Is Grunge Makeup Officially Back?

We're swapping gloss for grit and symmetry for smudge. It's giving IDGAF—in the best way.

- Gemma Dimond

An act of defiance and a beauty movement that crawled from the underground, here's what made the grunge beauty movement so special—and why we're celebrating its return.

THE ORIGINS OF GRUNGE BEAUTY

Kohl-rimmed eyes, just-bitten lips, and smudged mascara—gone were the meticulously teased tresses and perfectly painted pouts of the '80s. This was the '90s, and grunge beauty reigned supreme. A look that felt both effortless and deliberate, the grunge era was a celebration of imperfection rather than the pursuit of perfection.

From Courtney Love's just-woke-up hair, lived-in smokey eyes and deep dark lips, to Gwen Stefani's pencil-fine brows, platinum blonde hair, and angular eyeliner, '90s grunge beauty was all about contrast. Whether you favoured Love's rock royalty look or Stefani's more “glam” take on the trend, one thing was certain—grunge beauty was an act of rebellion.

In 1996, Urban Decay launched—a bold and direct response to the polish of the beauty industry at the time (the brand's original tagline was, quite literally, “Does pink make you puke?”). Grunge, while once considered anti-fashion, had well and truly become mainstream. So, where did it go?