The Ghoul Girl Trend Is A Softer Take On The Goth Revival With Just Enough Edge

If you've been keeping up with the makeup trends so far this year, odds are you've noticed celebrities like Bella Hadid and Doja Cat have rocking pencil-thin brows and dark-lined lips. It's very '90s and is one of the top-trending makeup looks for spring, though we've recently been introduced to a new trend that takes the best parts of the '90s, as well as the classic gothic revival: the ghoul girl aesthetic. It's a softer take on the updated gothic makeup we're used to, but it's still just as edgy. (Are we really surprised, though, given that '90s hairstyles are everywhere in 2023, too?)

If you aren't a fan of the classic gothic look with dark eyes and even darker lips but are interested in trying on something moodier, this is the look for you. One of the great things about this look is you can pick and choose certain features if you aren't ready to go full-ghoul just yet. To give you some inspo, we've compiled a list of our favorite ghoul girl looks for you to check out.

When it comes to this softer gothic makeup, the focus should be on the eyes with minimal face makeup and barely there brows. Who better to demonstrate this look than the ghoul girl herself, Julia Fox? Known for her larger-than-life eyeliner and bleached brows, Julia Fox absolutely nails the aesthetic. To recreate her ghoul girl vibe, don't be afraid to dip extra heavily into a pot of gel eyeliner. For an extra touch, give the wet look a try by applying hair gel to your roots and strands, then slicking it back with a fine-toothed comb.

You can still get the ghoul girl aesthetic without going through an entire tube of liquid liner. As long as the rest of the face is bare, you only need a small amount. An easy way to achieve this look is by applying a black pencil liner using a heavy hand to both the lash line and waterline. Once you've really caked it on, wash your face, and your eyes should be left with a natural-looking definition.

This look leans more toward classic goth makeup, but it still incorporates those necessary ghoul-girl features. As you can see, the girl in the photo defined her eyes using a black shadow and liner and chose to embrace her natural, sparse brows; however, she opted for a black lip instead of the typical nude.

For this version of the ghoul girl trend, pack on a light eyeshadow on the inner half of your eye and a darker shade on the outer corner. Add some contour to your cheekbones for that sunken-in look, and that's it. With this particular look, you want to avoid putting on a ton of product. It's all about keeping the focus on the eyes and cheeks.

Just because we're embracing our ghoulish side doesn't mean we can't add a little sparkle. Just like the other ghoul girl looks, draw attention to the eyes using dramatic black eyeliner or shadow and leave the rest of the face bare. Then, using a light hand and precision brush, apply the glitter to the inner corners of the eyes.

If you're interested in the ghoul girl vibe but can't get enough of the '90s, you're in luck — you don't have to choose! The trick is to make a few minor adjustments to the iconic '90s makeup. Instead of the dark lip liner and nude lipstick combo, skip the liner altogether. For the eyeshadow, pass on the shimmery blue and apply a smokey matte shadow instead.