastic strip look.
Trimming, shaping, or spreading lashes achieved wispy tails flattering different eye shapes seamlessly.
Proper securing ensured falsies lasted until makeup removal without shifting throughout intense nights out.
So ultimately, false lashes accentuated the graphic, darkened eyes so integral to darkly romantic 90s beauty.
Dark eyeliner or shadow smudged along lower lash line and waterline
Darkening the entire lower lash line created an intensely smoky, sultry effect that balanced heavy top liner.
Eyeliner pencils, especially long-wearing ones, were used to tightly line the waterline along with shadow for a blended appearance.
Popular shades included MAC Backtrack Fluidline and Rimmel Scandaleyes pencils.
Lower lash mascara or smudged shadow further blurred and lengthened the look downwards.
This made eyes appear larger and doe-like while achieving an edgy, sexy definition desired in vampy styles.
Considered more bold and transformative than just top-lining alone.
Required patience to apply without tugging at delicate skin. Setting with powder prevented later smudging.
Created symmetry and balance whether eyes were upturned, monoid or hooded.
Suited both day and evening by adjusting color depth and smudginess of application.
So, fully lining the lower lashing defined the face distinctly within darkly glamorous 1990s trends.
Dark lip or eyeliner drawn in around entire lip edge or slightly beyond lips
Darkly lining lips created fuller-looking shape and emphasized Cupid’s bow for a defined pout.
Popular lip liners included MAC Spice and Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner in Nude.
Drawing liner precisely along natural lip line or slightly overlining slightly beyond edges enhanced dimensions.
Smudging liner from lip edges outward along the contours of the lips with a brush created blurry dimensions rather than a stark outline.
Eyeliner alternatively allowed for a graphic edge when lip colors wore off during evenings out.
Defined the shape whether wearing pale lips, dark lipstick or gloss alone.
Required a light hand to avoid appearing scribbled but consensus was bolder liner suited dramatic eye looks of the era.
Created illusion of fuller lips without overlining too far beyond the natural shape.
So, edge-defining liner emphasized the sexy appeal of lips within darkly elegant 1990s make-up trends.
Silver or smoky gray eyeshadow used wet or messy around upper lash line
Dark metallic or gunmetal shades were popular, like MAC Orb eyeshadow.
Applying shadow wet using fixing spray or mixing with liquid like Mixing Medium created more intense pigment payoff.
Wet application allowed shadow to morph into liquid liner-like definition along the lash line.
Fingers, angled brushes or cotton balls teased color gently around upper lash line for a diffused, blended effect.
Messy, unblended shadow leaned into grungier aspects of 90s tone versus sanitized application.
Smudging intensified color and extended shadow slightly above the crease for elongation.
Looked evening-appropriate but also paired well with everyday natural makeup.
Created dimensionality to heavily lined eyes and balanced out darkness without seeming harsh.
Added unique flair compared to basic black liner alone and suited many eye colors.
Metallic pigments like copper or emerald green worn alone or layered with dark shades
Metallics added richness and dimension beyond solely dark tones.
Popular shadows included Urban Decay X and MAC Coppering pigment.
Worn alone on lids, metallics had a futuristic sci-fi bent compared to basic shimmer.
Layering a dark shade like forest green or eggplant in the crease over a lid metallic blended shades beautifully.
Emerald or teal added an edgier twist compared to expected golds and silvers seen often today.
Accent colors challenged expected norms but fit within darkly glamorous themes.
Required a tacky primer and light hand to avoid overwhelming small lid spaces.
Could be diffused along lower lashlines or at inner corners for softer pop.
Endured evenings out without creasing thanks to primer and dense pigmentation.
Offered a new dimension beyond neutral palettes dominating previous decades.
Thick, messy eyeliner resembling a gothic flick or cat eye drawn upward beyond outer corners
Graphic winged liner extended dramatically outward and upturned for an edgy feline shape.
Popular liquid and pencil liners included MAC Liquidlast and Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Pencils.
Required steady hands but imperfect, uneven wings suited grungy, darkly romantic aesthetics.
Extended sharply upward rather than out like a precise cat eye for a gothic, almost tribal appearance.
Messier, thicker application furthered this distinctive graphic look and balanced sculpted brows.
Darker inner rims elongated eyes but risked harshness, so extending the wing balanced this.
Paired well with long, crimped or jet black hair for head-turning drama.
Enabled expressing inner darkness in an outwardly creative manner predating Instagram-era cut creases.
Suited various eye shapes including monolids by modifying wing placement.
In summary, the darkly glamorous aesthetic of 1990s vampy makeup allowed self-expression through creative and dramatic experimentation with pigment.
Elements like sculpted pallor, intense liner tricks, and layered metallics challenged norms while complementing the dark yet playful undertones of gothic punk fashion at the time.
While some elements like overly dark lipstains may seem harsh today, appreciation for the artistry and self-actualization through makeup remains relevant.
The intricate detailing in liners and shadows showed passion for the craft before YouTube tutorials simplified skills.
Most importantly, vampy styles welcomed women and fluid identities to own dark sensuality and redefine what femininity meant outside infantilized norms
They celebrated confidence through altered beauty and embraced an inclusive diversity ahead of its time.
Though trends evolve, the bold individualism and craftsmanship behind 1990s darkly glamorous looks continues inspiring constant new generations to playfully experiment with transforming makeup into art.
Their legacy lives on in creative spirits that still dare to color outside the lines.
