August 16, 2018

My Love of Metallic Sparkly Eye Looks Was Inspired by Grunge, High School, and Days Gone By

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I was compensated by a brand or company but all thoughts and opinions are my own and I receive a small commission if you shop using the links in this post.

Am I the only one that remembers one particular girl in high school that was perfect? She was the girl that you wanted to be just like? Popular, super pretty, smart. I had one of those girls in my life. Her name was Stacy and I swear I had a total girl crush on her. She had blonde curly hair that never showed signs of frizz and it was a mystery how she pulled that off. She was also really sweet, totally pretty, everything that everyone wants to be in high school.

I also remember the day she completely re-invented herself by dying her hair black, letting it frizz up a bit, and started wearing ripped fishnet stockings, a plaid flannel shirt, and combat boots with her school uniform much to the horror of the nuns that ran our high school. It was like watching an episode of Daria when she strolled down the school corridors. All this never changed the fact I wanted to be just like her.

It was the 90’s, Pearl Jam and the Smashing Pumpkins ruled the radio airwaves (this was when people actually listened to the radio and didn’t have Pandora pulling up their playlist of choice to stream), brown lipstick was totally a thing, and Kurt Cobain was a God (and still is).

For me it seemed a simpler time in my makeup life as I remember owning two blushes, wearing no eyeshadow, and being very natural with my look. I’d like to tell you I was as wicked cool as Stacy but I wasn’t. My grunge phase was all about the music, not the fashion or the makeup. Stone Temple Pilots, Nirvana, Hole, Bush, were pretty much the soundtrack of my high school years.

If I had half the makeup I do now back then my grunge look would probably be something along the lines of this:

marc-jacobs-beauty-bad-behavior-le-marc-lip-creme-fotd

Or maybe I’d do some sort of cranberry look because that seems a popular pick back in the day!

What would yours look like (or did look like)?

It’s weird how trends make a come back. I remember my older sister was always talking about trends coming back and I never really got it until I suddenly became a whole lot older. As we approach Fall it looks like sparkly metallic, grungy eye looks will rule the makeup world and of course, the customary vampy lip that never seems to go out of style when the cooler weather approaches. I mean who doesn’t remember Courtney Love and her love of bold lip look! Her red lipstick was always perfect but somehow it had the appearance of feathered, sloppiness. Maybe it was just the image Courtney portrayed. That mascara smeared, lipstick feathering I don’t give a hell attitude we all loved about her.

NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick (Sandstorm), Buxom Va Va Plump Shiny Liquid Lipstick (Stay the Night), NYX Pin-Up Pout (Revolution)

Speaking of vampy lips if you’re embracing them for Fall there are some great picks out there to get the look. If you’re on a budget NYX Pin-Up Pout in Revolution will set you back a mere $7.99 and is the perfect way to get a grungy vamp thanks to the deep, dark berry color. I reviewed this formula a few months ago if you recall! It’s a great texture with a lightly creamy formula that glides on easily with a hint of a shiny finish.

Wearing NYX Pin-Up Pout in Revolution

If you want to splurge a little go with Buxom’s newer Va-Va-Plump Shiny Liquid Lipstick ($20) which has a shiny finish and I couldn’t be happier about that as I’m so damn over matte lip everything! Thick, creamy, easy glide, and tons of pigment with a shiny finish is the way to go with this formula. The shade Stay the Night is the perfect easy to wear burgundy to embrace that vampy look for Fall.

Wearing Buxom Va-Va-Plump Shiny Liquid Lipstick in Stay the Night

I remember brown and nude lipsticks being really huge but to this day I still can’t pull the look off without looking like a zombie. I attempted it below using NYX Liquid Cream Suede Lipstick in Sandstorm and as you can see my lips are looking a little meh but don’t let that stop you. My solution with brown or nude lipsticks is to reach for the clear gloss! I swear it makes a world of difference when it comes to shades like this! See my before and after clear gloss look and see what you think!

Without Gloss

With Gloss

But back to grungy, metallic, and sparkly eye looks!

As we approach Fall sparkly metallics are bound to be a regular part of your makeup diet! I typically avoid metallics since they tend to look frosty on me but add in a little sparkle and instantly things look a lot better. Thank god for the Stila Vivid & Vibrant Collection as there are too many shades in that collection that are ideal for creating a sparkly metallic look! For my look below I used Stila Vivid & Vibrant Eyeshadow Duo in Smoky Quartz. The split pan has a metallic shadow on one side and a super sparkly one on the other that you can layer to create that perfect metallic sparkly eye look. Stila Shimmer & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow in Vivid Smoky Quartz is actually even better yet since you can get the same cool effect with half the work and none of the fall out. Pat this shade onto your lids for a super easy liquid metal look!

