These Grungy Eye Makeup Looks Are So Much Easier Than A Cat-Eye

Cat-eye eyeliner will always be timeless, but it’s tough to master. If you don't have the steady hand required to achieve a clean wing, a bold, smudgy, grunge-inspired eye makeup look is an easy (but equally glamorous) alternative. Ahead, 10 ways to wear the edgy '90s makeup trend.

For those who really want to lean into the grunge eye makeup trend, line the upper and lower lash lines with kohl liner, then smudge it out. Go over the liner with matte black eyeshadow to get that bold inky look.

The classic smoky eye and smudgy eyeliner meet in this gorgeous look. For added dimension, use shimmery cool-tone brown shades on the eyelid and crease.

There’s no precious application necessary when the messy but striking eye makeup from Versace’s Fall 2022 show is your reference material.

If your makeup style leans minimalist, use an eyeliner pencil to tightline your upper and lower waterlines. Then, softly smudge it out with a Q-tip.

The “two is better than one” adage applies to smudgy black winged eyeliner, too. Take this Chanel Fall 2021 Haute Couture makeup look for example.

For events or parties that call for a statement-making look, apply matte black eyeshadow to the upper and lower eyelids, then blend it out to create a soft, subtle wing.

Now, this take on the cat-eye won’t require arm aerobics to get a precise wing. The thick, slightly smudgy wings are a lot easier to draw on.

It’s a myth that bold eye makeup and lipstick shouldn’t be worn together, and let this grungy tightline eyeliner and oxblood lip serve as proof.

The dichotomy between clean, bare skin and a strong, exaggerated wing liner is especially striking.

While black and charcoal are the eye makeup colors typically associated with the grunge movement, a flash of white liner along the lower waterline will really make the eyes pop.