Grunge is back—but with a softer edge and a cleaner conscience. It's ushering in a moodier palette, a blurrier finish, and a more blasé attitude. Lived-in lids. Flushed cheeks. Lips with just a hint of barely-there color. Think: Sunday morning after a late-night show. Or your favorite hoodie with dewy skin and a violet-gray wing.
We’re leaning into the aesthetic with clean, vegan, talc-free formulas that master the moodiness and savor the smudginess. Just five steps to all the clean grunge drama you've been lusting after.
What Is Soft Grunge Makeup?
It’s '90s-inspired but 2025-ready. Smoky shadows meet minimal skin. A little edge, a lot of restraint. The look leans lived-in: worn liner, blurred edges, and a soft, smudgy energy that's rebellious yet aesthetic.
How to Get the Look with ĀTHR Beauty
Step 1 — Shadowed, Not Smoky
The soft grunge eye is the center of the look. Moody, dimensional, slightly undone. We’re using the Rose Quartz Crystal Eyeshadow Palette to create depth with soft shimmer and velvet mattes.
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Use Scorpio (matte rose brown) to build your base. Blend it across the lid and into the crease.
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Deepen with Aphrodite (matte violet gray) at the outer corner.
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Tap Vibes (warm rose metallic) onto the center lid for a soft sheen.
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Finish with Quartz (sparkle topper) or Trust (duochrome violet shimmer) on the inner corner for light-catching contrast.
Pro Tip: Blend with your fingers or a fluffy brush—precision is not the point. Think haze, not hard lines. If you have hooded eyes, focus shimmer in the center lid and keep mattes above the crease to create lift.
Grab the Palette (and Channel That Mood) →
Step 2 — Sculpt Softly
Start with the Diffused Reflections Bronzing Powder to warm and define. Sweep across cheekbones, temples, and jawline. No need to contour—you’re just adding quiet structure.
Step 3 — A Flush That Looks Real
Soft grunge cheeks don’t need to pop. They just need a hint of warmth—like your skin remembering a long night or a brisk walk. Press Desert Rose Lip & Cheek Oil-Stain onto the apples of your cheeks and blend with fingers.
Pro tip: dab a little across the nose bridge for that slept-in, barely-tried kind of warmth.
Step 4 — Minimal Lash Energy
Listen, we’re mascara girls to our core (and yes, we’ve got two clean bestselling formulas to prove it). But sometimes, you skip the full fringe for a little mystery. That’s the soft grunge way.
Use Big Bang Mascara for a light coat at the outer lashes only—or skip it completely and let the shadow stand alone. Either way, you’re creating contrast without weight.
Light Coat? Heavy Lift. Get the Mascara →
Step 5 — Lived-in Lips
Keep the lip energy low-effort. Use whatever pigment is left on your finger from blush and press it into your lips for a just-bitten flush. Then layer with Aurora Glow Lip Oil for a soft, moody sheen that still feels barely there.
The Best Thing About Soft Grunge? It’s Imperfect On Purpose
Let it be a little messy. Let the shimmer crease. Let the blush fade. This look works because it moves with you. Soft grunge isn’t about looking done—it’s about feeling a little undone in the best way.
Your Soft Grunge Beauty Edit
Curated for mood, payoff, and your softest grunge era yet—powered by clean, vegan, talc-free formulas infused with crystals to align your energy and illuminate your skin.