Wearing Stila Vivid & Vibrant Eyeshadow Duo in Smoky Quartz

Wearing Stila Vivid & Vibrant Eyeshadow Duo in Smoky Quartz

Now if you’re going full force grunge for your Fall looks minus the sparkle and metals you might want to haul the Morphe 35T Dope Taupe Eyeshadow Palette. This palette has 35 deep, dark, sexy AF sultry eyeshadows for a mere $23 bucks. I haven’t yet but I can’t wait to dig into this palette.

I completed my look with the NYX Sweet Cheeks Blush Palette because when I was typing this I realized, “What the hell was a popular blush during the grunge years?” and I came up with a blank. Hell, when I was in high school I owned two blushes. One was a pot of blush by Revlon that was berry toned and the other was a Black Radiance marble blush which I broke and sobbed over! Times have changed because at this point in my life I own so many blushes I’d need 500 faces to wear them all. I guess blush never goes out of style no matter the current trend!

I don’t think the look I created embodies grunge but it sure does embrace sparkly metallics and it’s a look I can totally get on board with as we approach Fall 2018.

What are your fondest memories of grunge-y makeup?

What sort of looks are you embracing for Fall?

Any metallic ones?

Do share!

Sponsored / Affiliate
I was compensated by a brand or company but all thoughts and opinions are my own and I receive a small commission if you shop using the links in this post.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • kjh

    Sorry, LUV, you were, are, and always will be REFINED. Maybe not in your mind, but your m/u, always. Kind of like one of the Royals sporting a Courtney look. You look more like the Royals than the Courtney. This is not a dis.

    • Isabella Muse

      LOL thanks! I don’t feel refined! You’re the best for thinking that ;-D <3!!!!!! I sadly cannot do the grunge look as good as Courtney did ;D

      • kjh

        You don’t have the negative habits. You are straight professional. I’m sure you could ‘wilden’ your hair, or use product to make it look days old, just finished the concert. As to the m/u, you get the colors…just way over apply and artfully smear! Add more black liner all the way around and sweat yourself with the hair dryer. Make sure the mascara and liner melt. Dig out an old plaid flannel and (make) a distressed camisole that’s too low cut. Is that you? Nah, didn’t think so. Xxxooo.

        • Isabella Muse

          LOL ;-D well that was the perfect grunge hack using a hair dryer!

  • sarah

    I’m in my late 20s and my make up style is still shimmer on the the eyes and a glossy/shimmery lip with colored eyeliner.Give me all the metallic and shimmer and lip gloss.

  • Karren

    The Stila Smoky Quartz looks great on you. I will have to give the new
    Stila eyeshadow colors a second look.

  • Saoirse

    I love this post because I loved the 90s! I was already an adult in the 90s and loved (and still do) Nirvana, Babes in Toyland, Failure, Hole, Dr. Martens, Fluevogs, smoky eyes, and brown and raisin shades of lipstick. I still go back to my 90s roots on a regular basis with my makeup, music, and fashion. Fall is my favorite time of year, so I’m looking forward to seeing the new makeup releases.

    I love your grunge-inspired look! I also really like that Stila liquid eyeshadow, even though I’m not usually a big fan of metallics for myself. I might get it. (Funny that when I typed the word “metallics”� just now, my spell-check automatically changed it to Metallica!!!)

    • Isabella Muse

      omg babes in toyland! Yasssss! 😉 I think grunge makeup/fashion always looks great in the Fall! So I def revert back to some of those smoky looks and brown lipsticks ;-D LOL! It does that to me too! ;-D Thank YOU!!!!!!!

      • Saoirse

        I was just re-reading your post, and the part about blush (“What the hell was a popular blush during the grunge years?”�) made me laugh. I never EVER wore blush in the 1990s. Just a pale, matte face, smoky eyes, and dark lips. Nowadays, I have a whole collection of blushes!

        • Isabella Muse

          ;-D I can’t even remember a single blush that was popular during the grunge years! ITA no one wore it ;-D Likewise! I have too many and not enough faces!

  • Shannon N

    I’m a young-in, ahaha! I started wearing makeup in 08 or 09, and much to my small brown mothers horror, it was alllll about the scene/goth makeup! Eye liner on both upper and lower rims, along the upper and lower lashlines (no cat eyes!!!) Very matte skin, and deathly nude lips!!!!

    I have naturally really full, gigantic lips (thanks dad!) That draws a LOT of attention, and I remember putting concealer onto my lips like liquid lipstick. !!!

    Now-a-days, for me it’s all about the healthy skin, so lots and lots of spf, tinted moistirizer. Enhancing my dark and full, giant brows, glowy blushes. And of course, BRIGHT LIPSTICK ! I’m all about showing off my lips now!!!

    I loved this post, muse!

    • Isabella Muse

      Concealer on your lips like liquid lipstick? You’re my hero! 😉 I bet your lips look amazing!!! (with concealer or bold lipstick :)) thanks miss! I’m glad you enjoyed kicking back to the old days with me 😀

  • Katherine Rasmussen

    I would never know we were the same age, your skin is absolutely flawless and gorgeous!! you look 10 yrs younger. I still love Nirvana to this day, too!