There's a new alt beauty trend making its rounds this week, and it's a delightfully dramatic one: Cry Baby makeup. Think smudged mascara tracking down the cheeks, a rosy flush around the eyes like you've just had a good sob, and a soft, bruised lip to match. It's part 90s club kid, part gothic doll, part "I'm fine, actually" (with a wink). If you've spent any time on TikTok this week, you've probably already seen the tear streaked, blurry eyed look everywhere. 🖤
What actually is Cry Baby makeup?
Unlike a full SFX crying effect, Cry Baby is a wearable, everyday alt look built from smudged liner, soft purple and rose tones, and glossy "tear" accents at the inner corner and cheekbone. It borrows from clown and Pierrot makeup history but keeps things soft and pretty rather than theatrical. It's emotional, a little vulnerable, and very much goth adjacent, which makes it a perfect fit for anyone who loves our darker shades but wants something a bit more delicate than a full trad goth face.
Step 1: Prime so your "tears" behave
Because this look relies on smudging in specific places rather than everywhere, you want your base to hold its shape until you decide to mess with it. Mist your face with our Mosh Proof Setting Spray before you start. It's built to survive mosh pits and festival sweat, so it will absolutely survive you dragging a smudge brush under your eye on purpose.
Step 2: A flushed, tear stained base
Skip full coverage foundation today. Instead, dust a soft, cream toned blush across the cheeks and a touch under the eyes to fake that just cried flush. Our Second Skin Powder Blush in First Date gives a natural "flushed from within" glow that's the perfect starting point.
Step 3: Line it, then smudge it
Draw a fine, precise wing with our Infinity Eyeliner Pen, which has an ultra fine waterproof tip that's forgiving even for shaky hands (fitting, given the theme). Once it's set, take a small brush and drag a soft line straight down from the outer corner toward the cheekbone, like a single tear that's smudged as it fell.
For extra dimension, pat a little colour from our JEWEL Water Activated Liner Palette along the smudge line. The deep plums and inky blues in this palette activate with water for a rich, bruised tone that reads as "cried a little, but make it pretty."
Step 4: Build the eyes with mood
Sweep a plummy, smoky shadow across the lid and lower lash line using our Til Death Palette. Keep the placement soft and low rather than winged out, so the whole eye area looks a bit tired and romantic rather than sharply drawn. Blend, blend, and blend again with a fluffy brush from our Ethereal PRO Face Makeup Brush Set, which makes all that smudging genuinely effortless.
Step 5: Finish the lips
Pick a muted, slightly bruised lip shade rather than a bold red. Our Air Matte Liquid Lipstick in Bittersweet is the perfect dusty rose plum for this, giving the whole face a cohesive, emotional palette without tipping into full vampy territory.
Wear it your way
The joy of Cry Baby is how flexible it is. Keep the blush and smudge subtle for daytime, or go heavier on the liner and add rhinestone "tears" for a night out. It photographs beautifully in both natural light and flash, which is probably why it's spreading so fast right now.
As always, every product in this look is vegan and cruelty free, because looking devastatingly gorgeous shouldn't cost anyone else a thing. Tag us if you try your own Cry Baby look. We'd love to see it. 🦇